Matthew 11 · Verse 9

Matthew 11:9

But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:9, King James Version

Matthew 11:9 in other translations

BSBWhat then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
WEBBut why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
ASVBut wherefore went ye out? to see a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
YLT‘But what went ye out to see? --a prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet,
DARBYBut what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet:
BBEBut why did you go out? to see a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
WebsterBut what went ye out to see? A prophet? yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.

What does Matthew 11:9 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 9. A prophet?. He next asks whether they went to see a prophet? They had regarded him as such; and Jesus tells them that in this their apprehensions of him were correct.

More than a prophet. Sustaining a character more elevated and sacred than the most distinguished of the ancient prophets. Those had been regarded as the most eminent of the prophets who had most clearly predicted the Messiah. Isaiah had been distinguished above all others for the sublimity of his writings, and the clearness with which he had foretold the coming of Christ. Yet John surpassed even him. He lived in the time of the Christ. He predicted his coming with still more clearness. He was the instrument of introducing him to the nation. He was, therefore, first among the prophets.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 A prophet? yea - and more than a prophet - That is, one more excellent (περισσοτερον) than a prophet; one greatly beyond all who had come before him, being the immediate forerunner of Christ, (see below), and who was especially commissioned to prepare the way of the Lord. This was a fourth excellency: he was a prophet, a teacher, a man divinely commissioned to point out Jesus and his salvation; and more excellent than any of the old prophets, because he not only pointed out this Christ, but saw him, and had the honor of dying for that sacred truth which he steadily believed and boldly proclaimed.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 11:7-15

What Christ said concerning John, was not only for his praise, but for the people's profit. Those who attend on the word will be called to give an account of their improvements. Do we think when the sermon is done, the care is over? No, then the greatest of the care begins. John was a self-denying man, dead to all the pomps of the world and the pleasures of sense. It becomes people, in all their appearances, to be…

Read the full comment on Matthew 11:7-15 →

Matthew 11:9 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἀλλὰallaButG235
τίtiwhatG5101
ἐξήλθατεexēlthatedid you go outG1831
ἰδεῖν;ideinto see?G1492
προφήτην;prophētēna prophet?G4396
ναὶnaiYesG3483
λέγωlegōI sayG3004
ὑμῖν·huminto you;G4771
καὶkaiand [one]G2532
περισσότερονperissoteronmore excellentG4054
προφήτου.prophētouthan a prophet.G4396

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Matthew 11:9

  • Luke 1:76

    And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

  • Matthew 14:5

    And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

  • Mark 9:11-13

    And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

  • Matthew 17:12-13

    But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them. Then the disciples understood that he spake unto them of John the Baptist.

  • Matthew 21:24-26

    And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

  • Luke 1:15-17

    For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother’s womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

  • Matthew 11:13-14

    For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
A prophet.
13,14; 14:5; 17:12,13; 21:24-26; Mr 9:11-13; Lu 1:15-17,76

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Matthew 11:8

    But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

  • Matthew 11:9

    But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.

  • Matthew 11:10

    For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Read all of Matthew 11

Matthew 11:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas ¿qué salisteis á ver? ¿un profeta? También os digo, y más que profeta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais qu’êtes-vous allés voir? Un prophète? Oui, vous dis-je, et plus qu’un prophète;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber was seid ihr hinausgegangen zu sehen? Einen Propheten? Ja, sage ich euch, und mehr als einen Propheten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sed quid existis videre? prophetam? Etiam dico vobis, et plus quam prophetam.