Luke 18:1

Luke 18:1 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
• New International Version (NIV)Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,

Context of Luke 18:1

One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up. 2“There was a judge in a certain city,” he said, “who neither feared God nor cared about people. 3A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’

Luke 18:1 word by word

Ἔλεγεν δὲ παραβολὴν αὐτοῖς πρὸς τὸ δεῖν πάντοτε προσεύχεσθαι αὐτοὺς καὶ μὴ ἐγκακεῖνRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Andδέde · thenG1161
• he spakeλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
• ·καίkai · andG2532
• a parableπαραβολήparabolē · parableG3850
• unto themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• ·πρόςpros · to/withG4314
• that men oughtδεῖdei · be necessaryG1163
• alwaysπάντοτεpantote · alwaysG3842
• to prayπροσεύχομαιproseuchomai · to prayG4336
• notμήmē · notG3361
• to faintἐκκακέωekkakeō · to lose heartG1573

Cross-references for Luke 18:1

• Luke 11:5Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him,
• Luke 21:36Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
• Genesis 32:9Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O Lord, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’
• Job 27:8For what hope do the godless have when God cuts them off and takes away their life?
• Psalms 55:16But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me.
• Psalms 65:2for you answer our prayers. All of us must come to you.
• Psalms 86:3Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly.
• Psalms 102:17He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
• Psalms 142:5Then I pray to you, O Lord. I say, “You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.
• Jeremiah 29:12In those days when you pray, I will listen.
• Romans 12:12Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.
• Ephesians 6:18Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
• Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
• Colossians 4:2Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart.
• 1 Thessalonians 5:17Never stop praying.
• Psalms 27:13Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.

Commentaries on Luke 18:1

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Men ought always to pray - Therefore the plain meaning and moral of the parable are evident; viz. that as afflictions and desolations were coming on the land, and they should have need of much patience and continual fortitude, and the constant influence and protection of the Almighty, therefore they should be instant in prayer. It states, farther, that men should never cease praying for that the necessity of which God has given them to feel, till they…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1A parable - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. To this end - To show this. Always - At all times. That is, we must not neglect regular stated seasons of prayer; we must seize on occasions of remarkable providences as afflictions or signal blessings to seek God in prayer; we must “always” maintain a spirit of prayer, or be in a proper frame to lift up our hearts to God for his blessing, and we must not grow weary though our prayer seems not to be answered. Not…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The parable of the importunate widow. (1-8) The Pharisee and the publican. (9-14) Children brought to Christ. (15-17) The ruler hindered by his riches. (18-30) Christ foreshows his death. (31-34) A blind man restored to sight. (35-43) Verses 1-8 All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-8The parable of the persistent widow follows naturally from the teaching of Jesus about coming troubles (17:20–37). Believers can face trials and persevere through persistent prayer.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 18:1

• Afflictions and Adversities
• Constancy
• Despondency
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Prayer

In the dictionaries

• Admiration
• Bear
• Elect
• Luke, Gospel according to
• Agrapha
• End
• Faint
• Jesus Christ
• Luke, the Gospel of
• Mark, the Gospel According to

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