Luke 9:52
What does Luke 9:52 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:52 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:52 means
Jesus sent messengers ahead of him who entered a Samaritan village to make ready for him. Sending messengers was common hospitality practice; it signals intent to stay and eat. Choosing a Samaritan village shows Jesus’ openness to reaching beyond Jewish boundaries despite mutual hostility. The request to prepare lodging indicates normal travel arrangements, but the Samaritans’ later refusal (v.53) will expose the deep barriers of prejudice and the cost of mission. The verse introduces the theme of rejection as Jesus heads to Jerusalem.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901and sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he sent men before: and they came to a small town of Samaria to make ready for him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he sent messengers before his face, and having gone on, they went into a village of Samaritans, to make ready for him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he sent messengers before his face: and going, they entered into a city of the Samaritans, to prepare for him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he sent messengers before his face. And having gone they entered into a village of the Samaritans that they might make ready for him.
Context
This verse follows Jesus’ resolute decision to go to Jerusalem (v.51) and begins the travel narrative through Samaria. Luke includes the Samaritans to emphasize the widening scope of Jesus’ ministry and the resistance he faces. The messengers’ mission to prepare lodging sets up the refusal they encounter (v.53) and James and John’s violent suggestion (vv.54–55), revealing tensions in discipleship and mission.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 7:27
This is he of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, Who shall prepare thy way before thee.
- John 8:48
The Jews answered and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a demon?
- Luke 10:1
Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come.
- Malachi 3:1
Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith Jehovah of hosts.
- Luke 10:33
But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,
- 2 Kings 17:24
And the king of Assyria brought men from Babylon, and from Cuthah, and from Avva, and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and placed them in the cities of Samaria instead of the children of Israel; and they possessed Samaria, and dwelt in the cities thereof.
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