Devine Scripture

Luke 7:37

What does Luke 7:37 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 7:37 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 7:37 means

Then, a woman known in the city as a 'sinner' (likely indicating a prostitute or one of ill repute) heard that Jesus was dining at the Pharisee's house. Driven by a compelling urge, she brought an alabaster cruse containing precious ointment. Her deliberate action, knowing Jesus' location, demonstrates her intentional pursuit of Him, hinting at her desperation and a deeper spiritual motivation to encounter Him.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner; and when she knew that he was sitting at meat in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster cruse of ointment,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And there was a woman in the town who was a sinner; and when she had news that he was a guest in the Pharisee's house, she took a bottle of perfume,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and lo, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having known that he reclineth (at meat) in the house of the Pharisee, having provided an alabaster box of ointment,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold a woman that was in the city, a sinner, when she knew that he sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and behold, a woman in the city, who was a sinner, and knew that he was sitting at meat in the house of the Pharisee, having taken an alabaster box of myrrh,

Context

This verse introduces the pivotal character of the 'woman who was a sinner' and her intentional act of coming to Jesus. It immediately follows Jesus' seating at Simon the Pharisee's table, creating a dramatic tension as this unexpected and unwelcome guest intrudes upon a respectable social gathering.

v.36And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he entered into the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to meat.

v.37This passage

v.38and standing behind at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 7:34

    The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold, a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

  • John 9:31

    We know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and do his will, him he heareth.

  • John 11:2

    And it was that Mary who anointed the Lord with ointment, and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick.

  • 1 Peter 4:18

    And if the righteous is scarcely saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?

  • Luke 18:13

    But the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote his breast, saying, God, be thou merciful to me a sinner.

  • Luke 19:7

    And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, He is gone in to lodge with a man that is a sinner.

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