And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise?

MATTHEW 21:16KJV
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Matthew 21:16 (KJV)

What does Matthew 21:16 mean?

Matthew 21:16 shows Jesus responding to religious leaders who are upset that children are praising him in the temple. Jesus affirms the children’s praise and quotes Scripture to show that even the youngest can recognize and honor what is true about God.

In this scene, Jesus is in the temple after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The chief priests and scribes question Jesus because children are calling him the “Son of David,” a title for the Messiah. Jesus answers by quoting from Psalm 8, reminding them that God welcomes praise from even the most humble and innocent—children and infants—suggesting their praise is fitting and even foretold in Scripture.

The Greek behind Matthew 21:16

  • ἐκ στόματος (ek stomatos) — “out of the mouth”: This phrase emphasizes that the praise comes directly from children, highlighting their innocence and sincerity.
  • νηπίων (nēpiōn) — “babes” or “young children”: The word refers to very young children, underlining the idea that even those with little understanding can speak truth about God.
  • θηλαζόντων (thēlazontōn) — “sucklings” or “infants”: This term points to nursing infants, making the point even stronger that God values praise from the least expected sources.
  • κατηρτίσω (katērtisō) — “perfected” or “prepared”: The Greek word here can mean “to make complete” or “to fully equip,” suggesting that God has ordained or brought to fullness the praise that comes from children.

Why Matthew 21:16 matters

  • Matthew 21:16 clarifies that Jesus welcomes and affirms the praise of children, even when religious authorities object, showing that spiritual insight is not limited to adults or leaders.
  • The verse connects Jesus’ actions to Old Testament prophecy, reinforcing his identity as the Messiah and showing that the events in the temple fulfill Scripture.
  • This moment highlights a theme in Jesus’ teaching: God values humility and sincerity, and sometimes those considered least important are the ones who truly recognize and honor him.

Where else these words appear

“praise” Greek G136 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 18:43 And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.

“sucklings” Greek G2337 · used in 6 verses

  • Matthew 24:19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
  • Mark 13:17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days!
  • Luke 21:23 But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.

“babes” Greek G3516 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
  • 1 Corinthians 3:1 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
  • Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

“perfected” Greek G2675 · used in 13 verses

  • Matthew 4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
  • 1 Corinthians 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
  • Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: