Luke 5:35
What does Luke 5:35 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:35 means
Jesus adds that days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away, and then his disciples will fast. This anticipates Jesus’ departure (his death, ascension, and exaltation) after which his followers will lament and practice fasting. The verse acknowledges that joyful seasons are not permanent; loss and repentance have their time. It also subtly points to future change in the disciples’ experience—when Jesus is absent bodily, spiritual disciplines like fasting will be fitting. The remark frames Jesus’ presence as uniquely joyful and temporary in earthly terms.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But the days will come; and when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, then will they fast in those days.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But the days will come when he will be taken away from them, and then they will go without food.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but days will come, and, when the bridegroom may be taken away from them, then they shall fast in those days.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But the days will come when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them: then shall they fast in those days.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But days will come when also the bridegroom will have been taken away from them; then shall they fast in those days.
Context
This verse completes the wedding analogy: celebration now, discipline later. It prepares readers for the claim that Jesus brings a new era requiring new structures. The temporal note connects the feast context to future events in Jesus’ mission, while leading into two parables that explain why his movement cannot be confined to old religious forms. The verse reassures that fasting and other devotions are proper, but timing matters.
v.34And Jesus said unto them, Can ye make the sons of the bride-chamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
v.35This passage
v.36And he spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 13:7
Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith Jehovah of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered; and I will turn my hand upon the little ones.
- Isaiah 22:12
And in that day did the Lord, Jehovah of hosts, call to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
- John 16:16
A little while, and ye behold me no more; and again a little while, and ye shall see me.
- Luke 17:22
And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.
- Luke 24:17
And he said unto them, What communications are these that ye have one with another, as ye walk? And they stood still, looking sad.
- 1 Corinthians 7:5
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be by consent for a season, that ye may give yourselves unto prayer, and may be together again, that Satan tempt you not because of your incontinency.
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