Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 7:25
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.
25. A man clothed in soft raiment? ] A contrast to the camel’s hair mantle and leathern girdle of the Baptist; Mat 3:4.
they which are gorgeously apparelled and live delicately ] Rather, they who are in glorious apparel and luxury. The Herods were specially given both to ostentation in dress (Act 13:21) and to luxury, Mar 6:21; Jos. B. J. 1. 20, 2; Antt. xix. 8, 2; 18, 7.
in kings courts ] Rather, in palaces. Such as the palaces of the Herods which they had seen at Tiberias, Caesarea Philippi, and Jerusalem. We might almost fancy an allusion to Manaen the Essene, who is said in the Talmud to have openly adopted gorgeous robes to shew his allegiance to Herod. To the Herodians generally, and to all whose Judaism was a mere matter of gain and court favour, might have been applied the sneering nickname of the Talmud ‘Proselytes of the royal table’ ( Gere Shulchan Melachim. Kiddushin, f. 65. 2; Gratz, in. 308). John had been in palaces, but only to counsel and reprove. Our Lord on the only two occasions on which He entered palaces on the last day of His life was mocked by “ bright apparel ” (Luk 23:11), and a purple or scarlet robe (Mat 27:28).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But what went you out for to see?…. If not his air and action, what was it? was it his apparel and dress? was it to see
a man clothed in soft raiment? If this was the case, their labour was in vain, and they had their walk for nothing; for John was clothed with camels’ hair, rough and undressed, and was girt with a leathern girdle; there was nothing in his person, mien, and garb, that was attractive:
they which are gorgeously, apparelled; or richly clothed, as John was not:
and live delicately; in the most elegant manner, and on the richest dainties, as John did not, his food being locusts and wild honey:
are in kings’ courts; and not in a wilderness, where John; came preaching.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gorgeously apparelled ( ). In splendid clothing. Here alone in this sense in the N.T.
And live delicately (). From to break down, to enervate, an old word for luxurious living. See the verb in Jas 5:5.
In kings’ courts ( ). Only here in the N.T. Mt 11:8 has it “in kings’ houses.” Verses Luke 7:26; Luke 7:27 are precisely alike in Matt 11:9; Matt 11:10, which see for discussion.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Gorgeously apparelled [ ] . Lit., in splendid clothing.
Live delicately [ ] . Lit., are in luxury. On uJparcontev, are, see on Jas 2:15. On trufh, luxury, see on 2Pe 2:13, the only other place where it occurs. Compare the kindred verb trufaw, to live in luxury, Jas 5:5.
Kings’ courts [] . Only here in New Testament. Often rendered palaces. Sometimes, in later Greek, applied to a capital or royal city, a royal treasury, and a royal diadem.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “But what went ye out for to see?” (alla ti ekselthate idein) “But what did you really go out to perceive,” to look upon?
2) “A man clothed in soft raiment?” (anthropon en malakois himatiois emphiesmenon) “Was it a man who was having been clothed in soft garments?” Mat 3:4; Mar 1:6, no, but garments made of camel’s hair, a leather girdle about his loins, and who ate locusts and wild honey, found in the wilds of nature.
3) “Behold, they which are gorgeously appareled, and live delicately,” (idou hoi en himatismoendokso kai truphe huparchontes) “Behold, those being dressed (who are dressed) in splendid garments and in luxury,” in bright, splendid and costly raiment, in contrast with the rough apparel of John the Baptist, Mat 3:4.
4) “Are in king’s courts.” (en tois basileiois estin) “They are (reside) in royal palaces,” or royal courts, decked with purple and fine linen, much as the rich man of Luk 16:19; Mat 11:8.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(25) They which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately.The words are more vivid than those in St. Matthew (they that wear soft clothing), and bring out the idea of ostentatious display and extravagant excess of luxury, as well as effeminate self-indulgence. Such forms of selfishness were common among the house of Herod and their followers. So Josephus describes the royal apparel of Agrippa (Act. 12:21) as glittering with gold and silver tissues. The words must have gone home to some of the Herodians, and we may trace a touch of brutal vindictiveness in the gorgeous or bright robe, in which they arrayed the Prophet of Nazareth when they had Him in their power. (See Notes on Luk. 23:11; Mat. 11:8.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
“But what did you go out to? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings’ courts.”
They had not gone out to him in the desert because he walked in king’s courts, and wore beautiful clothing, and lived in luxury, for those who were like that were not to be found in the desert, they were in palaces, picking their way carefully to avoid contamination, and bowing and scraping to the king. So they had not been looking for that. They had gone because they were looking for what they did find, a prophet of God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Luk 7:25 . : Lk. changes the expression here, substituting for (Mt.), = those living in (clothed with) splendid apparel and luxury.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
for to see = to see. Greek. eidon. App-133. soft. See Mat 11:8. A contrast to “camel’s hair”.
are = are existing. Same word as “was” in Rom 4:19; “being “in Php 1:2, Php 1:6; and “is” in Php 1:3, Php 1:20.
delicately = luxuriously. The Herods were noted for this (Act 12:21. Mar 6:21. Josephus, Bel. Jud 1:20. 3 ; Ant. xix. 8. 2).
kings’ courts = royal palaces. Greek. Plural of basileion. Occurs only here in N.T.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
A man: 2Ki 1:8, Isa 59:17, Mat 3:4, 1Pe 3:3, 1Pe 3:4
are in: 2Sa 19:35, 1Ki 10:5, Est 1:3, Est 1:11, Est 4:2, Est 5:1, Est 8:15, Mat 6:29
Reciprocal: Lam 4:5 – that did 1Ti 5:6 – in pleasure Rev 18:3 – her delicacies
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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A man who was accustomed to the soft and luxurious life of royal palaces would be unsuited for work out in the wilderness. But the prophets had predicted the forerunner of Jesus was to operate in the wilderness, hence no surprise should be felt over the rough outdoor raiment of the Baptist.