Luke 4:5
What does Luke 4:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:5 means
In verse 5 the devil transports Jesus in a vision to view all the kingdoms of the world at once. This marvelous display is meant to tempt Jesus with immediate, panoramic access to worldly authority and splendor. The devil’s tactic is to offer temporal power without the cross. The scene emphasizes the scope of temptation—not merely physical or local—but cosmic and political. It also underlines the reality of the adversary’s knowledge of the world’s systems and his ability to offer corruptible kingdoms as false alternatives to God’s sovereign plan.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he led him up, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he took him up and let him see all the kingdoms of the earth in a minute of time.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the Devil having brought him up to an high mountain, shewed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the devil led him into a high mountain and shewed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And [the devil], leading him up into a high mountain, shewed him all the kingdoms of the habitable world in a moment of time.
Context
This verse initiates the second temptation, shifting focus from bodily need to political power and glory. After the failed attempt to exploit hunger, the devil escalates by offering dominion. The reader now sees the breadth of the struggle: it is not internal only but involves the lure of authority and expediency. The following verses reveal Jesus’ firm rejection of offerings that would subvert his mission, highlighting his commitment to God’s redeeming way rather than worldly shortcuts.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 15:52
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
- Matthew 24:14
And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a testimony unto all the nations; and then shall the end come.
- Ephesians 2:2
wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience;
- Ephesians 6:12
For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
- 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
- Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, And the joy of the godless but for a moment?
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