Luke 18:8
What does Luke 18:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 18:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 18:8 means
Jesus confidently declares that God will swiftly deliver justice to His elect who pray diligently. The speed of God's action is assured, though it may not align with human expectations of time. However, Jesus then introduces a crucial, sobering question: when He returns as the Son of Man, will He find such persistent faith on the earth? This question challenges believers to consider the endurance of their faith in the face of delay and tribulation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
KJV
King James Version · 1611I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901I say unto you, that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949I say to you that he will quickly do right in their cause. But when the Son of man comes, will there be any faith on earth?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862I say to you, that He will execute the justice to them quickly; but the Son of Man having come, shall he find the faith upon the earth?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752I say to you that he will quickly revenge them. But yet the Son of man, when he cometh, shall he find, think you, faith on earth?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890I say unto you that he will avenge them speedily. But when the Son of man comes, shall he indeed find faith on the earth?
Context
This verse concludes the parable of the persistent widow, offering Jesus's final assurance of God's speedy justice for His elect. The immediate follow-up question about finding faith on earth at His return shifts the focus from God's promise to the disciples' responsibility, setting a tone of spiritual vigilance before the next parable begins.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- James 5:1
Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.
- Psalms 46:5
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God will help her, and that right early.
- Matthew 24:9
Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name’s sake.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1
But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that aught be written unto you.
- 2 Peter 2:3
And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.
- Psalms 143:7
Make haste to answer me, O Jehovah; my spirit faileth: Hide not thy face from me, Lest I become like them that go down into the pit.
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