Matthew 11:9 (DBY)

Passage

But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet:

Nearby Context

Matthew 11:7 But as they went [away], Jesus began to say to the crowds concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? a reed moved about by the wind?

Matthew 11:8 But what went ye out to see? a man clothed in delicate raiment? behold, those who wear delicate things are in the houses of kings.

Matthew 11:9 But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and more than a prophet:

Matthew 11:10 this is he of whom it is written, Behold, *I* send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way before thee.

Matthew 11:11 Verily I say to you, that there is not arisen among [the] born of women a greater than John the baptist. But he who is a little one in the kingdom of the heavens is greater than he.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "went", "prophet", and "than". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "went" and "prophet", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 8's "But what went ye out to see..." into verse 10's "this is he of whom it is...", so "went" and "prophet" belong inside that flow. In Matthew context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "went" and "prophet" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.