Matthew 21 16

Matthew 21:16 kjv

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

Matthew 21:16 nkjv

and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"

Matthew 21:16 niv

"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read, "?'From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise' ?"

Matthew 21:16 esv

and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"

Matthew 21:16 nlt

They asked Jesus, "Do you hear what these children are saying?" "Yes," Jesus replied. "Haven't you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, 'You have taught children and infants to give you praise.' "

Matthew 21 verses

Matthew 21 16 Meaning

In Matthew 21:16, Jesus affirms the spontaneous praise of children in the Temple by quoting Psalm 8:2. He directly challenges the indignant chief priests and scribes who questioned this praise. This declaration underscores that God, in His sovereignty, orchestrates genuine worship to Himself from the most unexpected and humble sources, thereby silencing His adversaries.

Matthew 21 16 Context

This verse is situated during Jesus' final week in Jerusalem, shortly after His Triumphal Entry into the city. Having entered the Temple precincts, Jesus had just "cleansed" it by driving out merchants and money-changers, condemning them for turning God's "house of prayer" into a "den of robbers" (Mt 21:12-13). Following this display of divine authority, He healed the blind and lame within the Temple (Mt 21:14). It was then that children in the Temple began to shout "Hosanna to the Son of David!" (Mt 21:15), a messianic acclamation. The chief priests and scribes, deeply indignant at both Jesus' actions and the children's spontaneous praise, confronted Him, challenging His perceived allowance of such public outcry.

Historically and culturally, the Temple was the epicenter of Jewish religious life, under the careful supervision of the chief priests and scribes. Unregulated public expressions, especially those with messianic overtones, were seen as challenging their authority and order. Their indignation was rooted in their understanding of propriety, a perceived blasphemy if Jesus was not the Messiah, or a threat to their established power if He was.

Matthew 21 16 Word analysis

• and said to Him: Refers to the chief priests and scribes from Matthew 21:15, indicating their collective confrontation of Jesus.
• Do You hear what these are saying?: This is an accusatory question. The Greek word is akoueis (ἀκούεις), meaning "do you hear?". It is posed by the religious leaders to Jesus, implying a demand that He acknowledge and rebuke the children's loud, unsanctioned praise, which they deemed irreverent or even blasphemous. Their focus is on the noise rather than the spiritual truth of the message.
• And Jesus said to them: Jesus' direct and authoritative response to the religious leaders.
• Yes: A simple, unreserved affirmation. Jesus fully acknowledges the praise and implicitly validates its spiritual truth and origin, unlike the superficial perception of the chief priests and scribes.
• have you never read: The Greek phrase is oudepote anegnōte (οὐδέποτε ἀνέγνωτε), translating to "have you never read" or "did you never read?" This is a pointed rhetorical question Jesus frequently uses (e.g., Mt 12:3, 5; 19:4; 22:31), implying spiritual ignorance despite their claimed scriptural expertise. It challenges their understanding of their own sacred texts.
• Out of the mouth: Signifies the source of the utterance. It emphasizes that the praise originates directly and sincerely from those speaking.
• of infants and nursing babes: The Greek words are nēpiōn (νηπίων), meaning "infants, little children," referring to young, often pre-verbal or very early speech-age children, and thēlazontōn (θηλαζόντων), meaning "suckling ones, nursing infants," indicating children even younger. This highlights the purity, humility, and utter simplicity of those offering the praise. It underscores God's ability to reveal profound truth through the most uneducated and unlikely, in contrast to the supposedly wise religious elite.
• You have prepared praise: Matthew's quotation here reflects the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Psalm 8:2, which differs slightly from the Masoretic (Hebrew) Text. The Hebrew 'oz (עֹז) means "strength" or "power," while the LXX uses ainon (αἶνον) for "praise" and katērtisō (κατηρτίσω) for "you have perfected" or "you have prepared/ordained." By using the LXX's "praise" and "prepared," Jesus emphasizes that this praise from children is not accidental or chaotic but divinely orchestrated and perfected. God actively brought about this worship.
• for Yourself: This emphasizes that the ultimate recipient and intended beneficiary of this perfected praise is God Himself. It implies that God is glorified through this seemingly insignificant and unorthodox worship, affirming its divine authorization and purpose.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Do You hear what these are saying?" / "Yes; have you never read": This exchange establishes a profound spiritual disconnect. The leaders focus on perceived noise and impropriety, demanding Jesus intervene. Jesus affirms the literal sound ("Yes"), then redirects their attention to their spiritual blindness, indicting their failure to grasp scriptural truth and divine providence. Their accusation becomes a self-condemnation.
• "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have prepared praise for Yourself": This phrase, quoting Psalm 8:2, encapsulates the divine paradox. God chooses the simplest and weakest (infants, nursing babes), those considered incapable of profound theological expression or formal worship, to perfectly vocalize praise to Himself. This divine orchestration humiliates the learned, powerful, and self-important religious leaders, revealing that true worship flows not from human authority or intellect but from hearts that God has ordained for His glory.

Matthew 21 16 Bonus section

• The spontaneous nature of the children's praise ("Hosanna to the Son of David!" - Mt 21:15) was a clear public declaration of Jesus' Messiahship, challenging the existing religious order and authority structures of the Temple leaders. Their anger stemmed from this profound Messianic implication, not merely from noise.
• The selection of Psalm 8 by Jesus highlights the profound paradox of God's power and wisdom revealed through vulnerability. Psalm 8 celebrates God's majesty revealed through creation, contrasting the might of God with the frailty of humanity (including infants), yet noting that God still bestows dignity and praise through them.
• This instance directly connects to Jesus' earlier teachings on humility and childlike faith (e.g., Mt 18:3-4, Mk 10:14-15), emphasizing that the "kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." The children exemplify the kind of faith and openness required to recognize God's work.
• The event stands as a polemic against the religious elite's spiritual dullness and legalism. They were guardians of the Scripture yet failed to discern its fulfillment standing before them, while those deemed insignificant embraced it.
• The incident establishes the Messianic credentials of Jesus by demonstrating His acceptance of praise meant for the Divine, implying His own divinity and authority as the one sent from God.

Matthew 21 16 Commentary

Matthew 21:16 powerfully illustrates the contrast between spiritual blindness and pure revelation. The chief priests and scribes, representatives of religious authority, were indignant not only because of Jesus' actions in cleansing the Temple but also because children, unsolicited and unguided, were publicly hailing Him as the Messiah. Their question, "Do You hear what these are saying?", was an accusation, implying blasphemy or disorder that Jesus should suppress.

Jesus' succinct "Yes" followed by "have you never read" is a severe indictment. Despite their scriptural expertise, these religious leaders failed to see what humble children instinctively recognized: Jesus' true identity. By quoting Psalm 8:2 from the Septuagint, Jesus asserts that the children's praise is divinely sanctioned and fulfilling prophecy. Where the Hebrew text suggests "strength," the Septuagint's "praise" emphasizes God's deliberate preparation of worship from the most unlikely. This shows God's sovereignty; He will bring forth praise for Himself through the innocent and unexpected, confounding the proud and discerning wise. The children's adoration affirmed Jesus as the Son of David, the rightful King, receiving praise that was due to God alone, further underscoring His divine authority. This event serves as a stark reminder that true spiritual understanding often resides not in intellect or position but in humility and purity of heart.