Luke 9:4
What does Luke 9:4 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:4 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:4 means
Jesus tells them to stay in whatever house they enter rather than moving around. This teaches contentment with one host’s hospitality and prevents the appearance of favoritism or seeking better accommodations. Remaining in one house fosters deeper relationships, stability for ministry, and respect for the host’s generosity. It also reflects trust that God will provide through that household. The instruction preserves unity and avoids tempting the disciples to wander for personal advantage, reinforcing the simplicity and singular focus of their mission.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide, and thence depart.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if you go into a house, let that house be your resting-place till you go away.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and into whatever house ye may enter, there remain, and thence depart;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And whatsoever house you shall enter into, abide there and depart not from thence.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And into whatsoever house ye enter, there abide and thence go forth.
Context
This verse unpacks the travel instructions by specifying acceptable behavior in hospitality. It follows the command to take nothing and complements verse 5 about handling rejection. Keeping to one house helps the missionaries maintain their witness and supports the communal nature of early ministry. The next part of the narrative will show how they applied these instructions as they traveled and encountered varied responses from villages (v.6 onward).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 10:11
And into whatsoever city or village ye shall enter, search out who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go forth.
- Luke 10:5
And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
- Acts 16:15
And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
- Mark 6:10
And he said unto them, Wheresoever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart thence.
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