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The blind see, the[a] lame walk, lepers[b] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them[c] —and blessed is anyone[d] who takes no offense at me!”

While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness[e] to see? A reed shaken by the wind?[f]

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:5 tn Grk “and the,” but καί (kai) has not been translated since English normally uses a coordinating conjunction only between the last two elements in a series of three or more. Two other conjunctions are omitted in this series.
  2. Matthew 11:5 sn See the note on leper in Matt 8:2.
  3. Matthew 11:5 sn The good news proclaimed is the message about the arrival of the kingdom (cf. Matt 10:7) which the messengers are to go about proclaiming.
  4. Matthew 11:6 tn Grk “whoever.”
  5. Matthew 11:7 tn Or “desert.”
  6. Matthew 11:7 tn It is debated whether this expression should be read figuratively (“to see someone who is easily blown over?”) or literally (“to see the wilderness vegetation blowing in the wind?…No, to see a prophet”). Either view is possible, but the following examples suggest the question should be read literally, meaning that an extraordinary event like the arrival of a prophet (rather than the common occurrence of plants blowing in the wind) drew them to the desert.

The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy[a] are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.(A) Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”(B)

As John’s(C) disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness(D) to see? A reed swayed by the wind?

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Footnotes

  1. Matthew 11:5 The Greek word traditionally translated leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.