Devine Scripture

Luke 22:50

What does Luke 22:50 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 22:50 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 22:50 means

One of the disciples strikes the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. The act shows how quickly fear turns to violence when prayer has been neglected. It also threatens to frame Jesus and His followers as armed rebels, justifying harsh treatment. The target—a servant—underscores the injustice of the blow. This impulsive defense is out of step with Jesus’ mission. In all four Gospels, this incident highlights the clash between human force and divine purpose. The wound becomes a platform for Jesus to reveal the true nature of His kingdom through healing rather than retaliation, and to keep the path to the cross undeflected by insurrectionist allegations.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And a certain one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his right ear.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And one of them gave a blow to the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And a certain one of them smote the servant of the chief priest, and took off his right ear,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And a certain one from among them smote the bondman of the high priest and took off his right ear.

Context

Following the disciples’ question about striking, a follower (elsewhere identified as Peter) acts without waiting, injuring the high priest’s servant. Immediately Jesus will halt the violence, command restraint, and heal the man’s ear. He will then address the arresting party, pointing out their cowardly secrecy and acknowledging that this is their hour and the power of darkness. The narrative moves from chaotic resistance to the Lord’s sovereign, composed submission.

v.49And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

v.50This passage

v.51But Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye them thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Romans 12:19

    Avenge not yourselves, beloved, but give place unto the wrath of God: for it is written, Vengeance belongeth unto me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.

  • Mark 14:47

    But a certain one of them that stood by drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

  • John 18:10

    Simon Peter therefore having a sword drew it, and struck the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. Now the servant’s name was Malchus.

  • Matthew 26:51

    And behold, one of them that were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and smote the servant of the high priest, and struck off his ear.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:4

    (for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty before God to the casting down of strongholds);

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