SEV Biblia, Chapter 11:16
¶ Mas ¿a quin comparar esta generacin? Es semejante a los muchachos que se sientan en las plazas, y dan voces a sus compaeros,
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Matthew 11:16
Verse 16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation?] That is, the Jewish people-thn genean tauthn, this race: and so the word genea is often to be understood in the evangelists. In the markets] Or, places of concourse, agoraiv, from ageirw, I gather together; not a market-place only, but any place of public resort: probably meaning here, places of public amusement.
Calling unto their fellows] Or, companions. Instead of etairoiv, companions, many of the best MSS. have eteroiv, others. The great similarity of the words might have easily produced this difference.
There are some to whom every thing is useful in leading them to God; others, to whom nothing is sufficient. Every thing is good to an upright mind, every thing bad to a vicious heart.
John Gill's Bible Commentary
Ver. 16. But whereunto shall I liken this generation ? The men of that age, the stubborn and perverse Jews; who were pleased with nothing, with no mans ministry, neither with Johns, nor with Christs, but found fault with whatever they heard, or saw done: it is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling to their fellows : that is, the case of such persons may be fitly represented by children in a public market, calling to their companions, to pipe or mourn with them, and who are so morose and sullen as to do neither: for the men of that generation, are not the good natured children, that called to their fellows, and were willing to join in innocent diversions and exercises; but rather John the Baptist, Christ and his disciples, who may be compared to children, for their harmlessness and simplicity; and are represented as sitting in markets, places of concourse, where much people met together; which may intend the synagogues and temple, and other public places, which they made use of to publish their doctrines in, to preach to, and exhort the people; and as calling to their fellows, to their contemporaries, to those of their own nation, by the external ministry of the word.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 16-24 - Christ reflects on the scribes and Pharisees, who had a proud concei of themselves. He likens their behaviour to children's play, who being out of temper without reason, quarrel with all the attempts of their fellows to please them, or to get them to join in the plays for whic they used to assemble. The cavils of worldly men are often very trifling and show great malice. Something they have to urge agains every one, however excellent and holy. Christ, who was undefiled, an separate from sinners, is here represented as in league with them, an polluted by them. The most unspotted innocence will not always be defence against reproach. Christ knew that the hearts of the Jews wer more bitter and hardened against his miracles and doctrines, than thos of Tyre and Sidon would have been; therefore their condemnation woul be the greater. The Lord exercises his almighty power, yet he punishe none more than they deserve, and never withholds the knowledge of the truth from those who long after it.
Greek Textus Receptus
τινι 5101 I-DSN δε 1161 CONJ ομοιωσω 3666 5692 V-FAI-1S την 3588 T-ASF γενεαν 1074 N-ASF ταυτην 3778 D-ASF ομοια 3664 A-NSF 3664 A-NPN εστιν 2076 5748 V-PXI-3S παιδαριοις 3808 N-DPN εν 1722 PREP αγοραις 58 N-DPF καθημενοις 2521 5740 V-PNP-DPM και 2532 CONJ προσφωνουσιν 4377 5723 V-PAP-DPM τοις 3588 T-DPM εταιροις 2083 N-DPM αυτων 846 P-GPN
Vincent's NT Word Studies
16. Children (paidioiv). Diminutive, little children. The Rev. Donald Fraser gives the picture simply and vividly: "He pictured a group of little children playing at make-believe marriages and funerals. First they acted a marriage procession; some of them piping as on instruments of music, while the rest were expected to leap and dance. In a perverse mood, however, these last did not respond, but stood still and looked discontented. So the little pipers changed their game and proposed a funeral. They began to imitate the loud wailing of eastern mourners. But again they were thwarted, for their companions refused to chime in with the mournful cry and to beat their breasts.... So the disappointed children complained: 'We piped unto you and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not mourn. Nothing pleases you. If you don't want to dance, why don't you mourn?... It is plain that you are in bad humor, and determined not to be pleased'" ("Metaphors in the Gospels"). The issue is between the Jews (this generation) and the children of wisdom, v. 9.Market-places (agoraiv). From ajgeirw, to assemble. Wyc., renders cheepynge; compare cheapside, the place for buying and selling; for the word cheap had originally no reference to small price, but meant simply barter or price. The primary conception in the Greek word has nothing to do with buying and selling. Agora is an assembly; then the place of assembly. The idea of a place of trade comes in afterward, and naturally, since trade plants itself where people habitually gather. Hence the Roman Forum was devoted, not only to popular and judicial assemblies, but to commercial purposes, especially of bankers. The idea of trade gradually becomes the dominant one in the word. In Eastern cities the markets are held in bazaars and streets, rather than in squares. In these public places the children would be found playing. Compare Zech. viii. 5.
