Luke 13:15
What does Luke 13:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 13:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 13:15 means
Jesus directly confronts the ruler of the synagogue, calling him and his ilk "hypocrites." He then exposes their inconsistency by pointing out their own Sabbath practices: they readily untie their animals (oxen or donkeys) from their stalls and lead them to water on the Sabbath. This action, necessary for the animals' well-being, was considered permissible work. By pointing out this common practice, Jesus highlights the ruler's double standard.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
KJV
King James Version · 1611The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But the Lord answered him, and said, Ye hypocrites, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the Lord gave him an answer and said, O you false men! do you not, every one of you, on the Sabbath, let loose his ox and his ass and take it to the water?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862Then the Lord answered him and said, `Hypocrite, doth not each of you on the sabbath loose his ox or ass from the stall, and having led away, doth water <FI>it<Fi> ?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the Lord answering him, said: Ye hypocrites, doth not every one of you, on the sabbath day, loose his ox or his ass from the manger and lead them to water?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890The Lord therefore answered him and said, Hypocrites! does not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the manger and leading [it] away, water [it]?
Context
As a direct response to the synagogue ruler's indignation in verse 14, Jesus immediately challenges his hypocrisy. This verse forcefully exposes the inconsistency of the religious leaders, using their own practices concerning animals to highlight their misplaced priorities. This sets up Jesus' powerful argument for the greater importance of human well-being and liberation over rigid interpretations of Sabbath law, further justifying His act of healing.
v.14And the ruler of the synagogue, being moved with indignation because Jesus had healed on the sabbath, answered and said to the multitude, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the day of the sabbath.
v.15This passage
v.16And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 15:14
Let them alone: they are blind guides. And if the blind guide the blind, both shall fall into a pit.
- Acts 8:20
But Peter said unto him, Thy silver perish with thee, because thou hast thought to obtain the gift of God with money.
- Proverbs 11:9
With his mouth the godless man destroyeth his neighbor; But through knowledge shall the righteous be delivered.
- Isaiah 29:20
For the terrible one is brought to nought, and the scoffer ceaseth, and all they that watch for iniquity are cut off;
- Matthew 15:7
Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
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