Luke 14:2
What does Luke 14:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:2 means
A man with dropsy is set before Jesus, confronting everyone with a living test case. Dropsy (edema) visibly marks his suffering; it was a chronic, debilitating condition. His presence at a Pharisee’s table on a Sabbath suggests either a setup to trap Jesus or God’s providence to reveal hearts. The man brings no accusation or argument—only need. Jesus will act, making mercy—not ritual—central. The afflicted man stands as a picture of human helplessness and the compassion of God that does not delay relief. Before any debate can be resolved in theory, Jesus faces a person in pain, making abstract rules yield to the weight of love’s obligation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And, behold, there was a certain man before him which had the dropsy.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And behold, there was before him a certain man that had the dropsy.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And a certain man was there who had a disease.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and lo, there was a certain dropsical man before him;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And behold, there was a certain man before him that had the dropsy.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And behold, there was a certain dropsical [man] before him.
Context
Placed directly after the note that Jesus was being watched, this verse raises the stakes. The suffering man turns the Pharisees’ scrutiny into a moral crisis: will mercy be allowed on the Sabbath? The tension prepares for Jesus’ question to the lawyers and Pharisees in the next verse about what the law permits. Their silence and Jesus’ healing will follow, exposing the heart of the matter. From there, Jesus will broaden His lesson to social humility and true hospitality, showing that God’s kingdom values the lowly and needy rather than status and self-advancement.
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