Luke 4:8
What does Luke 4:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:8 means
Jesus answers in verse 8 with Scripture: “Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.” He rejects the offer by reaffirming exclusive devotion to God. This reply emphasizes worship and service as inseparable—true worship includes obedience and singular allegiance. Jesus refuses to exchange God’s rightful rule for a counterfeit kingdom. His citation points to the first commandment’s priority and shows his unbroken loyalty to the Father. This reinforces that the messianic mission will honor God alone, not capitulate to expedient compromises.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And Jesus answered and said unto him, It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And Jesus in answer said to him, It has been said in the Writings, Give worship to the Lord your God, and be his servant only.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And Jesus answering him said, `Get thee behind me, Adversary, for it hath been written, Thou shalt bow before the Lord thy God, and Him only thou shalt serve.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And Jesus answering said to him. It is written: Thou shalt adore the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And Jesus answering him said, It is written, Thou shalt do homage to [the] Lord thyGod, and him alone shalt thou serve.
Context
This verse closes the second temptation by showing Jesus’ consistent response pattern: Scripture answers subversive enticement. It follows the devil’s offer of authority and precedes the final temptation regarding testing God’s protection. Placing worship at the center of the refusal clarifies the theological stakes: Jesus’ mission is rooted in exclusive obedience, not self-serving triumph. The reader sees a decisive Messiah who models faithful worship amid coercive offers of power.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 2:11
The lofty looks of man shall be brought low, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and Jehovah alone shall be exalted in that day.
- Revelation 22:9
And he saith unto me, See thou do it not: I am a fellow-servant with thee and with thy brethren the prophets, and with them that keep the words of this book: worship God.
- Psalms 83:18
That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, Art the Most High over all the earth.
- 2 Kings 19:15
And Hezekiah prayed before Jehovah, and said, O Jehovah, the God of Israel, that sittest above the cherubim, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth.
- Matthew 16:23
But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art a stumbling-block unto me: for thou mindest not the things of God, but the things of men.
- James 4:7
Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
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