Luke 19:46
What does Luke 19:46 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 19:46 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 19:46 means
Jesus justified His actions by quoting Scripture: "It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers." He condemned the desecration of the temple, highlighting that their commercial activities had turned a place meant for reverent worship and prayer into a place of exploitation and corruption, a stark distortion of its divine purpose.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901saying unto them, It is written, And my house shall be a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of robbers.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Saying to them, It has been said, My house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a hole of thieves.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862saying to them, `It hath been written, My house is a house of prayer--but ye made it a den of robbers.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Saying to them: It is written: My house is the house of prayer. But you have made it a den of thieves.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890saying to them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of robbers.
Context
This verse provides Jesus's direct explanation and biblical justification for his cleansing of the temple, immediately following his actions. His appeal to Scripture underscores the sacred purpose of the temple and exposes the religious leaders' perversion of it. This pronouncement intensifies the conflict with those who profited from the temple's commercialism.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hosea 12:7
He isa trafficker, the balances of deceit are in his hand: he loveth to oppress.
- Isaiah 56:7
even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt-offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
- Matthew 23:13
But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye shut the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye enter not in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering in to enter.
- Ezekiel 43:12
This is the law of the house: upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house.
- Psalms 93:5
Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thy house, O Jehovah, for evermore.
- Jeremiah 7:11
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it, saith Jehovah.
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