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

1Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not become discouraged, 2saying, “In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect any person. Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice against my opponent.’ 4For a while he was unwilling; but later he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect any person, 5yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear 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

• Nowδέde · thenG1161
• there was a widowχήραchēra · widowG5503
• in that cityπόλιςpolis · cityG4172
• and she kept comingἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• to him, sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• Giveἐκδικέωekdikeō · to avengeG1556
• againstἀπόapo · away fromG575
• opponentἀντίδικοςantidikos · opponentG476

Cross-references for Luke 18:3

• Deuteronomy 27:19‘Cursed is one who distorts the justice due a stranger, an orphan, or a widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’
• 2 Samuel 14:5And the king said to her, “What is troubling you?” And she answered, “Truly I am a widow, for my husband is dead.
• Job 22:9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of orphans has been crushed.
• Job 29:13The blessing of the one who was about to perish came upon me, And I made the widow’s heart sing for joy.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor, Obtain justice for the orphan, Plead for the widow’s case.
• Jeremiah 5:28They are fat, they are sleek, They also excel in deeds of wickedness; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the orphan, so that they may be successful; And they do not defend the rights of the poor.
• Luke 18:7now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night, and will He delay long for them?
• Romans 13:3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;

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