Devine Scripture

Luke 11:39

What does Luke 11:39 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 11:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 11:39 means

Perceiving the Pharisee's thoughts, Jesus confronts him directly. He exposes their hypocrisy, stating that while Pharisees diligently cleanse the "outside of the cup and of the platter" (representing external religious observances and outward appearance), their "inward part"—their true character and motives—remain "full of extortion and wickedness." This reveals a deep spiritual corruption masked by superficial piety.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the Lord said to him, You Pharisees make the outside of the cup and the plate clean; but inside you are thieves and full of evil.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And the Lord said unto him, `Now do ye, the Pharisees, the outside of the cup and of the plate make clean, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the Lord said to him: Now you, Pharisees, make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter: but your inside is full of rapine and iniquity.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

But the Lord said to him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inward [parts] are full of plunder and wickedness.

Context

This verse presents Jesus' direct and cutting rebuke of the Pharisee's hypocrisy, immediately following the Pharisee's silent judgment of Jesus' lack of ceremonial washing. It directly challenges their external focus versus internal corruption. This sets the tone for the subsequent pronouncements of woe, where Jesus systematically exposes the spiritual bankruptcy of the Pharisees' and lawyers' practices.

v.38And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.

v.39This passage

v.40Ye foolish ones, did not he that made the outside make the inside also?

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 13:2

    And during supper, the devil having already put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,

  • Ezekiel 22:25

    There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey: they have devoured souls; they take treasure and precious things; they have made her widows many in the midst thereof.

  • Acts 8:21

    Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right before God.

  • Proverbs 30:12

    There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, Andyetare not washed from their filthiness.

  • Matthew 15:19

    For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, railings:

  • Psalms 22:13

    They gape upon me with their mouth, Asa ravening and a roaring lion.

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