But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.
Parallel translations
- WEB But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
- BSB What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
- NKJV But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet.
- NASB But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and one who is more than a prophet.
- NLT Were you looking for a prophet? Yes, and he is more than a prophet.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus affirms that they went to see a prophet, indeed one greater than a prophet. John holds a unique place in God's plan.
Overview
Jesus confirms John's prophetic identity and exalts him beyond the prophets who came before. John's greatness lies in his role as the immediate forerunner who pointed directly to the Messiah. This sets up the next verse, which explains why John surpasses all who prophesied of Christ from afar.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 1:76And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;
- Luke 20:6But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.
- John 5:35He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.
- Luke 16:16The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
- Matt 11:9–14But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet.
- John 3:26–30And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 7:26 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.