Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην; ὁμοία ἐστὶ παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ἀγοραῖς ἃ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις αὐτῶν λέγουσιν· (Matthew 11:16)
But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces who call out to their companions and say,
Introduction: Jesus’ Use of Parabolic Imagery
In Matthew 11:16, Jesus introduces a vivid analogy to describe “this generation.” The verse reads: “Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω τὴν γενεὰν ταύτην; ὁμοία ἐστὶ παιδίοις καθημένοις ἐν ἀγοραῖς ἃ προσφωνοῦντα τοῖς ἑτέροις αὐτῶν λέγουσιν.” The question-and-answer form is striking: “To what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call out to their companions.” The grammar and vocabulary here create a powerful rhetorical picture. By examining the key forms — verbs of comparison, participles of description, and vocabulary of speech and play — we uncover how Jesus critiques his contemporaries with the force of Greek syntax.
The Core Verbs of the Passage
- ὁμοιώσω — “shall I compare”: future active indicative, 1st singular of ὁμοιόω. Used rhetorically, as if Jesus is deliberating aloud.
- ἐστί — “is”: present active indicative, 3rd singular of εἰμί. Marks the identity between “this generation” and the illustrative analogy.
- προσφωνοῦντα — “calling out”: present active participle, neuter accusative plural of προσφωνέω. Describes the action of the children.
- λέγουσιν — “they say”: present active indicative, 3rd plural of λέγω. The direct speech of the children is implied, framing the playful-yet-complaining tone.
Parsing Table of Key Forms
| Greek Form | Parsing | Aspect | Function | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ὁμοιώσω | Fut. act. ind., 1st sg. of ὁμοιόω | Perfective (projected action) | Rhetorical question — deliberative comparison | “shall I compare” |
| ἐστί | Pres. act. ind., 3rd sg. of εἰμί | Stative | Equative verb — identity marker | “is” |
| προσφωνοῦντα | Pres. act. part., neut. acc. pl. of προσφωνέω | Imperfective | Describes ongoing calling out | “calling out” |
| λέγουσιν | Pres. act. ind., 3rd pl. of λέγω | Imperfective | Direct speech of the children | “they say” |
The Rhetorical Question: Τίνι δὲ ὁμοιώσω;
The opening clause is not a request for information but a rhetorical question. By asking “To what shall I compare this generation?” Jesus dramatizes the act of evaluation. The future tense ὁμοιώσω creates suspense — the audience leans in to hear the analogy. The deliberative function here shows how questions can be used not to elicit answers but to provoke reflection.
Identity Through Analogy: ὁμοία ἐστί
The declaration ὁμοία ἐστὶ παιδίοις (“It is like children”) delivers the answer to the rhetorical setup. The use of ἐστί ties the metaphor directly to “this generation.” The comparison is not distant but immediate: their behavior is as if they are children at play. The marketplace (ἀγοραῖς) provides the setting — a bustling, public arena where social dynamics are visible to all. The imagery suggests not maturity and wisdom but immaturity and quarrelsomeness.
The Participial Description: προσφωνοῦντα
The participle προσφωνοῦντα describes the action of the children: “calling out” to their peers. The present tense emphasizes repetition and ongoing activity. The scene is not one of isolated speech but of continual calling, reflecting restlessness and dissatisfaction. The participle functions adjectivally, modifying παιδίοις (“children”), painting them as constantly demanding attention.
The Verb of Speech: λέγουσιν
The main verb λέγουσιν follows, indicating the substance of their calling. Though Matthew does not complete the quotation here, the participle and verb set up the reader for the complaints that follow in the subsequent verses. The present tense again captures the ongoing nature of their speech: persistent dissatisfaction. Grammar mirrors attitude: their words are not final but continuous, never resolved.
Lexical Nuances
- γενεά — “generation,” not merely an age group but a people characterized by a shared mindset.
- παιδία — “children,” here stressing immaturity, not innocence.
- ἀγοραῖς — marketplaces, central public spaces in Greco-Roman cities, settings of both business and social life.
- προσφωνέω — “to address, call out,” often used formally in rhetorical or public settings, but here applied to children in playful complaints.
Theological Reflection
This passage critiques the fickleness of “this generation.” Like children unsatisfied with any game, they reject both John the Baptist’s asceticism and Jesus’ table fellowship. The grammar reinforces this: verbs in the present tense depict continuous, restless dissatisfaction. The rhetorical question and simile highlight their immaturity. Instead of responding with discernment, they act as quarrelsome children, unable to recognize God’s wisdom in John and in Jesus. Language and imagery together condemn their failure to respond rightly to divine revelation.
Grammar that Plays the Part
The Greek grammar of Matthew 11:16 is not accidental: the future rhetorical question draws in the audience, the equative verb defines identity, the participle paints the scene, and the present verbs of speech echo restless dissatisfaction. Together, they dramatize a portrait of immaturity in grammar itself. The passage reminds us that syntax can act out the very scene it describes. By crafting the sentence this way, Jesus speaks both through words and through the structures of language, challenging hearers to move beyond childish quarrels toward mature discernment.
