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

1One 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. A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.’ 4The judge ignored her for a while, but finally he said to himself, ‘I don’t fear God or care about people, 5but this woman is driving me crazy. I’m going to see that she gets justice, because she is wearing me out with her constant requests!’”

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 anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’
• 2 Samuel 14:5“What’s the trouble?” the king asked. “Alas, I am a widow!” she replied. “My husband is dead.
• Job 22:9You must have sent widows away empty-handed and crushed the hopes of orphans.
• Job 29:13I helped those without hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows’ hearts to sing for joy.
• Isaiah 1:17Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows.
• Jeremiah 5:28They are fat and sleek, and there is no limit to their wicked deeds. They refuse to provide justice to orphans and deny the rights of the poor.
• Luke 18:7Even he rendered a just decision in the end. So don’t you think God will surely give justice to his chosen people who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off?
• Romans 13:3For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor 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