Luke 7:41
What does Luke 7:41 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 7:41 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 7:41 means
Jesus began a parable about 'a certain lender' who had 'two debtors.' One owed a substantial sum of 'five hundred shillings' (a very large debt, perhaps representing two years' wages), while the other owed a much smaller amount of 'fifty.' This simple scenario establishes a clear financial disparity between the two debtors, creating a relatable illustration for the forthcoming spiritual lesson about forgiveness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.
KJV
King James Version · 1611There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901A certain lender had two debtors: the one owed five hundred shillings, and the other fifty.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said, Two men were in debt to a certain man of business: one had a debt of five hundred pence, and the other of fifty.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Two debtors were to a certain creditor; the one was owing five hundred denaries, and the other fifty;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752A certain creditor had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence and the other fifty.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890There were two debtors of a certain creditor: one owed five hundred denarii and the other fifty;
Context
This verse introduces Jesus' parable of the two debtors, which is His indirect response to Simon's judgmental thoughts. It immediately follows Jesus' direct address to Simon, providing the foundational scenario for the spiritual lesson about the relationship between forgiveness and love that Jesus intends to convey.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 50:1
Thus saith Jehovah, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, wherewith I have put her away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities were ye sold, and for your transgressions was your mother put away.
- John 15:22
If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no excuse for their sin.
- Luke 11:4
And forgive us our sins; for we ourselves also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And bring us not into temptation.
- Luke 13:4
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and killed them, think ye that they were offenders above all the men that dwell in Jerusalem?
- 1 Timothy 1:15
Faithful is the saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief:
- Romans 3:23
for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
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