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Read the Bible

King James Version

Matthew 11:8

But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   John;   The Topic Concordance - John the Baptist;   Sending and Those Sent;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Garments;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Camel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ;   Nahum, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hutchinsonians;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Scribes;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Camel's Hair;   John;   Matthew, the Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Messiah;   Mss;   Text of the New Testament;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Dates (2);   Discourse;   Dress (2);   Logia;   Palestine;   Pre-Eminence ;   Promise (2);   Self-Denial;   Toleration, Tolerance;   Weaving;   Winter ;   Young Man;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - John, the Baptize;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Raiment, Soft;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Church Fathers;   Jesus of Nazareth;   John the Baptist;  

Parallel Translations

English Standard Version
What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that weare soft clothing, are in Kings houses.
Christian Standard Bible®
What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothes? See, those who wear soft clothes are in royal palaces.
Hebrew Names Version
But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
International Standard Version
Really, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? See, those who wear fancy clothes live in kings' houses.
Darby Translation
But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate raiment? behold, those who wear delicate things are in the houses of kings.
Easy-to-Read Version
Really, what did you expect to see? Someone dressed in fine clothes? Of course not. People who wear fine clothes are all in kings' palaces.
Amplified Bible
"What did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing [entirely unsuited for the harsh desert]? Those who wear soft clothing are in the palaces of kings!
American Standard Version
But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings' houses.
Berean Standard Bible
Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings' palaces.
Contemporary English Version
What kind of man did you go out to see? Was he someone dressed in fine clothes? People who dress like that live in the king's palace.
Complete Jewish Bible
No? then what did you go out to see? Someone who was well dressed? Well-dressed people live in kings' palaces.
Etheridge Translation
And if not, what went you forth to see ? a man clothed in soft vestments ? Behold, they who are softly clothed are in the house of kings.
Murdock Translation
And if not; what went ye out to see? A man clothed in delicate robes? Lo, they that are clothed in delicate [fn] , are in the dwelling of kings.
King James Version (1611)
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that weare soft cloathing, are in kings houses.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Or what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they that weare soft [clothyng] are in kinges houses.
English Revised Version
But what went ye out for to see? a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft raiment are in kings' houses.
Lexham English Bible
But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in the houses of kings.
Literal Translation
But what did you go out to see? A man being clothed in soft garments? Behold, those wearing soft things are in the houses of kings.
New Century Version
What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes live in kings' palaces.
New English Translation
What did you go out to see? A man dressed in fancy clothes? Look, those who wear fancy clothes are in the homes of kings!
New King James Version
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.
New Living Translation
Or were you expecting to see a man dressed in expensive clothes? No, people with expensive clothes live in palaces.
New Life Bible
But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in good clothes? Those who are dressed in good clothes are in the houses of kings.
New Revised Standard
What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But what went ye forth to see? A man, in soft clothing, arrayed? Lo! they who soft clothing do wear, are in the houses of kings.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But what went you out to see? a man clothed in soft garments? Behold they that are clothed in soft garments, are in the houses of kings.
George Lamsa Translation
If not so, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Behold those who wear fine clothes are in kings'' houses.
Good News Translation
What did you go out to see? A man dressed up in fancy clothes? People who dress like that live in palaces!
Webster's Bible Translation
But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they that wear soft [clothing] are in kings' houses.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But what went ye out to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold they that wear soft clothing, are in king's houses.
Weymouth's New Testament
But what did you go out to see? A man luxuriously dressed? Those who wear luxurious clothes are to be found in kings' palaces.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Or what thing wenten ye out to see? a man clothid with softe clothis? Lo! thei that ben clothid with softe clothis ben in the housis of kyngis.
Young's Literal Translation
`But what went ye out to see? -- a man clothed in soft garments? lo, those wearing the soft things are in the kings' houses.
World English Bible
But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in king's houses.
Revised Standard Version
Why then did you go out? To see a man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who wear soft raiment are in kings' houses.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
other what wet ye out for to se? A man clothed in soofte raymet:? Beholde they yt weare soofte clothig are in kynges howses.
Update Bible Version
But what did you go out to see? a man clothed in soft [raiment]? Look, those that wear soft [raiment] are in kings' houses.
Bible in Basic English
But what went you out to see? a man delicately clothed? Those who have fair robes are in kings' houses.
New American Standard Bible
"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Or what are ye gone out for to se? Wolde ye se a man clothed in soft rayment? Beholde, they that weare soft clothinge, are in kinges houses,
Mace New Testament (1729)
what did ye go to see? a man dress'd in rich apparel? why, they that are so array'd belong to the court:
Simplified Cowboy Version
Did you go out there lookin' for a guy in a three-piece suit? Those guys live in fancy houses, not the desert.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!
Legacy Standard Bible
But what did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings' palaces!

Contextual Overview

7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. 13 For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. 14 And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come. 15 He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

A man: Matthew 3:4, 2 Kings 1:8, Isaiah 20:2, Zechariah 13:4, 1 Corinthians 4:11, 2 Corinthians 11:27, Revelation 11:3

Reciprocal: 1 Kings 18:7 - he knew 1 Kings 22:10 - having put 2 Chronicles 18:9 - clothed Esther 5:1 - royal Esther 8:15 - royal apparel Luke 7:24 - What John 4:38 - other 1 Timothy 2:9 - not James 2:2 - goodly

Cross-References

Genesis 10:25
And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg; for in his days was the earth divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.
Genesis 10:32
These are the families of the sons of Noah, after their generations, in their nations: and by these were the nations divided in the earth after the flood.
Genesis 11:4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
Genesis 11:9
Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth.
Genesis 49:7
Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.
Deuteronomy 32:8
When the Most High divided to the nations their inheritance, when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel.
Luke 1:51
He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But what went ye out for to see?.... Since it cannot be thought it was to see the reeds in the wilderness blow to and fro by the wind, or a man like one of them, either in gesture or doctrine; was it to see

a man clothed in soft raiment? In raiment made of soft materials, as fine wool, cotton, silk, c. such as Mecaenos wore, and who was therefore called Malacinus y: one finely dressed, and richly apparelled, draws the eyes of persons to him but such an one is not to be expected in a wilderness: and if the Jews went to see such a person, they were greatly disappointed; for John's raiment was of camel's hair, undressed, and he had a leathern girdle about his loins; and as for his diet, it was locusts and wild honey: no,

behold they that wear soft clothing, or, as Luke says, are "gorgeously apparelled"; to which he adds,

and live delicately, are in kings' houses, or "courts"; not in a desert, where John came preaching, nor in a prison, where he now was: he was no light, inconstant, flattering person, as generally courtiers are; had he, he would not have been in a prison; it was for his uprightness and faithfulness, in reproving Herod the king, that he was in such a place and condition. Thus from his very garb and diet, his character is vindicated from the charge of levity and change.

y Alex. ab Alex. Genial Dier. 1. 5. c. 18.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Clothed in soft raiment - The kind of raiment here denoted was the light, thin clothing worn by effeminate persons. It was made commonly of fine linen, and was worn chiefly for ornament. Christ asks them whether they were attracted by anything like that. He says that the desert was not the place to expect it. In the palaces of kings, in the court of Herod, it might be expected, but not in the place where John was. This kind of clothing was an emblem of riches, splendor, effeminacy, feebleness of character. He meant to say that John was a man of a different stamp - coarse in his exterior, hardy in his character, firm in his virtue, suited to endure trials and privations, and thus qualified to be the forerunner of the toiling and suffering Messiah.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Matthew 11:8. A man clothed in soft raiment? — A second excellency in John was, his sober and mortified life. A preacher of the Gospel should have nothing about him which savours of effeminacy and worldly pomp: he is awfully mistaken who thinks to prevail on the world to hear him and receive the truth, by conforming himself to its fashions and manners. Excepting the mere colour of his clothes, we can scarcely now distinguish a preacher of the Gospel, whether in the establishment of the country, or out of it, from the merest worldly man. Ruffles, powder, and fribble seem universally to prevail. Thus the Church and the world begin to shake hands, the latter still retaining its enmity to God. How can those who profess to preach the doctrine of the cross act in this way? Is not a worldly-minded preacher, in the most peculiar sense, an abomination in the eyes of the Lord?

Are in kings' houses. — A third excellency in John was, he did not affect high things. He was contented to live in the desert, and to announce the solemn and severe truths of his doctrine to the simple inhabitants of the country. Let it be well observed, that the preacher who conforms to the world in his clothing, is never in his element but when he is frequenting the houses and tables of the rich and great.


 
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