Luke 19:8
What does Luke 19:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 19:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 19:8 means
Zaccheus stood before the Lord and publicly declared his intention to give half of his possessions to the poor. Furthermore, he promised to restore fourfold any money he had wrongfully exacted, exceeding the legal requirement for restoration. This spontaneous and radical commitment to repentance and restitution demonstrates a genuine, faith-driven transformation of his heart, far beyond mere lip service.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Zacchæus stood, and said unto the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wrongfully exacted aught of any man, I restore fourfold.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Zacchaeus, waiting before him, said to the Lord, See, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone wrongly, I give him back four times as much.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Zaccheus having stood, said unto the Lord, `Lo, the half of my goods, sir, I give to the poor, and if of any one anything I did take by false accusation, I give back fourfold.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But Zacheus standing, said to the Lord: Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have wronged any man of any thing, I restore him fourfold.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I return [him] fourfold.
Context
Following the crowd's murmuring and Jesus's presence in his home, Zaccheus makes a profound public declaration of repentance and restitution. This act of faith and changed behavior is the direct outcome of his encounter with Jesus, and it immediately precedes Jesus's declaration of salvation in the following verse. His words confirm the authentic, life-altering impact of Jesus's visit.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 12:33
Sell that which ye have, and give alms; make for yourselves purses which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief draweth near, neither moth destroyeth.
- Proverbs 6:31
But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; He shall give all the substance of his house.
- 1 Timothy 6:17
Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;
- James 1:10
and the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
- 2 Corinthians 8:7
But as ye abound in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all earnestness, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
- Luke 3:8
Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
Related questions readers ask
Keep reading
Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 19
Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 19.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Children
God’s Word provides profound insights into the rearing, value, and blessing of children, as well as the responsibilities of both parents and children.
Topic
Bible Verses About Communion
Communion, often called the Lord's Supper, is a sacred practice remembering Jesus' sacrifice and looking forward to His return.
Topic
Bible Verses About Compassion
The Bible reveals God’s deep compassion for humanity and calls believers to extend similar mercy and understanding to others, reflecting His love.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Prayer Feels Empty
When the words won't come — scripture for the dry prayer life.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Forgotten by God
When the prayers feel one-sided — verses for the quiet seasons.