Devine Scripture

Luke 11:48

What does Luke 11:48 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 11:48 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 11:48 means

Jesus clarifies the damning implication of their actions: by building and adorning the tombs of the prophets whom their fathers killed, the lawyers are not truly honoring God's messengers, but are in effect acting as "witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers." Their actions demonstrate a silent approval and continuation of their ancestors' rejection of God's prophets, making them complicit in that historical sin.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

So ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers: for they killed them, and ye build their tombs.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Truly ye bear witness that ye allow the deeds of your fathers: for they indeed killed them, and ye build their sepulchres.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

So ye are witnesses and consent unto the works of your fathers: for they killed them, and ye build their tombs.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So you are witnesses and give approval to the work of your fathers; for they put them to death and you make their last resting-places.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

Then do ye testify, and are well pleased with the works of your fathers, because they indeed killed them, and ye do build their tombs;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Truly you bear witness that you consent to the doings of your fathers. For they indeed killed them: and you build their sepulchres.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Ye bear witness then, and consent to the works of your fathers; for they killed them, and ye build [their sepulchres].

Context

This verse explains the profound spiritual implication of the lawyers' act of building prophets' tombs, directly following the woe about this practice. It reveals their implicit consent to their fathers' actions, making them heirs to that guilt. This reasoning leads directly into the declaration that the blood of all the prophets will be required of this generation, emphasizing the cumulative nature of their rejection of God's messengers.

v.47Woe unto you! for ye build the tombs of the prophets, and your fathers killed them.

v.48This passage

v.49Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of them they shall kill and persecute;

Cross references

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

  • Hebrews 11:35

    Women received their dead by a resurrection: and others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

  • Matthew 23:31

    Wherefore ye witness to yourselves, that ye are sons of them that slew the prophets.

  • 2 Chronicles 36:16

    but they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and scoffed at his prophets, until the wrath of Jehovah arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

  • Joshua 24:22

    And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you Jehovah, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses.

  • James 5:10

    Take, brethren, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spake in the name of the Lord.

  • Acts 7:51

    Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Spirit: as your fathers did, so do ye.

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