Luke 20:47
What does Luke 20:47 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 20:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 20:47 means
Jesus concludes His warning by exposing the deepest evil of the scribes: they "devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers." This phrase implies they exploited vulnerable widows, perhaps through legal manipulation or by offering spiritual services in exchange for their property, under the guise of piety. Their "long prayers" were not acts of genuine devotion but a public performance to enhance their reputation and appear righteous. For such egregious hypocrisy and exploitation, Jesus declared, "these shall receive greater condemnation." This judgment emphasizes the severity of abusing religious authority and preying on the weak, promising a more severe divine reckoning.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Which devour widows’ houses, and for a shew make long prayers: the same shall receive greater damnation.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater condemnation.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Who take the property of widows and before the eyes of men make long prayers; they will get a greater punishment.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862who devour the houses of the widows, and for a pretence make long prayers, these shall receive more abundant judgment.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Who devour the houses of widows, feigning long prayer. These shall receive greater damnation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890who devour the houses of widows, and as a pretext make long prayers. These shall receive a severer judgment.
Context
This verse concludes Jesus' warning against the scribes, revealing their most egregious moral and spiritual failures: exploitation of the vulnerable and hypocritical prayer. This climactic condemnation immediately follows His description of their love for outward displays of honor, tying together their pride and deceit with their eventual judgment. This final severe warning from Jesus closes the chapter, leaving the reader with a clear understanding of the dangers of religious hypocrisy.
v.46Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and love salutations in the marketplaces, and chief seats in the synagogues, and chief places at feasts;
v.47This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 10:2
to turn aside the needy from justice, and to rob the poor of my people of their right, that widows may be their spoil, and that they may make the fatherless their prey!
- Micah 2:2
And they covet fields, and seize them; and houses, and take them away: and they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
- Mark 12:40
they that devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayers; these shall receive greater condemnation.
- Matthew 11:22
But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you.
- 1 Thessalonians 2:5
For neither at any time were we found using words of flattery, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness, God is witness;
- Micah 3:2
ye who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones;
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