Luke 18:5
What does Luke 18:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 18:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 18:5 means
The judge's decision to grant the widow's request was not prompted by a change of heart or a desire for justice, but solely to stop her persistent troublesome appeals. His fear was that she would utterly exhaust him, literally "wear him out" or "bruise his face." This vividly illustrates that even a hardened, unrighteous person can be swayed by relentless and unwavering petitioning. The judge's motive, though selfish, ultimately granted the widow relief.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest she wear me out by her continual coming.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Because this widow is a trouble to me, I will give her her right; for if not, I will be completely tired out by her frequent coming.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862yet because this widow doth give me trouble, I will do her justice, lest, perpetually coming, she may plague me.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Yet because this widow is troublesome to me, I will avenge her, lest continually coming she weary me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890at any rate because this widow annoys me I will avenge her, that she may not by perpetually coming completely harass me.
Context
This verse concludes the judge's internal deliberation, detailing his pragmatic, self-interested reason for finally granting the widow's request. It directly follows his acknowledgment of his own unrighteousness in verse 4, setting the stage for Jesus to draw a powerful analogy between this harsh judge and God. This resolves the mini-narrative within the parable, preparing for Jesus's application of its meaning.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 10:47
And when he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
- Matthew 15:23
But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
- 2 Samuel 13:24
And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheep-shearers; let the king, I pray thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
- Luke 11:8
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.
- Luke 18:39
And they that went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
- Judges 16:16
And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, that his soul was vexed unto death.
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