Luke 4:25
What does Luke 4:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:25 means
In verse 25 Jesus cites Elijah’s time when many widows in Israel suffered during a three and a half year drought, yet Elijah was sent not to them but to a widow at Zarephath in Sidon. He points to an instance where God’s provision came through a prophet to an outsider, challenging expectations of preferential treatment. The example illustrates God’s sovereign mercy that extends beyond national boundaries and calls the audience to see God’s purposes may bypass presumed deserving recipients. It confronts narrow views of blessing tied to ethnicity or proximity.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;
KJV
King James Version · 1611But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But of a truth I say unto you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there came a great famine over all the land;
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Truly I say to you, There were a number of widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months and there was no food in the land;
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and of a truth I say to you, Many widows were in the days of Elijah, in Israel, when the heaven was shut for three years and six months, when great famine came on all the land,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752In truth I say to You, there were many widows in the days of Elias in Israel, when heaven was shut up three years and six months, when there was a great famine throughout all the earth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But of a truth I say to you, There were many widows in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, so that a great famine came upon all the land,
Context
This verse begins Jesus’ concrete examples to support his claim about prophets being unwelcome at home. It moves from principle to narrative, showing historical instances where God acted outside Israel. This challenges Nazareth’s listeners, preparing them for an uncomfortable lesson: God’s agenda does not always align with human expectations. The example points toward Gentile inclusion and anticipates the congregation’s hostile reaction to perceived affronts to national favor.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ephesians 1:9
making known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him
- James 5:17
Elijah was a man of like passions with us, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain; and it rained not on the earth for three years and six months.
- Romans 9:20
Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?
- Matthew 20:15
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? or is thine eye evil, because I am good?
- 1 Kings 18:1
And it came to pass after many days, that the word of Jehovah came to Elijah, in the third year, saying, Go, show thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth.
- Isaiah 55:8
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith Jehovah.
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