Luke 7:47
What does Luke 7:47 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 7:47 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 7:47 means
Jesus then delivered the powerful conclusion: 'Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.' This verse reverses the apparent cause and effect for Simon's understanding: her great love was not the *cause* of her forgiveness, but the *evidence* of it. Her deep love stemmed from her realization of the abundance of grace she had received, confirming that deep gratitude flows from a profound sense of pardoned guilt.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And so I say to you, She will have forgiveness for her sins which are great in number, because of her great love: but he who has small need of forgiveness gives little love.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862therefore I say to thee, her many sins have been forgiven, because she did love much; but to whom little is forgiven, little he doth love.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Wherefore, I say to thee: Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much. But to whom less is forgiven, he loveth less.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For which cause I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven loves little.
Context
This verse is the theological climax of the interaction, directly stating the woman's forgiveness and explaining the relationship between forgiveness and love. It immediately follows Jesus' detailed comparison of the woman's actions to Simon's, clarifying the spiritual reality behind her extravagant devotion and setting up Jesus' direct declaration of forgiveness for the woman.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 5:3
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
- Isaiah 55:7
let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return unto Jehovah, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- Ezekiel 16:63
that thou mayest remember, and be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, because of thy shame, when I have forgiven thee all that thou hast done, saith the Lord Jehovah.
- 1 John 1:7
but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14
For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that one died for all, therefore all died;
- John 21:15
So when they had broken their fast, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of John, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.
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