Luke 20:19
What does Luke 20:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 20:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 20:19 means
The scribes and chief priests, hearing Jesus' words, immediately understood that He had spoken the parable "against them." They realized He was accusing them of being the wicked tenants who would reject and kill the Son of God. In that very hour, their intention was to seize Him, but they feared the reaction of the people, who still held Jesus in high regard. Their fear of the crowd again superseded their desire for immediate action, revealing their continued hypocrisy and self-preservation. This moment underscores the mounting hostility and their desperate desire to eliminate Jesus.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the scribes and the chief priests sought to lay hands on him in that very hour; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he spake this parable against them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the chief priests and the scribes made attempts to get their hands on him in that very hour; and they were in fear of the people, for they saw that he had made up this story against them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him in that hour, and they feared the people, for they knew that against them he spake this simile.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the chief priests and the scribes sought to lay hands on him the same hour: but they feared the people, for they knew that he spoke this parable to them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the chief priests and the scribes sought the same hour to lay hands on him, and they feared the people; for they knew that he had spoken this parable of them.
Context
This verse describes the immediate and hostile reaction of the religious leaders after Jesus' parable and the explanation of the cornerstone. Their self-incrimination is palpable as they recognize the parable's direct condemnation of them. This immediate desire to seize Jesus, coupled with their fear of the people, directly sets up their treacherous plan to subtly trap Jesus with a question about taxes in the very next verse.
v.18Every one that falleth on that stone shall be broken to pieces; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will scatter him as dust.
v.19This passage
v.20And they watched him, and sent forth spies, who feigned themselves to be righteous, that they might take hold of his speech, so as to deliver him up to the rule and to the authority of the governor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 26:3
Then were gathered together the chief priests, and the elders of the people, unto the court of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas;
- Luke 20:14
But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned one with another, saying, This is the heir; let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
- Mark 12:12
And they sought to lay hold on him; and they feared the multitude; for they perceived that he spake the parable against them: and they left him, and went away.
- Matthew 21:45
And when the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they perceived that he spake of them.
- Luke 19:47
And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:
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