Devine Scripture

Luke 4:21

What does Luke 4:21 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 4:21 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 4:21 means

Verse 21 records Jesus’ statement: 'To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.' He declares that Isaiah’s prophecy is realized in his ministry now. The immediate fulfillment claim asserts that the long-awaited messianic era begins with him. Addressing 'your ears' personalizes the announcement for his listeners in Nazareth—God’s favor has arrived for them in principle. It is both a proclamation and a challenge: they must accept the present inbreaking of God’s redemptive work. This bold claim will force his audience to confront whether they will recognize and receive the Messiah among them.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he began to say unto them, To-day hath this scripture been fulfilled in your ears.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Then he said to them, Today this word has come true in your hearing.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And he began to say unto them--`To-day hath this writing been fulfilled in your ears;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he began to say to them: This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he began to say to them, To-day this scripture is fulfilled in your ears.

Context

This declaration is the climax of the Nazareth synagogue episode: Jesus moves from reading Scripture to affirming its present fulfillment. It follows the reverent silence and precedes the mixed responses of wonder and disbelief. The verse frames the ensuing reactions—initial amazement, later skepticism, and finally hostility. The flow emphasizes that recognizing fulfillment requires faith; Jesus’ claim triggers a crisis of acceptance in those who think they already know him.

v.20And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

v.21This passage

v.22And all bare him witness, and wondered at the words of grace which proceeded out of his mouth: and they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?

Cross references

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

  • John 5:39

    Ye search the scriptures, because ye think that in them ye have eternal life; and these are they which bear witness of me;

  • Matthew 13:14

    And unto them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall in no wise understand; And seeing ye shall see, and shall in no wise perceive:

  • Luke 10:23

    And turning to the disciples, he said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:

  • John 4:25

    The woman saith unto him, I know that Messiah cometh (he that is called Christ): when he is come, he will declare unto us all things.

  • Acts 2:29

    Brethren, I may say unto you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us unto this day.

  • Acts 3:18

    But the things which God foreshowed by the mouth of all the prophets, that his Christ should suffer, he thus fulfilled.

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