Luke 10:13
What does Luke 10:13 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 10:13 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 10:13 means
Jesus pronounces woe on Chorazin and Bethsaida, arguing that if mighty works done there had instead been done in Tyre and Sidon, those pagan cities would have repented long ago in sorrow and humility. The point is that witnessing divine power without repentance shows heart hardness. Jesus appeals to the moral expectation that miracles normally lead to repentance; failure to respond when having seen miracles is deeply damning. The mention of sackcloth and ashes evokes public sorrow and penitence.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949A curse is on you, Chorazin! A curse is on you, Beth-saida! For if such works of power had been done in Tyre and Sidon as have been done in you, they would have been turned from their sins, in days gone by, seated in the dust.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Woe to thee, Chorazin; woe to thee, Bethsaida; for if in Tyre and Sidon had been done the mighty works that were done in you, long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes, they had reformed;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Woe to thee, Corozain! Woe to thee, Bethsaida! For if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the mighty works that have been wrought in you, they would have done penance long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Woe to thee, Chorazin! woe to thee, Bethsaida! for if the works of power which have taken place in you had taken place in Tyre and Sidon, they had long ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
Context
This follows the general warning about cities that reject the message. Jesus cites real towns familiar to his audience, contrasting Jewish towns that refused with pagan cities that might have repented. The passage intensifies the rebuke and prepares for the final indictment of Capernaum in the next verse, showing escalating responsibility where greater revelation occurred.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 23:1
The burden of Tyre. Howl, ye ships of Tarshish; for it is laid waste, so that there is no house, no entering in: from the land of Kittim it is revealed to them.
- Romans 11:8
according as it is written, God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear, unto this very day.
- John 3:5
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
- Joel 3:4
Yea, and what are ye to me, O Tyre, and Sidon, and all the regions of Philistia? will ye render me a recompense? and if ye recompense me, swiftly and speedily will I return your recompense upon your own head.
- Job 42:6
Wherefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.
- Ezekiel 3:6
not to many peoples of a strange speech and of a hard language, whose words thou canst not understand. Surely, if I sent thee to them, they would hearken unto thee.
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