Devine Scripture

Luke 11:44

What does Luke 11:44 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 11:44 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 11:44 means

Jesus delivers a third "woe" to the Pharisees, using a stark metaphor: they are like unmarked "tombs which appear not." Just as people unknowingly walk over hidden graves and become ceremonially defiled, so too do the Pharisees, despite their outward show of righteousness, spiritually defile those around them without others realizing it. Their hidden corruption spreads unseen spiritual contamination.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over them know it not.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Woe unto you! for ye are as the tombs which appear not, and the men that walk over them know it not.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

A curse is on you! for you are like the resting-places of dead men, which are not seen, and men go walking over them without knowledge of it.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, because ye are as the unseen tombs, and the men walking above have not known.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Woe to you, because you are as sepulchres that appear not: and men that walk over are not aware.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Woe unto you, for ye are as the sepulchres which appear not, and the men walking over them do not know [it].

Context

This verse presents the third "woe" against the Pharisees, following the condemnations of their warped priorities and love for status. It introduces a powerful, disturbing metaphor of hidden tombs, emphasizing their unseen spiritual defilement. This prepares for the lawyer's interjection in the next verse, as this pointed accusation of spiritual pollution touches on the concerns of those responsible for interpreting ceremonial law.

v.43Woe unto you Pharisees! for ye love the chief seats in the synagogues, and the salutations in the marketplaces.

v.44This passage

v.45And one of the lawyers answering saith unto him, Teacher, in saying this thou reproachest us also.

Cross references

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

  • Acts 23:3

    Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: and sittest thou to judge me according to the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law?

  • Hosea 9:8

    Ephraim was a watchman with my God: as for the prophet, a fowler’s snare is in all his ways, and enmity in the house of his God.

  • Psalms 5:9

    For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; Their inward part is very wickedness; Their throat is an open sepulchre; They flatter with their tongue.

  • Numbers 19:16

    And whosoever in the open field toucheth one that is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

  • Matthew 23:27

    Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which outwardly appear beautiful, but inwardly are full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

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