Devine Scripture

Luke 19:40

What does Luke 19:40 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 19:40 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 19:40 means

Jesus responded to the Pharisees by declaring, "I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out." This profound statement asserted that His messianic identity and the truth of His kingship were so undeniable that creation itself would bear witness if His followers were silenced. It underscores the divine necessity of His recognition and the futility of trying to suppress God's plan.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said in answer, I say to you, if these men keep quiet, the very stones will be crying out.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he answering said to them, `I say to you, that, if these shall be silent, the stones will cry out!'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

To whom he said: I say to you that if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he answering said to them, I say unto you, If these shall be silent, the stones will cry out.

Context

This verse records Jesus's powerful and defiant response to the Pharisees' demand to silence his disciples. His statement emphasizes the undeniable truth of his messianic identity and the futility of trying to suppress it. This significant pronouncement concludes the immediate interaction concerning his entry and transitions to his poignant lament over Jerusalem.

v.39And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples.

v.40This passage

v.41And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it,

Cross references

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

  • Isaiah 55:12

    For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing; and all the trees of the fields shall clap their hands.

  • Psalms 98:7

    Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein;

  • Matthew 21:15

    But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children that were crying in the temple and saying, Hosanna to the son of David; they were moved with indignation,

  • Matthew 27:51

    And behold, the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake; and the rocks were rent;

  • 2 Peter 2:6

    and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly;

  • Habakkuk 2:11

    For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it.

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