Luke 5:19
What does Luke 5:19 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:19 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:19 means
Unable to get through the crowd, the men climb on the roof, remove tiles, and lower the paralytic on his couch before Jesus. This dramatic action demonstrates extraordinary faith and determination to reach Jesus. It also underscores how physical barriers were overcome by creative persistence. The image of a man lowered through the roof is vivid and testifies to the lengths friends will go for healing. The public lowering also exposes Jesus to scrutiny by onlookers and religious leaders, preparing ground for Jesus’ authoritative words about sin and forgiveness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And because of the mass of people, there was no way to get him in; so they went up on the top of the house and let him down through the roof, on his bed, into the middle in front of Jesus.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and not having found by what way they may bring him in because of the multitude, having gone up on the house-top, through the tiles they let him down, with the little couch, into the midst before Jesus,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in, because of the multitude, they went up upon the roof and let him down through the tiles with his bed into the midst before Jesus.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And not finding what way to bring him in, on account of the crowd, going up on the housetop they let him down through the tiles, with his little couch, into the midst before Jesus.
Context
This inventive solution to the crowd problem follows the mention of the crowd and the paralyzed man. The episode heightens tension: a bold act of faith places Jesus in a position to address not only illness but deeper needs. Immediately after, Jesus responds to their faith by pronouncing forgiveness, which provokes the scribes and Pharisees. So this verse is crucial—its dramatic imagery leads directly into theological debate about Jesus’ authority.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.
- 2 Samuel 11:2
And it came to pass at eventide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman bathing; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.
- Mark 2:4
And when they could not come nigh unto him for the crowd, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed whereon the sick of the palsy lay.
- Deuteronomy 22:8
When thou buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy roof, that thou bring not blood upon thy house, if any man fall from thence.
- Matthew 24:17
let him that is on the housetop not go down to take out the things that are in his house:
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