Luke 4:3
What does Luke 4:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:3 means
In verse 3 the devil challenges Jesus, saying, “If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.” The tempter attacks by appealing to physical need and asking Jesus to prove his identity by using divine power for self-gratification. The conditional “If” aims to sow doubt and tempt Jesus into misusing his Sonship. The demand would turn miraculous provision into spectacle and self-serving proof, contradicting the mission of humble obedience. Jesus’ response shows he refuses to let hunger justify disobedience or to manufacture signs for self-validation.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the devil said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command this stone that it become bread.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the Evil One said to him, If you are the Son of God, give orders to this stone to become bread.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and the Devil said to him, `If Son thou art of God, speak to this stone that it may become bread.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the devil said to him: If thou be the Son of God, say to this stone that it be made bread.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the devil said to him, If thou be Son ofGod, speak to this stone, that it become bread.
Context
This is the first of three temptations, following the forty-day fast. It targets Jesus’ physical hunger and tests his trust in God’s timing and ways. The chapter will record two further temptations—offering political authority and testing God’s protection—each attacking a different temptation category: appetite, power, and pride. Seeing this as the opening temptation helps readers appreciate Jesus’ measured, Scripture-based responses and his commitment to fulfill God’s redemptive plan without shortcuts.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 3:22
and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form, as a dove, upon him, and a voice came out of heaven, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.
- Matthew 4:3
And the tempter came and said unto him, If thou art the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.
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