Luke 7:2
What does Luke 7:2 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 7:2 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 7:2 means
A Roman centurion, a military officer commanding about one hundred soldiers, had a servant who was gravely ill, at the point of death. The Greek word translated as 'dear' indicates the servant was highly valued by his master, showcasing a surprising compassion from a Roman authority figure towards a subordinate, especially a slave, in that era. This detail underscores the centurion's commendable character and sets the scene for Jesus' extraordinary intervention.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear unto him, was sick and at the point of death.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And a certain captain had a servant who was very dear to him; this servant was ill and near to death.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and a certain centurion's servant being ill, was about to die, who was much valued by him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the servant of a certain centurion who was dear to him, being sick, was ready to die.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And a certain centurion's bondman who was dear to him was ill and about to die;
Context
This verse introduces the immediate crisis that prompts the centurion's appeal to Jesus. It establishes the severity of the servant's condition and the centurion's deep care for him, laying the groundwork for understanding the urgency of the request in the subsequent verses and highlighting the centurion's unusual compassion.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 10:7
And when the angel that spake unto him was departed, he called two of his household-servants, and a devout soldier of them that waited on him continually;
- Proverbs 29:21
He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last.
- Matthew 27:54
Now the centurion, and they that were with him watching Jesus, when they saw the earthquake, and the things that were done, feared exceedingly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
- Luke 8:42
for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.
- Acts 27:3
And the next day we touched at Sidon: and Julius treated Paul kindly, and gave him leave to go unto his friends and refresh himself.
- Acts 10:1
Nowthere wasa certain man in Cæsarea, Cornelius by name, a centurion of the band called the Italian band,
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