Luke 4:2
What does Luke 4:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:2 means
Verse 2 describes that Jesus spent forty days in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil and ate nothing, so he became hungry when the days were completed. The forty-day period evokes Israel’s testing and Moses’ fast as background; it emphasizes endurance and identification with human weakness. The mention of hunger underscores Jesus’ genuine humanity; his temptations were real. Yet his continued obedience shows reliance on God and Scripture rather than appetite or shortcuts, demonstrating how the Messiah faces temptation without yielding to sin.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901during forty days, being tempted of the devil. And he did eat nothing in those days: and when they were completed, he hungered.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For forty days, being tested by the Evil One. And he had no food in those days; and when they came to an end, he was in need of food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862forty days being tempted by the Devil, and he did not eat anything in those days, and they having been ended, he afterward hungered,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For the space of forty days, and was tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing in those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890forty days, tempted of the devil; and in those days he did not eat anything, and when they were finished he hungered.
Context
This verse elaborates the wilderness scene initiated in verse 1, rooting Jesus’ testing in biblical patterns of forty-day trials. It prepares readers for the three specific temptations that follow, highlighting both the severity of the trial and Jesus’ physical vulnerability. The contrast between the devil’s attacks and Jesus’ hunger sets up the crafty nature of the temptations: they appeal to legitimate needs, pride, and power, which the Savior resists to inaugurate his righteous ministry.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Deuteronomy 9:9
When I was gone up into the mount to receive the tables of stone, even the tables of the covenant which Jehovah made with you, then I abode in the mount forty days and forty nights; I did neither eat bread nor drink water.
- Hebrews 2:18
For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.
- Deuteronomy 9:25
So I fell down before Jehovah the forty days and forty nights that I fell down, because Jehovah had said he would destroy you.
- Exodus 24:18
And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount: and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
- Hebrews 4:15
For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Jonah 3:7
And he made proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;
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