11:19a

Verse 11:19 is the second example of the people being like the children in the parable. The people who rejected Jesus are like the children who refused to dance to happy music.

In some languages, it may be natural to add a conjunction to connect this verse to 11:18. For example:

And
-or-
But (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Then (Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English)

The Son of Man: Jesus used the title The Son of Man to refer to himself. In some languages it may be necessary to add the pronoun “I” to show that Jesus was referring to himself. For example:

I, the Son of Man,

This phrase also occurs in 8:20b, 9:6a and 10:23c. For help to translate this phrase, see the note under 8:20b. See also Son of Man in Key Biblical Terms for more information.

came: The verb came has the same meaning here as in 11:18a. It refers to the time of Jesus’ public ministry rather than him coming to a location.

Here are some other ways to translate this verb:

⌊during the ministry⌋ of the Son of Man
-or-
came ⌊and while doing God’s work⌋

eating and drinking: Here the word eating implies “eating good food.” The word drinking implies “drinking wine.” John probably avoided feasts and celebrations, but Jesus went to joyous events like weddings. He celebrated like a normal person.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

eating and drinking well
-or-
eating good food and drinking good drink
-or-
ate and drank with/like other people

11:19b

and: Verse 11:19b is a result of the people seeing Jesus’ way of life (in 11:19a). The people rejected Jesus’ message and so made wrong statements about his way of life.

Here are some other ways to begin this part of the verse:

so
-or-
and as a result

Look at this: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Look at this is literally “look, a man.” These words introduce the following words of disgust and ridicule, and show that the people rejected Jesus.

Here are some other ways to translate this phrase:

Look at this man! (Good News Translation)
-or-
That man (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
Well!

glutton and drunkard: Many of the people rejected Jesus’ message and ridiculed him by saying, “⌊He is a⌋ glutton and drunkard.” The saying glutton and drunkard is a lie. If people in your area will think that this saying is true about Jesus, you may want to make the text more clear. For example:

but they ⌊rejected Jesus⌋ saying, ‘He is a glutton and a drunkard’
-or-
but they ⌊falsely⌋ said, ‘He is a glutton and a drunkard’

glutton: This word refers to a person with an excessive appetite for food. This kind of person spends his life eating and thinking about eating. Some people were wrongly saying that Jesus was this kind of person.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

his appetite is too great
-or-
he does nothing but eat
-or-
He eats too much (New Century Version)

drunkard: The word drunkard refers to a person with an excessive appetite for alcoholic beverages. He drinks too much alcohol and is frequently drunk. Again, some people were wrongly saying that Jesus was this kind of person.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

he is a drunk
-or-
drinks too much wine (New Century Version)

11:19c

a friend of tax collectors: People used the phrase a friend of tax collectors to ridicule Jesus and show that they did not accept him. Jews considered tax collectors to be traitors and thieves. Jews also hated them because they worked for the Romans. They did not like tax collectors, and they did not like people who associated with them and were their friends.

The term tax collectors also occurs in 9:10b. See the note there for help in translating this term.

and sinners: The word sinners refers to two other types of Jews:

(a) Jews who were sinful/immoral. They did not follow the laws of Moses, and

(b) Jews who did not follow the strict laws of the Pharisees regarding how to remain ceremonially clean/pure.

Religious Jews like the Pharisees believed that they would become unclean/impure if they associated with either of these types of people. So they shunned them. In their minds, Jesus was also unclean because he associated with sinners.

Here are some other ways to translate this word:

lawbreakers
-or-
other people who are sinful people
-or-
people who were evil/sinful
-or-
outcasts (Good News Translation)

The term sinners also occurs in 9:10b. You should translate it here as you did there.

11:19d

But: There is a contrast between this verse and the words that people were saying (in 11:18–19c). The Jews of Jesus’ generation rejected John and Jesus, but Jesus defended John and himself with the proverb in this verse. Many English versions introduce the verse with a conjunction that expresses contrast. For example:

Yet (Revised Standard Version)
-or-
however (Good News Translation)

In some languages, it may be natural to make the connection between this verse and 11:18–19c more clear.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

⌊They say those things⌋ but
-or-

⌊Although they say these words⌋ nevertheless

wisdom is vindicated by her actions: This sentence is probably a Jewish saying or proverb. In it wisdom is talked about as if it were a person. This saying indicates that a wise person’s deeds prove who is following the right path. A person’s deeds show who is truly wise.

In this context, the deeds of John and Jesus showed that they had God’s wisdom. John’s deeds of preaching and baptizing brought people into the kingdom. Jesus’ deeds of healing people released them from their suffering. On the other hand, the teachings of the Pharisees put a burden on people.

You should translate these words as a proverb in your language. For example:

The results of a person’s deeds prove whether he is truly wise.
-or-
If a person has ⌊God’s⌋ wisdom, his deeds will show it.
-or-
A person’s deeds will show who is on the path of ⌊true⌋ wisdom

wisdom: The word wisdom in general means “the ability to understand events and know the right action.” In this context, it probably refers to the things that God was doing through John and Jesus. But the saying is speaking generally about wisdom.

Here are some other ways to translate wisdom:

the wise things to do

-or-

acting wisely

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