Luke 7:33
New International Version
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

New Living Translation
For John the Baptist didn’t spend his time eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He’s possessed by a demon.’

English Standard Version
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

Berean Standard Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Berean Literal Bible
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

King James Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

New King James Version
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

New American Standard Bible
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

NASB 1995
“For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

NASB 1977
“For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine; and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Legacy Standard Bible
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Amplified Bible
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

Christian Standard Bible
For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon! ’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
For John the Baptist did not come eating bread or drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon!’

American Standard Version
For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.

Contemporary English Version
John the Baptist did not go around eating and drinking, and you said, "John has a demon in him!"

English Revised Version
For John the Baptist is come eating no bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
John the Baptizer has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'There's a demon in him!'

Good News Translation
John the Baptist came, and he fasted and drank no wine, and you said, 'He has a demon in him!'

International Standard Version
Because John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, yet you say, 'He has a demon!'

Majority Standard Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ?He has a demon!?

NET Bible
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

New Heart English Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.'

Webster's Bible Translation
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a demon.

Weymouth New Testament
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

World English Bible
For John the Baptizer came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
For John the Immerser came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon;

Berean Literal Bible
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

Young's Literal Translation
'For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and ye say, He hath a demon;

Smith's Literal Translation
For John the Immerser came, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say, He has a demon.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say: He hath a devil.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For John the Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’

New American Bible
For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’

New Revised Standard Version
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon’;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For John the Baptist came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say, He is insane.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“For Yohannan The Baptizer came not eating bread neither drinking wine, and you were saying, 'He has a demon.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For John the Immerser came, neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, He has a demon.

Godbey New Testament
For John the Baptist has come neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say, He has a demon.

Haweis New Testament
For John the Baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

Mace New Testament
for John the Baptist, when he came, abstain'd from bread and wine; yet you say, he is possess'd with a demon.

Weymouth New Testament
For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, 'He has a demon!'

Worrell New Testament
For John, the Immerser, has come, neither eating bread, nor drinking wine; and ye say, 'He has a demon.'

Worsley New Testament
for John the baptist came neither eating bread, nor drinking wine, and ye say, he hath a demon:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Testifies about John
32They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ 33For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ 34The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’…

Cross References
Matthew 11:18
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’

Mark 1:6
John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

John 1:6-8
There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. / He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. / He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

John 5:35
John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you were willing for a season to bask in his light.

Matthew 3:1-4
In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea / and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” / This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.’” ...

Matthew 17:10-13
The disciples asked Him, “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” / Jesus replied, “Elijah does indeed come, and he will restore all things. / But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him whatever they wished. In the same way, the Son of Man will suffer at their hands.” ...

Malachi 4:5-6
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and awesome Day of the LORD. / And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers. Otherwise, I will come and strike the land with a curse.”

2 Kings 1:8
“He was a hairy man,” they answered, “with a leather belt around his waist.” “It was Elijah the Tishbite,” said the king.

Isaiah 40:3
A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert.

John 3:27-30
John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. / You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ / The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. ...

Matthew 21:32
For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Luke 1:15
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Luke 3:2-4
during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. / He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, / as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for Him.

John 10:41
Many came to Him and said, “Although John never performed a sign, everything he said about this man was true.”

Acts 13:24-25
Before the arrival of Jesus, John preached a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. / As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But there is One coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’


Treasury of Scripture

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and you say, He has a devil.

came.

Luke 1:15
For he shall be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb.

Jeremiah 16:8-10
Thou shalt not also go into the house of feasting, to sit with them to eat and to drink…

Matthew 3:4
And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.

He.

Matthew 10:25
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?

John 8:48,52
Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil? …

John 10:20
And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him?

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Luke 7
1. Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
10. heals his servant, being absent;
11. raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
18. answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
24. testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
31. compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
36. and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
44. he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance.














For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine
John the Baptist's lifestyle was one of asceticism, reflecting his role as a prophet and forerunner to Christ. His diet, as described in other scriptures, consisted of locusts and wild honey, emphasizing his separation from worldly pleasures and dedication to his mission. This lifestyle aligns with the Nazarite vow, which included abstaining from wine and strong drink, as seen in Numbers 6:1-4. John's choice to live in the wilderness and his simple diet were symbolic of his call to repentance and preparation for the coming Messiah. His lifestyle was a stark contrast to the religious leaders of the time, who often indulged in the comforts of life.

and you say, ‘He has a demon!’
The accusation that John had a demon reflects the rejection and misunderstanding he faced from the religious leaders and some of the people. This statement highlights the spiritual blindness and hardness of heart prevalent among those who refused to accept his message. In the cultural context, attributing someone's behavior to demonic influence was a way to discredit and dismiss them. This accusation parallels the rejection Jesus Himself faced, as seen in Matthew 11:18-19, where both John and Jesus are criticized for their differing approaches. The rejection of John as demon-possessed underscores the resistance to God's prophetic voice and the call to repentance.

Persons / Places / Events
1. John the Baptist
A prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for his ascetic lifestyle and call to repentance. He is a central figure in this verse, representing a life of self-denial and dedication to God's mission.

2. Jesus Christ
Although not directly mentioned in this verse, Jesus is the speaker and contrasts His own ministry with that of John the Baptist in the surrounding context.

3. Pharisees and Teachers of the Law
Religious leaders who often opposed both John and Jesus, criticizing their respective approaches to ministry.

4. The People of Israel
The broader audience who witnessed both John’s and Jesus’ ministries and had varied responses to their messages.

5. The Wilderness
While not mentioned in this specific verse, it is significant as the place where John the Baptist carried out much of his ministry, symbolizing separation from worldly influences.
Teaching Points
The Misunderstanding of Righteousness
The religious leaders misjudged John’s ascetic lifestyle as demonic. This teaches us to be cautious in our judgments and to seek understanding of God’s work in diverse forms.

The Call to Repentance
John’s lifestyle was a call to repentance and separation from worldly indulgence. We are reminded to examine our own lives for areas needing repentance and dedication to God.

Diverse Methods, One Mission
God uses different methods and personalities to accomplish His purposes. We should appreciate the diversity in ministry styles and focus on the shared mission of advancing the Gospel.

The Danger of Criticism
The criticism faced by John and Jesus highlights the human tendency to resist change and challenge. We should be open to God’s work, even when it challenges our preconceptions.

Living a Counter-Cultural Life
John’s life was counter-cultural, pointing to a higher calling. As Christians, we are called to live distinctively, reflecting God’s values in a world that often opposes them.(33) For John the Baptist came . . .--The substantives "bread" and "wine" are not found in St. Matthew's report.

Verse 33. - For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine. Referring to his austere life spent in the desert, apart from the ordinary joys and pleasures of men, not even sharing in what are usually termed the necessities of life. He was, in addition, a perpetual Nazarite, and as such no wine or fermented drink ever passed his lips. And ye say, He hath a devil. Another way for expressing their conviction that the great desert-preacher was insane, and assigning a demoniacal possession as the cause of madness. Not very long after this incident the curtain of death fell on the earthly scene of John's life. "We fools accounted his life madness, and his end to be without honour: how is he numbered among the children of God, and his lot is among the saints!" (Wisd. 5:4, 5). We. may be quite sure that "in the fiery furnace God walked with his servant, so that his spirit was not harmed, and having thus annealed his nature to the utmost that this earth can do, he took him hastily away and placed him among the glorified in heaven" (Irving, quoted by Farrar).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
For
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

John
Ἰωάννης (Iōannēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2491: Of Hebrew origin; Joannes, the name of four Israelites.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Baptist
Βαπτιστὴς (Baptistēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 910: From baptizo; a baptizer, as an epithet of Christ's forerunner.

came
Ἐλήλυθεν (Elēlythen)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

neither
μὴ (mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

eating
ἐσθίων (esthiōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2068: Strengthened for a primary edo; used only in certain tenses, the rest being supplied by phago; to eat.

bread
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.

nor
μήτε (mēte)
Conjunction
Strong's 3383: Nor, neither, not even, neither?nor. From me and te; not too, i.e. neither or nor; also, not even.

drinking
πίνων (pinōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4095: To drink, imbibe. A prolonged form of pio, which poo occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe.

wine,
οἶνον (oinon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3631: Wine. A primary word (yayin); 'wine'.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

you say,
λέγετε (legete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

‘He has
ἔχει (echei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2192: To have, hold, possess. Including an alternate form scheo skheh'-o; a primary verb; to hold.

a demon!’
Δαιμόνιον (Daimonion)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 1140: An evil-spirit, demon; a heathen deity. Neuter of a derivative of daimon; a d?Monic being; by extension a deity.


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