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 Living Translation (NLT)A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

Context of Luke 18:3

1Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”

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‘Cursed is the one who perverts the justice due the stranger, the fatherless, and widow.’ “And all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’
• 2 Samuel 14:5Then the king said to her, “What troubles you?” And she answered, “Indeed I am a widow, my husband is dead.
• Job 22:9You have sent widows away empty, And the strength of the fatherless was crushed.
• Job 29:13The blessing of a perishing man came upon me, And I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.
• Jeremiah 5:28They have grown fat, they are sleek; Yes, they surpass the deeds of the wicked; They do not plead the cause, The cause of the fatherless; Yet they prosper, And the right of the needy they do not defend.
• Luke 18:7And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?
• Romans 13:3For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the 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