Matthew 11:7

11:7 While they were going away, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness ¹  to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ² 

Luke 7:24

7:24 When ³  John’s messengers had gone, Jesus ⁴  began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness ⁵  to see? A reed shaken by the wind? ⁶ 

[11:7]  ¹ tn Or “desert.”

[11:7]  ² tn There is a debate as to whether one should read this figuratively (“to see someone who is easily blown over?”) or literally (Grk “to see the wilderness vegetation?… No, to see a prophet”). Either view makes good sense, but the following examples suggest the question should be read literally and understood to point to the fact that a prophet drew them to the desert.

[7:24]  ³ tn Here δέ (de) has not been translated.

[7:24]  ⁴ tn Grk “he”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[7:24]  ⁵ tn Or “desert.”

[7:24]  ⁶ tn There is a debate as to whether one should read this figuratively (“to see someone who is easily blown over?”) or literally (Grk “to see the wilderness vegetation?…No, to see a prophet”). Either view makes good sense, but the following examples suggest the question should be read literally and understood to point to the fact that a prophet drew them to the desert.