Matthew 11:9 kjv
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:9 nkjv
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:9 niv
Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:9 esv
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
Matthew 11:9 nlt
Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
Matthew 11 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before me..." | Fulfillment of John as the specific messenger/forerunner. |
| Isa 40:3 | "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" | Prophecy of John's ministry preparing the Lord's way. |
| Lk 7:26-27 | "What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face...'" | Parallel account, directly links John to Malachi's prophecy. |
| Mal 4:5-6 | "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes..." | Links John to the spirit/power of Elijah. |
| Mt 17:12-13 | "But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him... Then the disciples understood that he was speaking to them of John the Baptist." | Jesus confirms John as the promised Elijah. |
| Mk 1:2 | "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, 'Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way...'" | Marks John as the fulfiller of Messianic prophecy. |
| Jn 1:23 | "He said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord," as Isaiah the prophet said.'" | John identifies himself as the "voice" of Isaiah 40:3. |
| Jn 5:35 | "He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light." | Jesus commends John's illuminating role. |
| Lk 1:76 | "And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways..." | Prophecy concerning John's unique prophetic calling before his birth. |
| Mt 3:1-6 | "In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!'" | Description of John's authoritative prophetic ministry. |
| Acts 19:4 | "Paul said, 'John baptized with a baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.'" | Explains the specific purpose and focus of John's ministry. |
| Mt 21:26 | "But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet." | Demonstrates the widespread popular recognition of John as a prophet. |
| Deut 18:18 | "I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth..." | General prophecy about God raising up prophets, setting a standard. |
| Heb 1:1-2 | "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." | Highlights the transition from prophetic revelation to the ultimate revelation in Christ. |
| Lk 7:18-23 | "The disciples of John reported all these things to him... And Jesus answered them, 'Go and tell John what you have seen and heard...'" | Immediate context: John's disciples question Jesus, prompting this discourse. |
| Jn 1:29-30 | "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks before me..."'" | John directly identified Jesus as the Messiah and Lamb of God. |
| Jn 10:41 | "And many came to him. And they said, 'John did no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.'" | People recognized the truth of John's prophetic testimony about Jesus. |
| Mk 1:7 | "And he proclaimed, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.'" | John's self-deprecating yet significant declaration about Jesus. |
| 1 Pet 1:10-11 | "Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating..." | Underscores the prophetic quest for understanding the time of the Messiah, fulfilled in John's era. |
| 2 Pet 1:21 | "For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit." | Confirms divine origin of prophecy, validating John's role. |
Matthew 11 verses
Matthew 11 9 Meaning
Jesus asks the crowd why they went out to see John the Baptist, dismissing common superficial motives. He then affirms John's true identity, emphatically declaring him to be not only a genuine prophet but uniquely "more than a prophet." This means John holds a singularly significant position as the direct forerunner to the Messiah, bridging the Old Testament prophecies with their fulfillment in Jesus, and serving as the specific messenger foretold to prepare the Lord's way.
Matthew 11 9 Context
Matthew chapter 11 opens with John the Baptist, from prison, sending his disciples to ask Jesus if He is truly the Messiah they have been awaiting. Jesus responds by recounting the miracles He performs—healing the sick, raising the dead, and preaching good news to the poor—all actions that fulfill Old Testament messianic prophecies (Isa 35:5-6; 61:1). After John's disciples depart, Jesus turns to the crowds who had been present, questioning their past motives for going to John in the wilderness. He challenges them with a series of rhetorical questions, effectively dismantling superficial expectations (v. 7-8). This leads to verse 9, where Jesus answers His own question and confirms John's authentic prophetic standing, not just as any prophet but as a preeminent figure whose role far surpasses previous prophets due to his specific mission. This discourse prepares the crowds to grasp the significance of John's ministry as the forerunner and to understand Jesus' true identity.
Matthew 11 9 Word analysis
- But (δὲ - de): This conjunction indicates a transition in Jesus' discourse, shifting from His direct response to John's disciples to His public affirmation and instruction regarding John to the crowd. It highlights a change in focus and address.
- what (τί - ti): An interrogative pronoun, signaling Jesus is prompting the audience to reflect deeply on their previous intentions and perceptions concerning John. It demands self-assessment.
- did you go out (ἐξήλθετε - exēlthete): This perfective verb, referring to a completed action in the past, underscores the active, intentional effort many made to journey to the remote wilderness to see John. It suggests a strong prior conviction or curiosity about him.
- to see? (ἰδεῖν - idein): The infinitive of purpose, indicating the aim or objective of their going. It implies not just a casual glance, but to witness, observe, or even investigate something or someone of perceived importance.
- A prophet? (προφήτην - prophētēn): This word refers to a messenger or spokesman for God. In ancient Israel, prophets received divine revelation and communicated God's will to the people, often including warnings, exhortations, and future predictions. John preached a message of repentance and baptism "from heaven."
- Yes (Ναί - Nai): A strong affirmative, confirming the implied answer to Jesus' rhetorical question. It's a resolute endorsement of John's prophetic status.
- I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν - legō hymin): A common and authoritative phrase used by Jesus, underscoring the divine weight and truth of His declaration. It emphasizes that this is not just an opinion but a revealed truth from Him.
- and more than a prophet (καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου - kai perissoteron prophētou):
- καὶ (kai): "and," simply connects the two affirmations.
- περισσότερον (perissoteron): "more than," "greater than," "exceeding," "surpassing." This key comparative adjective elevates John's status above all previous prophets.
- προφήτου (prophētou): "of a prophet." This is in the genitive case, following "more than."
- "But what did you go out to see?": This rhetorical question compels the listeners to confront their own prior assumptions and intentions concerning John. Jesus guides them away from superficial motives (e.g., seeking novelty, entertainment, or a political figure) toward acknowledging the profound spiritual significance of John's ministry.
- "A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.": This powerful declaration by Jesus directly affirms John's divinely appointed role as a genuine prophet, then immediately transcends it. The "more than" highlights John's unique position as the promised forerunner, the direct herald of the Messiah, uniquely blessed to personally identify and witness to Jesus. He stood at the pivotal moment of redemptive history, closing the era of Old Covenant prophecy and inaugurating the direct presence of the Kingdom in Christ.
Matthew 11 9 Bonus section
The "more than a prophet" statement in Matthew 11:9 underscores the concept of progressive revelation within the Bible. While all prophets communicated God's truth, John the Baptist was given a singular role directly connected to the final unfolding of God's redemptive plan in Christ. His work wasn't merely foretelling a distant future, but actively pointing to the present arrival of the Messiah. This emphasizes that while John lived and functioned under the Old Covenant, his specific mission transcended it, ushering in the New. This distinction highlights that those living after Jesus' first advent, though not personally witnessing Jesus, are in a greater position concerning the completed revelation and fulfillment than those who lived even at John's unparalleled peak of prophetic ministry.
Matthew 11 9 Commentary
Matthew 11:9 is a pivotal verse in Jesus' address concerning John the Baptist, shifting the focus from John's disciples' inquiry to the crowd's perception. Jesus challenges them to remember why they once flocked to John, dispelling any idea that he was a fickle or worldly figure. He powerfully confirms John's identity as a prophet—one who spoke directly for God, preparing hearts for divine intervention. But Jesus' declaration goes further: John is "more than a prophet." This is the core truth. John occupies an unparalleled position in salvation history as the specific fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy concerning the messenger who would precede the Messiah (Mal 3:1). He had the unique privilege of witnessing, proclaiming, and baptizing the Messiah Himself, marking him as the last and greatest of the Old Covenant prophets, standing at the very threshold of the new Messianic age inaugurated by Christ. His ministry served as the decisive transition point, marking the end of a long anticipation and the imminent arrival of God's Kingdom.