Luke 18:3

Luke 18:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
• New International Version (NIV)And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
• English Standard Version (ESV)And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’

Context of Luke 18:3

1Jesus used this illustration with his disciples to show them that they need to pray all the time and never give up. 2He said, “In a city there was a judge who didn’t fear God or respect people. In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice.’ 4“For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, ‘This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fear God or respect people, 5I’ll have to give her justice. Otherwise, she’ll keep coming to me until she wears me out.’ ”

Luke 18:3 word by word

χήρα δὲ ἦν ἐν τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ καὶ ἤρχετο πρὸς αὐτὸν λέγουσα· ἐκδίκησόν με ἀπὸ τοῦ ἀντιδίκου μου.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andδέde · thenG1161
• there wasεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• a widowχήραchēra · widowG5503
• inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• thatἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
• cityὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• she cameἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• untoπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Avengeἐκδικέωekdikeō · to avengeG1556
• meἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• ofἀπόapo · away fromG575
• adversaryἀντίδικοςantidikos · opponentG476

Cross-references for Luke 18:3

• Deuteronomy 27:19“Whoever deprives foreigners, orphans, or widows of justice will be cursed.” Then all the people will say amen.
• 2 Samuel 14:5The king asked her, “What can I do for you?” She answered, “I’m a widow; my husband is dead.
• Job 22:9You send widows away empty-handed, and the arms of orphans are broken.
• Job 29:13I received a blessing from the dying. I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Arrest oppressors. Defend orphans. Plead the case of widows.”
• Jeremiah 5:28They grow big and fat. Their evil deeds have no limits. They have no respect for the rights of others. They have no respect for the rights of orphans. But they still prosper. They don’t defend the rights of the poor.
• Luke 18:7Won’t God give his chosen people justice when they cry out to him for help day and night? Is he slow to help them?
• Romans 13:3People who do what is right don’t have to be afraid of the government. But people who do what is wrong should be afraid of it. Would you like to live without being afraid of the government? Do what is right, and it will praise you.

Commentaries on Luke 18:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Avenge me of mine adversary - The original, , had better be translated, Do me justice against, or vindicate me from, my adversary. If the woman had come to get revenge, as our common translation intimates, I think our blessed Lord would never have permitted her to have the honor of a place in the sacred records. She desired to have justice, and that only; and by her importunity she got that which the unrighteous judge had no inclination to give, but…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3A widow - This is a circumstance that gives increasing interest to the parable. Judges were bound to show special attention to widows, Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3. The reason of this was that they were defenseless, were commonly poor, and were liable to be oppressed by those in power. Avenge me - This would have been better translated, “Do me justice against my adversary, or vindicate me from him.” It does not denote vengeance or revenge, but simply that…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3a widow: God cares for widows, orphans, and foreigners. These were the most vulnerable people in ancient society. He has promised to judge those who treat them badly (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 10:18; 24:17; 27:19; Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 1:23; 10:2; Jeremiah 22:3; Ezekiel 22:7; Amos 5:10–13; Zechariah 7:10; Malachi 3:5). Give me justice: The woman was right in this dispute. She was not asking for special treatment.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-81-5. always--Compare Lu 18:7, "night and day." faint--lose heart, or slacken.Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 18:3

• Despondency
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Admiration
• Adversary
• Bear
• Elect
• Avenge; Avenger
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to
• Martha
• Prayer

Commentaries on Luke 18

• 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