Devine Scripture

Luke 6:7

What does Luke 6:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 6:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 6:7 means

The scribes and Pharisees closely watched Jesus, hoping to catch Him healing on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him. Their focus was not on the suffering man or the display of God's power, but on finding a legal pretext to condemn Jesus. This reveals their hostility and hardened hearts, prioritizing their traditions and legalistic interpretations over compassion and divine action. They were more concerned with rules than with relieving human suffering.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath; that they might find how to accuse him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And the scribes and Pharisees were watching him to see if he would make him well on the Sabbath, so that they might be able to say something against him.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and the scribes and the Pharisees were watching him, if on the sabbath he will heal, that they might find an accusation against him.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And the scribes and Pharisees watched if he would heal on the sabbath: that they might find an accusation against him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And the scribes and the Pharisees were watching if he would heal on the sabbath, that they might find something of which to accuse him.

Context

Following the description of the man with the withered hand, this verse immediately reveals the adversarial intentions of the religious leaders. It highlights their manipulative surveillance tactics, setting up a direct confrontation between their rigid rules and Jesus' merciful actions. This context is crucial for understanding the tension and the deliberate nature of Jesus' subsequent healing.

v.6And it came to pass on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man there, and his right hand was withered.

v.7This passage

v.8But he knew their thoughts; and he said to the man that had his hand withered, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • John 5:10

    So the Jews said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.

  • John 9:16

    Some therefore of the Pharisees said, This man is not from God, because he keepeth not the sabbath. But others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such signs? And there was a division among them.

  • Jeremiah 20:10

    For I have heard the defaming of many, terror on every side. Denounce, and we will denounce him, say all my familiar friends, they that watch for my fall; peradventure he will be persuaded, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him.

  • Luke 11:53

    And when he was come out from thence, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press upon him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things;

  • Matthew 26:59

    Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false witness against Jesus, that they might put him to death;

  • Isaiah 29:21

    that make a man an offender in his cause, and lay a snare for him that reproveth in the gate, and turn aside the just with a thing of nought.

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