Devine Scripture

Luke 13:4

What does Luke 13:4 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 13:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 13:4 means

Jesus offers another example of tragic death to further illustrate His point about suffering and sin. He references eighteen people killed when a tower in Siloam collapsed, again posing the question of whether they were greater offenders than others in Jerusalem. This incident, like the one involving Pilate, was likely a well-known local disaster. By introducing a second, distinct example, Jesus reinforces that His teaching is not limited to one specific political or religious context but applies to all forms of calamity.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Or those eighteen men who were crushed by the fall of the tower of Siloam, were they worse than all the other men living in Jerusalem?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Or those eighteen, on whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them; think ye that these became debtors beyond all men who are dwelling in Jerusalem?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Or those eighteen upon whom the tower fell in Siloe and slew them: think you that they also were debtors above all the men that dwelt in Jerusalem?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, think ye that they were debtors beyond all the men who dwell in Jerusalem?

Context

Building on the previous two verses, Jesus introduces a second tragic event, the collapse of the tower in Siloam, immediately after His pronouncement about repentance. This example serves to underscore that His message about suffering and sin is not limited to atrocities carried out by humans but extends to accidental deaths as well, broadening the scope of His warning and reinforcing its universal applicability.

v.3I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all in like manner perish.

v.4This passage

v.5I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

Cross references

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

  • Job 1:19

    and, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

  • Matthew 18:24

    And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, that owed him ten thousand talents.

  • Matthew 6:12

    And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

  • Nehemiah 3:15

    And the fountain gate repaired Shallun the son of Col-hozeh, the ruler of the district of Mizpah; he built it, and covered it, and set up the doors thereof, the bolts thereof, and the bars thereof, and the wall of the pool of Shelah by the king’s garden, even unto the stairs that go down from the city of David.

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