Matthew 11:3
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And said to him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another?
American King James Version (AKJV)
And said to him, Are you he that should come, or do we look for another?
American Standard Version (ASV)
and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
Basic English Translation (BBE)
To say to him, Are you he who is to come, or are we waiting for another?
Webster's Revision
And said to him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another?
World English Bible
and said to him, "Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?"
English Revised Version (ERV)
and said unto him, Art thou he that cometh, or look we for another?
Definitions for Matthew 11:3
Clarke's Matthew 11:3 Bible Commentary
Art thou he that should come - Ο ερχομενος, he that cometh, seems to have been a proper name of the Messiah; to save or deliver is necessarily implied. See on Luke 7:19 (note).
There is some difficulty in what is here spoken of John. Some have thought he was utterly ignorant of our Lord's Divine mission, and that he sent merely for his own information; but this is certainly inconsistent with his own declaration, Luke 3:15, etc.; John 1:15, John 1:26, John 1:33, John 3:28, etc. Others suppose he sent the message merely for the instruction of his disciples; that, as he saw his end approaching, he wished them to have the fullest conviction that Jesus was the Messiah, that they might attach themselves to him.
A third opinion takes a middle course between the two former, and states that, though John was at first perfectly convinced that Jesus was the Christ, yet, entertaining some hopes that he would erect a secular kingdom in Judea, wished to know whether this was likely to take place speedily. It is very probable that John now began, through the length of his confinement, to entertain doubts, relative to his kingdom, which perplexed and harassed his mind; and he took the most reasonable way to get rid of them at once, viz. by applying to Christ himself.
Two of his disciples - Instead of δυο, two, several excellent MSS., with both the Syriac, Armenian, Gothic, and one copy of the Itala, have δια, by; he sent by his disciples.
Barnes's Matthew 11:3 Bible Commentary
Art thou he that should come? - That is, Art thou the Messiah, or the Christ? The Jews expected a Saviour. His coming had been long foretold, Genesis 49:10; Isaiah 9:1-6; Isaiah 11:1-5; Isaiah 35:4-6; Isaiah 53:1-12; Daniel 9:24-27. See also John 6:14. Compare Deuteronomy 18:18-19. In common language, therefore, he was familiarly described as "he that was to come." Luke adds here Luke 7:21, that at the time when the messengers came to him, Jesus "cured many of their infirmities, and plagues, and of evil spirits." An answer was therefore ready to the inquiries of John.
Wesley's Matthew 11:3 Bible Commentary
11:3 He that is to come - The Messiah.