Luke 9:5
What does Luke 9:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:5 means
Jesus directs them how to respond to rejection: shake the dust off your feet as you leave that city. This symbolic act testifies against those who refuse the message and severs responsibility from the missionaries. It signifies that the hearers are judged by their refusal, not the servants who carried the message faithfully. The ritual communicates seriousness without violence; it publicly marks rejection and preserves the evangelists’ conscience. Trusting God’s justice, they move on, leaving the city’s response to God’s reckoning rather than staying and arguing.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And as many as receive you not, when ye depart from that city, shake off the dust from your feet for a testimony against them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And if any people will not take you in, when you go away from that town, put off its dust from your feet for a witness against them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and as many as may not receive you, going forth from that city, even the dust from your feet shake off, for a testimony against them.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And as many as may not receive you, going forth from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a witness against them.
Context
Following instructions on hospitality, this verse addresses negative reception. It sets a limit on laboring where the message is refused, giving a clear, non-retaliatory response. The directive keeps the mission moving and accountable, anticipating both success and rejection. Immediately after, Luke records the apostles’ practical obedience and results of their mission (v.6), showing the pattern of sending out, encountering varied reception, and returning with report (v.10).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 10:18
yea and before governors and kings shall ye be brought for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles.
- Luke 5:14
And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- Luke 10:10
But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say,
- Luke 9:53
And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he were going to Jerusalem.
- Mark 6:11
And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them.
- Mark 9:37
Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever receiveth me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.
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