Luke 7:32
What does Luke 7:32 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 7:32 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 7:32 means
Jesus compared 'this generation' to children playing in the marketplace, who are never satisfied with any game. Whether their companions played the celebratory 'piping' music, or the mournful 'wailing' dirges, the others refused to participate—they wouldn't dance or weep accordingly. This illustrates the Pharisees' and lawyers' unreasonableness: no matter what approach God's messengers took, they found fault, refusing to respond to either joy or sorrow, celebration or repentance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.
KJV
King James Version · 1611They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They are like unto children that sit in the marketplace, and call one to another; who say, We piped unto you, and ye did not dance; we wailed, and ye did not weep.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They are like children who are seated in the market-place, crying out to one another, and saying, We made music for you, but you did not take part in the dance; we gave cries of sorrow, but you were not sad.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862they are like to children, to those sitting in a market-place, and calling one to another, and saying, We piped to you, and ye did not dance, we mourned to you, and ye did not weep!
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752They are like to children sitting in the marketplace and speaking one to another and saying: We have piped to you, and you have not danced: we have mourned, and you have not wept.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890They are like children sitting in the market-place, and calling one to another and saying, We have piped to you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.
Context
This verse presents Jesus' parable illustrating the fickle and critical nature of 'this generation.' It directly answers the question posed in the previous verse, providing a vivid analogy that explains their unresponsiveness to both John's and Jesus' ministries, which will then be elaborated upon specifically in the following verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 11:16
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the marketplaces, who call unto their fellows
- Zechariah 8:5
And the streets of the city shall be full of boys and girls playing in the streets thereof.
- Jeremiah 5:3
O Jehovah, do not thine eyes look upon truth? thou hast stricken them, but they were not grieved; thou hast consumed them, but they have refused to receive correction: they have made their faces harder than a rock; they have refused to return.
- Isaiah 29:11
And all vision is become unto you as the words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one that is learned, saying, Read this, I pray thee; and he saith, I cannot, for it is sealed:
- Isaiah 28:9
Whom will he teach knowledge? and whom will he make to understand the message? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts?
- Proverbs 17:16
Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to buy wisdom, Seeing he hath no understanding?
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