Matthew 21:26
New International Version
But if we say, ‘Of human origin’—we are afraid of the people, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

New Living Translation
But if we say it was merely human, we’ll be mobbed because the people believe John was a prophet.”

English Standard Version
But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.”

Berean Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

Berean Literal Bible
But if we should say, 'from men,' we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet."

King James Bible
But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

New King James Version
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all count John as a prophet.”

New American Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.”

NASB 1995
“But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.”

NASB 1977
“But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude; for they all hold John to be a prophet.”

Legacy Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.”

Amplified Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the [response of the] crowd; for they all regard John as a prophet.”

Christian Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone considers John to be a prophet.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we’re afraid of the crowd, because everyone thought John was a prophet.”

American Standard Version
But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And we are too afraid of the crowds to say, 'From men', for they all hold Yohannan as a Prophet.”

Contemporary English Version
On the other hand, these people think John was a prophet, and we are afraid of what they might do to us. That's why we can't say it was merely some human who gave John the right to baptize."

Douay-Rheims Bible
If we shall say, from heaven, he will say to us: Why then did you not believe him? But if we shall say, from men, we are afraid of the multitude: for all held John as a prophet.

English Revised Version
But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But if we say, 'from humans,' we're afraid of what the crowd might do. All those people think of John as a prophet."

Good News Translation
But if we say, 'From human beings,' we are afraid of what the people might do, because they are all convinced that John was a prophet."

International Standard Version
But if we say, 'From humans,' we are afraid of the crowd, because everyone regards John as a prophet."

Literal Standard Version
And if we should say, From men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

Majority Standard Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

New American Bible
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we fear the crowd, for they all regard John as a prophet.”

NET Bible
But if we say, 'From people,' we fear the crowd, for they all consider John to be a prophet."

New Revised Standard Version
But if we say, ‘Of human origin,’ we are afraid of the crowd; for all regard John as a prophet.”

New Heart English Bible
But if we say, 'From people,' we fear the crowd, for all hold John as a prophet."

Webster's Bible Translation
But if we shall say, From men; we fear the people: for all hold John as a prophet.

Weymouth New Testament
and if we say 'a human origin' we have the people to fear, for they all hold John to have been a Prophet."

World English Bible
But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.”

Young's Literal Translation
and if we should say, From men, we fear the multitude, for all hold John as a prophet.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Authority Challenged
25What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ 26But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” 27So they answered, “We do not know.” And Jesus replied, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.…

Cross References
Matthew 11:9
What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.

Matthew 21:11
The crowds replied, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

Matthew 21:25
What was the source of John's baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?" They deliberated among themselves and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' He will ask, 'Why then did you not believe him?'

Matthew 21:27
So they answered, "We do not know." And Jesus replied, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.

Matthew 21:46
Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

Mark 6:20
because Herod feared John and protected him, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man. When he heard John's words, he was greatly perplexed; yet he listened to him gladly.


Treasury of Scripture

But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.

we fear.

Matthew 21:46
But when they sought to lay hands on him, they feared the multitude, because they took him for a prophet.

Matthew 14:5
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet.

Isaiah 57:11
And of whom hast thou been afraid or feared, that thou hast lied, and hast not remembered me, nor laid it to thy heart? have not I held my peace even of old, and thou fearest me not?

for.

Mark 6:20
For Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just man and an holy, and observed him; and when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.

John 5:35
He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

John 10:41,42
And many resorted unto him, and said, John did no miracle: but all things that John spake of this man were true…

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Matthew 21
1. Jesus rides into Jerusalem upon a donkey
12. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
17. curses the fig tree;
23. puts to silence the priests and elders,
28. and rebukes them by the parable of the two sons,
33. and the husbandmen who slew such as were sent to them.














Verse 26. - We fear the people. They dared not, as they would gladly have done, affirm that John was a false prophet and impostor; for then, as according to St. Luke they said, "All the people will stone us." Public opinion was too strong for them. Whatever view they really took of John's position, they were forced, for the sake of retaining popularity, to uphold its Divine character. All hold John as a prophet. Even Herod, for the same reason, long hesitated to put the Baptist to death (Matthew 14:5); and many of the Jews believed that Herod's defeat by Aretas was a judgment upon him for this murder (Josephus,' Ant.,' 18:5. 2); comp. Luke 7:29, which shows how extensive was the influence of this holy teacher, who indeed did no miracle, but persuaded men by pure doctrine, holy life, genuine love of souls, courageous reproof of sin wherever found. Others had drawn the very inference which Christ now demanded (see John 10:41, 42).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

if
ἐὰν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

we say,
εἴπωμεν (eipōmen)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

‘From
Ἐξ (Ex)
Preposition
Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.

men,’
ἀνθρώπων (anthrōpōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 444: A man, one of the human race. From aner and ops; man-faced, i.e. A human being.

we are afraid
φοβούμεθα (phoboumetha)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Plural
Strong's 5399: From phobos; to frighten, i.e. to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e. Revere.

of the
τὸν (ton)
Article - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

crowd,
ὄχλον (ochlon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

for
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

they all
πάντες (pantes)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3956: All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.

regard
ἔχουσιν (echousin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

John
Ἰωάννην (Iōannēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

as
ὡς (hōs)
Adverb
Strong's 5613: Probably adverb of comparative from hos; which how, i.e. In that manner.

a prophet.”
προφήτην (prophētēn)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4396: From a compound of pro and phemi; a foreteller; by analogy, an inspired speaker; by extension, a poet.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 21:26 But if we say 'From men' we (Matt. Mat Mt)
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