Matthew 11:5

“the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.”

Matthew 11:5 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

5

Allusion · Isaiah 35:5-6

Go to Isaiah 35:5-6

Both texts announce that the blind see, the lame walk and the deaf hear.

They share words that are rare in the original, without a quotation.

  • τυφλοὶtyphloiG5185עִוְרִיםivrimH5787“blind”
  • χωλοὶchōloiG5560פִּסֵּחַpiseajH6455“lame”
  • κωφοὶkōphoiG2974חֵרְשִׁיםjershimH2795“deaf”

Matthew 11:5, word by word

the blindτυφλοὶtyphloi

blind

Someone who cannot see.

Where else “typhloi” appears
receive their sightἀναβλέπουσινanablepousin

see again

To see again, a blind man who sees.

Where else “anablepousin” appears
the lameχωλοὶchōloi

lame

Lame.

Where else “chōloi” appears
walkπεριπατοῦσινperipatousin

walk

To move on foot, step by step, from place to place.

Where else “peripatousin” appears
lepersλεπροὶleproi

leper

Leper: a person with a skin disease who, under the Law, was unclean and lived apart.

Where else “leproi” appears
are cleansedκαθαρίζονταιkatharizontai

heal leper

To heal a leper.

Where else “katharizontai” appears
the deafκωφοὶkōphoi

deaf

Someone who cannot hear.

Where else “kōphoi” appears
hearἀκούουσινakouousin

hear

To perceive a sound, a voice or words with the ears.

Where else “akouousin” appears
the deadνεκροὶnekroi

dead

Someone who no longer has life, whose body has no breath left.

Where else “nekroi” appears
are raisedἐγείρονταιegeirontai

raise

To come back to life after death.

Where else “egeirontai” appears
the poorπτωχοὶptōchoi

poor

Someone who has nothing to live on.

Where else “ptōchoi” appears
have good news proclaimed to themεὐαγγελίζονταιeuangelizontai

proclaim good news

Announce the good news; in the passive, have the good news announced or be announced as good news.

Where else “euangelizontai” appears

Translation note

An echo of Isaiah 35:5-6 and 61:1.

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

John's question from prison

Luke 7:18-35

See them side by side

Matthew 11:2-19

2Now John, hearing in prison of the works of the Messiah, sent word through his disciples 3and said to him, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another?” 4And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them. 6And happy is whoever does not stumble over me.” 7As these were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? Look, those who wear soft clothes are in the houses of kings. 9But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10This is the one about whom it is written, ‘Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Immerser; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12And from the days of John the Immerser until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent people seize it. 13For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John; 14and if you are willing to accept it, he is Elijah who is to come. 15The one who has ears, let him hear. 16But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to the others, 17saying, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not beat your breasts.’ 18For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ And wisdom was declared righteous by her works.”

Luke 7:18-35

18And his disciples reported to John about all these things. And John, calling two of his disciples, 19sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another?” 20And when the men came to him, they said, “John the Immerser has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is coming, or should we wait for another?’” 21In that hour he healed many of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits, and to many blind people he granted sight. 22And he answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. 23And happy is whoever does not stumble over me.” 24And when John’s messengers had left, he began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 25But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Look, those who live in splendid clothing and luxury are in royal palaces. 26But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27This is the one about whom it is written: Look, I am sending my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way ahead of you. 28I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; but the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” 29And all the people when they heard, and the tax collectors, declared God righteous, having been immersed with the immersion of John; 30but the Pharisees and the experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, not having been immersed by him. 31“To what, then, shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? 32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another, who say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a lament, and you did not weep.’ 33For John the Immerser has come not eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ 34The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ 35And wisdom has been declared righteous by all her children.”

The context

4And Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:

5 · This verse (above)

6And happy is whoever does not stumble over me.”

Read all of Matthew 11

To study Matthew 11 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What did Jesus tell John's messengers to report about what they hear and see (vv. 4–5)?

  2. 2. What it means

    Why does Jesus say his yoke is easy and his burden light (vv. 28–30)?

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus invites the weary and burdened to come to him (v. 28). What burden could you bring to him today?

How to use it