Luke 4:22
What does Luke 4:22 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:22 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:22 means
Verse 22 says all testified to him and marveled at the words of grace from his mouth, yet they asked, 'Is not this Joseph’s son?' The people admired his gracious speech and authority but also struggled to reconcile it with his ordinary origins. Their question reveals a familiarity that breeds doubt: they know his family and wonder how he could speak so powerfully. This tension shows how proximity can obscure recognition of divine identity. The verse captures both initial positive reception and the beginnings of skepticism rooted in Jesus’ social background.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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?
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph’s son?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And they were all giving witness, with wonder, to the words of grace which came from his mouth: and they said, Is not this the son of Joseph?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and all were bearing testimony to him, and were wondering at the gracious words that are coming forth out of his mouth, and they said, `Is not this the son of Joseph?'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all gave testimony to him. And they wondered at the words of grace that proceeded from his mouth. And they said: Is not this the son of Joseph?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all bore witness to him, and wondered at the words of grace which were coming out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this the son of Joseph?
Context
This verse follows Jesus’ claim of fulfillment and shows the first human reaction: admiration mixed with incredulity. It sets up the sharper rejection to come. The reference to Joseph roots Jesus in the local community, whose knowledge of his upbringing breeds a limiting view. The chapter uses this reaction to show that Jesus’ authority will confront entrenched expectations, and that familiarity often impedes faith. The narrative momentum moves toward Jesus’ provocative replies.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 21:15
for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.
- Isaiah 50:4
The Lord Jehovah hath given me the tongue of them that are taught, that I may know how to sustain with words him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as they that are taught.
- Proverbs 10:32
The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable; But the mouth of the wickedspeaketh perverseness.
- Matthew 13:54
And coming into his own country he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?
- Psalms 45:4
And in thy majesty ride on prosperously, Because of truth and meekness and righteousness: And thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
- John 6:42
And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how doth he now say, I am come down out of heaven?
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