Matthew 11:17

BSB · Public Domain (CC0)

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’”

What this verse means

A short, plain-language explanation of Matthew 11:17 goes here — the kind of answer a reader (or an AI assistant) can quote in one breath. Original meaning coming soon.

Compare translations
BSBPD

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’”

Berean Standard Bible · Public Domain (CC0)
KJVPD

“And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented.”

King James Version · Public Domain
ASVPD

“and say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn.”

American Standard Version · Public Domain
YLTPD

“and saying, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance, we lamented to you, and ye did not smite the breast.”

Young's Literal Translation · Public Domain
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Cross references

Other passages that echo Matthew 11:17 — 9 related verses from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  1. 1 Kings 1:40All the people followed him, playing flutes and rejoicing with such a great joy that the earth was split by the sound.
  2. Isaiah 28:9Whom is He trying to teach? To whom is He explaining His message? To infants just weaned from milk? To babies removed from the breast?
  3. Isaiah 30:29You will sing as on the night of a holy festival, and your heart will rejoice like one who walks to the music of a flute, going up to the mountain of the LORD, to the Rock of Israel.
  4. Jeremiah 9:17This is what the LORD of Hosts says: “Take note, and summon the wailing women; send for the most skillful among them.
  5. Jeremiah 31:4Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out in joyful dancing.
  6. Matthew 9:15Jesus replied, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.
  7. Matthew 9:23When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.
  8. Luke 15:25Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing.
  9. 1 Corinthians 9:19Though I am free of obligation to anyone, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible.

Cross-reference data: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (public domain) via OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

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