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They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: <a href="/nlt/matthew/11.htm">New Living Translation</a> “To what can I compare this generation? It is like children playing a game in the public square. They complain to their friends, <a href="/esv/matthew/11.htm">English Standard Version</a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates, <a href="/bsb/matthew/11.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: <a href="/blb/matthew/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But to what will I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets and calling out to others, <a href="/kjv/matthew/11.htm">King James Bible</a> But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, <a href="/nkjv/matthew/11.htm">New King James Version</a> “But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their companions, <a href="/nasb_/matthew/11.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, <a href="/nasb/matthew/11.htm">NASB 1995</a> &#8220But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, <a href="/nasb77/matthew/11.htm">NASB 1977 </a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the market places, who call out to the other children, <a href="/lsb/matthew/11.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the other children, <a href="/amp/matthew/11.htm">Amplified Bible</a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market places, who call to the others, <a href="/csb/matthew/11.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> “To what should I compare this generation? It’s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to other children: <a href="/hcsb/matthew/11.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> &#8220To what should I compare this generation? It&#8217s like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to each other: <a href="/asv/matthew/11.htm">American Standard Version</a> But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows <a href="/cev/matthew/11.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> You people are like children sitting in the market and shouting to each other, <a href="/erv/matthew/11.htm">English Revised Version</a> But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, which call unto their fellows, <a href="/gwt/matthew/11.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> "How can I describe the people who are living now? They are like children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to other children, <a href="/gnt/matthew/11.htm">Good News Translation</a> "Now, to what can I compare the people of this day? They are like children sitting in the marketplace. One group shouts to the other, <a href="/isv/matthew/11.htm">International Standard Version</a> "To what can I compare the people living today? They're like little children who sit in the marketplaces and shout to each other, <a href="/msb/matthew/11.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to one another: <a href="/net/matthew/11.htm">NET Bible</a> "To what should I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to one another, <a href="/nheb/matthew/11.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> "But to what should I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces calling out to others, <a href="/wbt/matthew/11.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows, <a href="/wey/matthew/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates. <a href="/web/matthew/11.htm">World English Bible</a> “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their companions <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/matthew/11.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> And to what will I liken this generation? It is like little children in marketplaces, sitting and calling to others, <a href="/blb/matthew/11.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> But to what will I compare this generation? It is like little children sitting in the markets and calling out to others, <a href="/ylt/matthew/11.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> 'And to what shall I liken this generation? it is like little children in market-places, sitting and calling to their comrades, <a href="/slt/matthew/11.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> To what shall I liken this generation I it is like little boys sitting in market-places, and calling to their companions,<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/matthew/11.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> But whereunto shall I esteem this generation to be like? It is like to children sitting in the market place. <a href="/cpdv/matthew/11.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, <a href="/nabre/matthew/11.htm">New American Bible</a> “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children who sit in marketplaces and call to one another, <a href="/nrsvce/matthew/11.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> “But to what will I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to one another,<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/matthew/11.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like boys who sit in the street and call to their friends. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/matthew/11.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the street and calling their playmates,<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/matthew/11.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the markets, and calling to their companions, <a href="/godbey/matthew/11.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> <FR>But to whom shall I liken this generation? It is like little children sitting in the market-place, and calling to their comrades, and saying,<Fr> <a href="/haweis/matthew/11.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> But to whom shall I resemble this generation? it is like little boys sitting in the places of concourse, and calling to their companions, <a href="/mace/matthew/11.htm">Mace New Testament</a> but to what shall I compare this generation? they are like children sitting in the markets, and calling out to their fellows, <a href="/wey/matthew/11.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> "But to what shall I compare the present generation? It is like children sitting in the open places, who call to their playmates. <a href="/worrell/matthew/11.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> <FR>"But to what shall I liken this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who, calling to the others,<Fr> <a href="/worsley/matthew/11.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> <FR>But to what shall I compare this generation? <Fr>they<FR> are like children sitting in <Fr>the<FR> market-places,<Fr> <a href="/parallel/matthew/11-16.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hriiyJYqzvc?start=2853" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/matthew/11.htm">Jesus Testifies about John</a> …15He who has ears, let him hear. 16<a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/5101.htm" title="5101: Tini (IPro-DNS) -- Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.">To what</a> <a href="/greek/3666.htm" title="3666: homoiōsō (V-FIA-1S) -- To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar.">can I compare</a> <a href="/greek/3778.htm" title="3778: tautēn (DPro-AFS) -- This; he, she, it. ">this</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tēn (Art-AFS) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/1074.htm" title="1074: genean (N-AFS) -- From genos; a generation; by implication, an age.">generation?</a> <a href="/greek/1510.htm" title="1510: estin (V-PIA-3S) -- I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.">They are</a> <a href="/greek/3664.htm" title="3664: homoia (Adj-NFS) -- Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar.">like</a> <a href="/greek/3813.htm" title="3813: paidiois (N-DNP) -- Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.">children</a> <a href="/greek/2521.htm" title="2521: kathēmenois (V-PPM/P-DNP) -- To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside.">sitting</a> <a href="/greek/1722.htm" title="1722: en (Prep) -- In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; in, at, on, by, etc.">in</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tais (Art-DFP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.">the</a> <a href="/greek/58.htm" title="58: agorais (N-DFP) -- From ageiro; properly, the town-square; by implication, a market or thoroughfare.">marketplaces</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: ha (RelPro-NNP) -- Who, which, what, that. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/4377.htm" title="4377: prosphōnounta (V-PPA-NNP) -- From pros and phoneo; to sound towards, i.e. Address, exclaim, summon.">calling out</a> <a href="/greek/3588.htm" title="3588: tois (Art-DNP) -- The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the."></a> <a href="/greek/2087.htm" title="2087: heterois (Adj-DNP) -- (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.">to others:</a> 17‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/luke/7-31.htm">Luke 7:31-35</a> “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? / They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ / For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ ... <a href="/matthew/23-37.htm">Matthew 23:37</a> O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! <a href="/isaiah/53-3.htm">Isaiah 53:3</a> He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not. <a href="/john/1-11.htm">John 1:11</a> He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. <a href="/jeremiah/7-25.htm">Jeremiah 7:25-26</a> From the day your fathers came out of the land of Egypt until this day, I have sent you all My servants the prophets again and again. / Yet they would not listen to Me or incline their ear, but they stiffened their necks and did more evil than their fathers. <a href="/zechariah/7-11.htm">Zechariah 7:11-12</a> But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder; they stopped up their ears from hearing. / They made their hearts like flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the LORD of Hosts had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. Therefore great anger came from the LORD of Hosts. <a href="/matthew/23-29.htm">Matthew 23:29-33</a> Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous. / And you say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partners with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ / So you testify against yourselves that you are the sons of those who murdered the prophets. ... <a href="/ezekiel/33-32.htm">Ezekiel 33:32</a> Indeed, you are to them like a singer of love songs with a beautiful voice, who skillfully plays an instrument. They hear your words but do not put them into practice. <a href="/2_chronicles/36-15.htm">2 Chronicles 36:15-16</a> Again and again the LORD, the God of their fathers, sent word to His people through His messengers because He had compassion on them and on His dwelling place. / But they mocked the messengers of God, despising His words and scoffing at His prophets, until the wrath of the LORD against His people was stirred up beyond remedy. <a href="/john/5-43.htm">John 5:43</a> I have come in My Father’s name, and you have not received Me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will receive him. <a href="/acts/7-51.htm">Acts 7:51-52</a> You stiff-necked people with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit, just as your fathers did. / Which of the prophets did your fathers fail to persecute? They even killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One. And now you are His betrayers and murderers— <a href="/psalms/78-40.htm">Psalm 78:40-41</a> How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! / Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel. <a href="/proverbs/1-24.htm">Proverbs 1:24-26</a> Because you refused my call, and no one took my outstretched hand, / because you neglected all my counsel, and wanted none of my correction, / in turn I will mock your calamity; I will sneer when terror strikes you, <a href="/isaiah/65-2.htm">Isaiah 65:2</a> All day long I have held out My hands to an obstinate people who walk in the wrong path, who follow their own imaginations, <a href="/hosea/9-7.htm">Hosea 9:7</a> The days of punishment have come; the days of retribution have arrived—let Israel know it. The prophet is called a fool, and the inspired man insane, because of the greatness of your iniquity and hostility.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like to children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows,whereunto.<a href="/lamentations/2-13.htm">Lamentations 2:13</a> What thing shall I take to witness for thee? what thing shall I liken to thee, O daughter of Jerusalem? what shall I equal to thee, that I may comfort thee, O virgin daughter of Zion? for thy breach is great like the sea: who can heal thee?<a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Mark 4:30</a> And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?<a href="/luke/13-18.htm">Luke 13:18</a> Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it?this.<a href="/matthew/12-34.htm">Matthew 12:34</a> O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.<a href="/matthew/23-36.htm">Matthew 23:36</a> Verily I say unto you, All these things shall come upon this generation.<a href="/matthew/24-34.htm">Matthew 24:34</a> Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.It is.<a href="/luke/7-31.htm">Luke 7:31-35</a> And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like? … <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/matthew/10-21.htm">Children</a> <a href="/daniel/2-18.htm">Companions</a> <a href="/daniel/1-13.htm">Compare</a> <a href="/haggai/2-3.htm">Comparison</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-9.htm">Comrades</a> <a href="/matthew/9-27.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/zechariah/3-8.htm">Fellows</a> <a href="/matthew/3-7.htm">Generation</a> <a href="/matthew/7-24.htm">Liken</a> <a href="/zephaniah/1-11.htm">Market</a> <a href="/luke/20-46.htm">Marketplaces</a> <a href="/luke/20-46.htm">Market-Places</a> <a href="/ezekiel/27-22.htm">Markets</a> <a href="/matthew/11-5.htm">Open</a> <a href="/matthew/7-12.htm">Others</a> <a href="/matthew/9-35.htm">Places</a> <a href="/matthew/8-4.htm">Present</a> <a href="/matthew/9-9.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/matthew/9-9.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/ezekiel/24-25.htm">Whereunto</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/matthew/11-19.htm">Children</a> <a href="/matthew/12-3.htm">Companions</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Compare</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Comparison</a> <a href="/hebrews/1-9.htm">Comrades</a> <a href="/matthew/15-22.htm">Crying</a> <a href="/luke/6-35.htm">Fellows</a> <a href="/matthew/12-34.htm">Generation</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Liken</a> <a href="/matthew/20-3.htm">Market</a> <a href="/matthew/23-7.htm">Marketplaces</a> <a href="/matthew/23-7.htm">Market-Places</a> <a href="/matthew/23-7.htm">Markets</a> <a href="/matthew/13-16.htm">Open</a> <a href="/matthew/13-5.htm">Others</a> <a href="/matthew/12-19.htm">Places</a> <a href="/matthew/12-41.htm">Present</a> <a href="/matthew/13-1.htm">Seated</a> <a href="/matthew/13-1.htm">Sitting</a> <a href="/mark/4-30.htm">Whereunto</a><div class="vheading2">Matthew 11</div>1. <a href="/matthew/11-1.htm">John sends his disciples to Jesus.</a> 7. <a href="/matthew/11-7.htm">Jesus' testimony concerning John.</a> 16. <a href="/matthew/11-16.htm">The perverse judgment of the people concerning the Son.</a> 20. <a href="/matthew/11-20.htm">Jesus upbraids Korazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum;</a> 25. <a href="/matthew/11-25.htm">and praising his Father's wisdom in revealing the Gospel to the simple,</a> 28. <a href="/matthew/11-28.htm">he calls to him those who are weary and burdened.</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/11.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/matthew/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/matthew/11.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>To what can I compare this generation? This phrase introduces a rhetorical question that Jesus uses to critique the spiritual state of His contemporaries. The term "generation" refers to the people living at that time, particularly those who witnessed Jesus' ministry yet remained unresponsive. This echoes the prophetic tradition where prophets often addressed the moral and spiritual condition of their audience (e.g., <a href="/isaiah/1-4.htm">Isaiah 1:4</a>). Jesus' use of comparison is a common teaching method in Jewish culture, aiming to provoke reflection and self-examination.They are like children sitting in the marketplaces The marketplace, or agora, was a central place in ancient towns where people gathered for trade and social interaction. Children playing in such public spaces would be a familiar sight to Jesus' audience. This imagery suggests immaturity and frivolity, as children often engage in games without understanding deeper realities. The marketplace setting underscores the public nature of Jesus' ministry and the widespread exposure of His message, yet highlights the superficial response of many.and calling out to others: The act of calling out indicates an attempt to engage or provoke a response. In the context of Jesus' analogy, it suggests that the people of His generation were making demands or setting conditions for belief, much like children who expect others to join their games. This reflects a broader theme in the Gospels where Jesus encounters skepticism and demands for signs (<a href="/matthew/12-38.htm">Matthew 12:38-39</a>). The call to others also implies a communal aspect, where societal norms and peer influence play a role in the collective rejection or acceptance of Jesus' message.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a> The speaker of this verse, addressing the crowd and His disciples, offering a critique of the current generation's spiritual state. 2. <a href="/topical/t/the_generation.htm">The Generation</a> Refers to the people of Jesus' time, particularly those who were skeptical or dismissive of His and John the Baptist's ministries. 3. <a href="/topical/c/children_in_the_marketplaces.htm">Children in the Marketplaces</a> A metaphor used by Jesus to describe the childish and fickle nature of the people who are never satisfied, regardless of the message or messenger. 4. <a href="/topical/m/marketplaces.htm">Marketplaces</a> Public spaces in ancient towns where people gathered, symbolizing the public nature of the people's complaints and attitudes. 5. <a href="/topical/j/john_the_baptist.htm">John the Baptist</a> Though not directly mentioned in this verse, he is part of the context as Jesus contrasts His and John's ministries in the surrounding passages.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/s/spiritual_discernment.htm">Spiritual Discernment</a> Recognize the importance of discerning the truth of God's message, rather than being swayed by personal biases or societal trends. <a href="/topical/c/consistency_in_faith.htm">Consistency in Faith</a> Avoid the fickleness of the generation Jesus described by being consistent in your faith and response to God's call. <a href="/topical/r/responding_to_god's_messengers.htm">Responding to God's Messengers</a> Be open to the different ways God communicates through His messengers, whether they come with a message of repentance like John or grace like Jesus. <a href="/topical/s/self-reflection.htm">Self-Reflection</a> Examine your own heart and attitudes to ensure you are not like the children in the marketplace, dismissing God's work due to preconceived notions. <a href="/topical/p/public_witness.htm">Public Witness</a> Consider how your response to God's message is visible to others, much like the public setting of the marketplace.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_matthew_11.htm">Top 10 Lessons from Matthew 11</a> <a href="/q/what_defines_hanbali_islam.htm">What parables did Jesus teach in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_a_biblical_generation.htm">What defines a generation in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/which_parables_did_jesus_teach.htm">What parables did Jesus teach in the Bible?</a> <a href="/q/how_to_reconcile_deut._24_16_with_generational_guilt.htm">How do we reconcile Deuteronomy 24:16, which prohibits punishing children for parents' sins, with other passages that suggest communal or generational guilt?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/matthew/11.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(16) It is like unto children sitting in the markets.--The comparison is drawn from one of the common amusements of the children of an Eastern city. They form themselves into companies, and get up a dramatic representation of wedding festivities and funeral pomp. They play their pipes, and expect others to dance; they beat their breasts in lamentation, and expect others to weep. They complain if others do not comply with their demands. To such a company our Lord likens the evil generation in which He and the Baptist lived. They were loud in their complaints of the Baptist because he would not share their self-indulgent mirth; they were bitter against Jesus because He would not live according to the rules of their hypocritical austerity. Thus interpreted, the whole passage is coherent. The more common explanation inverts the comparison, and sees in our Lord and the Baptist those who invite to mourning and to mirth respectively, and are repelled by their sullen playmates. This would in itself give an adequate meaning, but it does not fall in with our Lord's language, which specifically identifies the children who invite the others (this rather than "their fellows," is the true reading) with the "generation" which He condemns. The verses that follow, giving the language in which the same generation vented its anger and scorn against the two forms of holiness, agree better with the interpretation here adopted.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/matthew/11.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 16-19. - Yet both John and he himself are rejected, though the results of their efforts were such as to fully justify the apparent difference of their methods. Parallel passage. <a href="/luke/7-31.htm">Luke 7:31-35</a>. Verses 16, 17. - But. In contrast to the obedience asked for in ver. 15, this generation closes its ears. Whereunto shall I liken. A common rabbinic phrase, which is often found in the fuller form recorded in Luke, "Whereunto shall I liken... and to what are they like?" (see <a href="/matthew/7-24.htm">Matthew 7:24</a>, note). This generation?. It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. There are two ways of understanding the illustration which our Lord here uses. (1) Many modern commentators (e.g. Meyer; Trench,' Studies,' p. 148) insist on the grammar and on the historical order in which the complaints are made, and believe that the Jews correspond to the pipers and the mourners, while it is John that refuses to rejoice, and our Lord that will not be sad. (2) But the more usual interpretation is preferable. For (a) in an illustrative saying one has chiefly to regard its general sense; . . . <a href="/commentaries/matthew/11-16.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>To what Τίνι (Tini) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_5101.htm">Strong's 5101: </a> Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. can I compare ὁμοιώσω (homoiōsō) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3666.htm">Strong's 3666: </a> To make like, liken; I compare. From homoios; to assimilate, i.e. Compare; passively, to become similar. this ταύτην (tautēn) Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3778.htm">Strong's 3778: </a> This; he, she, it. generation? γενεὰν (genean) Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1074.htm">Strong's 1074: </a> From genos; a generation; by implication, an age. They are ἐστὶν (estin) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1510.htm">Strong's 1510: </a> I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist. like ὁμοία (homoia) Adjective - Nominative Feminine Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3664.htm">Strong's 3664: </a> Like, similar to, resembling, of equal rank. From the base of homou; similar. children παιδίοις (paidiois) Noun - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3813.htm">Strong's 3813: </a> Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian. sitting καθημένοις (kathēmenois) Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2521.htm">Strong's 2521: </a> To sit, be seated, enthroned; I dwell, reside. From kata; and hemai; to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside. in ἐν (en) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1722.htm">Strong's 1722: </a> In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc. the ταῖς (tais) Article - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3588.htm">Strong's 3588: </a> The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. marketplaces ἀγοραῖς (agorais) Noun - Dative Feminine Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_58.htm">Strong's 58: </a> From ageiro; properly, the town-square; by implication, a market or thoroughfare. and ἃ (ha) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. calling out προσφωνοῦντα (prosphōnounta) Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_4377.htm">Strong's 4377: </a> From pros and phoneo; to sound towards, i.e. Address, exclaim, summon. to others: ἑτέροις (heterois) Adjective - Dative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_2087.htm">Strong's 2087: </a> (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/matthew/11-16.htm">Matthew 11:16 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/matthew/11-16.htm">NT Gospels: Matthew 11:16 But to what shall I compare this (Matt. Mat Mt) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/matthew/11-15.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Matthew 11:15"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Matthew 11:15" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/matthew/11-17.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Matthew 11:17"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Matthew 11:17" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>