Matthew 11:9

Matthew 11:9 ivdei/n* profh,thn {B}

The textual problem is complicated by the possibility of taking ti, as meaning either “what?” or “why?” The printed text of verses Matthew 11:7 and Matthew 11:8 may be translated either (a) “What did you go out into the wilderness to behold? A reed shaken by the wind? (8) What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing?” or (b) “Why did you go out into the wilderness? To behold a reed shaken by the wind? (8) But why did you go out? To see a man dressed in soft clothing?” (The second interpretation is represented in the Gospel of Thomas, Logion 78.)

In ver. Matthew 11:9 the Committee decided that the reading ivdei/n profh,thn, which involves the previously mentioned ambiguity, is more likely to be original than the reading profh,thn ivdei/n, which, in the context, has to be taken in only one way, namely, “Why then did you go out? To see a prophet?”