Luke 14:6
What does Luke 14:6 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:6 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:6 means
They cannot answer Him. The force of Jesus’ appeal to obvious compassion, coupled with His healing, leaves the lawyers and Pharisees without a justifying word. Silence becomes a confession: their system cannot account for the goodness of God’s mercy. This moment exposes the barren outcome of prideful religion that values appearances over love. Once their objections are stilled, Jesus turns from the law court to the dining room, from Sabbath rescue to table humility. He will address not only what to do on the Sabbath, but how to carry oneself among others—aiming at the pride that had blinded them to the needs of the man He just healed.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they could not answer again unto these things.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they could not answer him again to these things.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they could not answer again unto these things.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they had no answer to that question.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they were not able to answer him again unto these things.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they could not answer him to these things.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they were not able to answer him to these things.
Context
This verse closes the Sabbath-healing dispute and opens the way for teaching about social conduct at the feast. Having silenced His critics, Jesus uses the same setting—a formal meal—to instruct the invited guests. He has observed how they scramble for honor, which becomes the subject of His parable. The subsequent verses (7–11) expose the folly of self-exaltation and promise God’s reversal in favor of the humble. Then He will pivot to the host, calling for generosity toward those who cannot repay, preparing the ground for the parable of the Great Supper.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 20:26
And they were not able to take hold of the saying before the people: and they marvelled at his answer, and held their peace.
- Luke 20:40
For they durst not any more ask him any question.
- Acts 6:10
And they were not able to withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spake.
- Luke 21:15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.
- Luke 13:17
And as he said these things, all his adversaries were put to shame: and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him.
- Matthew 22:46
And no one was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
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