Devine Scripture

Matthew 11:5

What does Matthew 11:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 11:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 11:5 means

Jesus enumerated the precise nature of his miraculous works: giving sight to the blind, enabling the lame to walk, cleansing lepers, restoring hearing to the deaf, raising the dead, and preaching good tidings to the poor. These specific acts directly echo the messianic prophecies found in the Old Testament, such as Isaiah 35:5-6 and Isaiah 61:1. By listing these accomplishments, Jesus implicitly declared his messianic identity, allowing John to connect these fulfillments to his own understanding of prophecy and confirm that Jesus was indeed the one expected.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good tidings preached to them.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

The blind see; those who were not able to, are walking; lepers are made clean; those who were without hearing, now have their ears open; the dead come to life again, and the poor have the good news given to them.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

blind receive sight, and lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear, dead are raised, and poor have good news proclaimed,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor have the gospel preached to them.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Blind [men] see and lame walk; lepers are cleansed, and deaf hear; and dead are raised, and poor have glad tidings preached to them:

Context

This verse elaborates on Jesus' instruction to John's disciples, providing the specific details of the miraculous works they are to report. These powerful acts serve as concrete evidence, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah. This explanation is crucial for John to understand that Jesus is indeed the one to come, based on the prophetic signs.

v.4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye hear and see:

v.5This passage

v.6And blessed is he, whosoever shall find no occasion of stumbling in me.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 8:1

    And when he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

  • Mark 7:37

    And they were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well; he maketh even the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak.

  • Zechariah 11:7

    So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.

  • John 5:36

    But the witness which I have is greater than that of John; for the works which the Father hath given me to accomplish, the very works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

  • Matthew 15:30

    And there came unto him great multitudes, having with them the lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and they cast them down at his feet; and he healed them:

  • John 10:25

    Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believe not: the works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me.

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