Luke 20:7
What does Luke 20:7 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 20:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 20:7 means
Faced with an inescapable dilemma, the religious leaders chose evasion. They declared, "they knew not whence it was," effectively refusing to answer Jesus' question directly. This response, while seemingly neutral, was a lie. As religious experts, it was their duty to discern the authenticity of prophets and their messages. Their claim of ignorance was a deliberate maneuver to avoid confessing either their hypocrisy (if they affirmed John) or their fear of the people (if they denied John). This evasion exposed their cowardice and unwillingness to submit to God's truth, prioritizing their own self-interest.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And they answered, that they knew not whence it was.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they made answer that they had no idea where it came from.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And they answered, that they knew not whence <FI>it was<Fi> ,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And they answered that they knew not whence it was.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And they answered, they did not know whence.
Context
This verse presents the leaders' final, unsatisfactory answer after their internal deliberation. Their refusal to state the source of John's authority serves as a direct setup for Jesus' own refusal to answer their initial question. This exchange demonstrates Jesus' ability to turn their trap back on them, leaving them exposed and silenced without Him having to directly declare His divine authority to their hostile ears.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 26:11
Jehovah, thy hand is lifted up, yet they see not: but they shall seethyzeal for the people, and be put to shame; yea, fire shall devour thine adversaries.
- Isaiah 44:18
They know not, neither do they consider: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.
- Zechariah 11:15
And Jehovah said unto me, Take unto thee yet again the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
- Isaiah 6:9
And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
- Isaiah 41:28
And when I look, there is no man: even among them there is no counsellor, that, when I ask of them, can answer a word.
- Jeremiah 8:7
Yea, the stork in the heavens knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle-dove and the swallow and the crane observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the law of Jehovah.
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