English Standard Version
Luke 5:21
21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Luke 5:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
- New International Version (NIV)The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)But the Pharisees and teachers of religious law said to themselves, “Who does he think he is? That’s blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Context of Luke 5:21
19but finding no way to bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down with his bed through the tiles into the midst before Jesus. 20And when he saw their faith, he said, "Man, your sins are forgiven you." And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 22When Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answered them, "Why do you question in your hearts? 23Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?
Read all of Luke 5Luke 5:21 word by word
καὶ ἤρξαντο διαλογίζεσθαι οἱ γραμματεῖς καὶ οἱ Φαρισαῖοι λέγοντες· τίς ἐστιν οὗτος ὃς λαλεῖ βλασφημίας; τίς δύναται ἁμαρτίας ἀφεῖναι εἰ μὴ μόνος ὁ θεός;¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- the scribesὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the scribesγραμματεύςgrammateus · scribeG1122
- the PhariseesΦαρισαῖοςPharisaios · PhariseeG5330
- beganἄρχομαιarchomai · to rule/beginG756
- to reasonδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whoτίςtis · which?G5101
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- whichὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- speakethλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- blasphemiesβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- ·εἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- aloneμόνοςmonos · aloneG3441
Cross-references for Luke 5:21
- Luke 5:17On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal.
- Luke 7:49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"
- Mark 2:6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts,
- Leviticus 24:16Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death.
- 1 Kings 21:10And set two worthless men opposite him, and let them bring a charge against him, saying, 'You have cursed God and the king.' Then take him out and stone him to death."
- Matthew 9:3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
- Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
- John 10:33The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."
- Acts 6:11Then they secretly instigated men who said, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God."
- Exodus 34:6The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, "The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,
- Psalms 32:5I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the Lord," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
- Psalms 35:5Let them be like chaff before the wind, with the angel of the Lord driving them away!
- Psalms 103:3who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
- Psalms 130:4But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
- Isaiah 1:18"Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.
- Isaiah 43:25"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
Commentaries on Luke 5:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Who can forgive sins, but God alone? - If Jesus were not God, he could not forgive sins; and his arrogating this authority would have been blasphemy against God, in the most proper sense of the word. That these scribes and Pharisees might have the fullest proof of his Godhead, he works in their presence three miracles, which from their nature could only be effected by an omniscient and omnipotent Being. The miracles are: The remission of the poor man's…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 9:1-7. Luke 5:17 On a certain day - The time and place are not particularly mentioned here, but from Matthew 9:1 it seems it was at Capernaum. Luke 5:19 The tiling - See the notes at Matthew 9:1-7.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 17-26Verses 17-26 How many are there in our assemblies, where the gospel is preached, who do not sit under the word, but sit by! It is to them as a tale that is told them, not as a message that is sent to them. Observe the duties taught and recommended to us by the history of the paralytic. In applying to Christ, we must be very pressing and urgent; that is an evidence of faith, and is very pleasing to Christ, and prevailing with him. Give us, Lord, the same…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 17-26The healing of the paralyzed man began the conflicts between Jesus and the religious leaders that continued through his public ministry until his crucifixion in Jerusalem.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 5:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 5
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries