King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things?
Complete Jewish Bible:
His answer to them was, “Do you think that just because they died so horribly, these folks from the Galil were worse sinners than all the others from the Galil?
Berean Standard Bible:
To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate?
American Standard Version:
And he answered and said unto them, Think ye that these Galilæans were sinners above all the Galilæans, because they have suffered these things?
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And{G2532} Jesus{G2424} answering{G611} said{G2036} unto them{G846}, Suppose ye{G1380} that{G3754} these{G3778} Galilaeans{G1057} were{G1096} sinners{G268} above{G3844} all{G3956} the Galilaeans{G1057}, because{G3754} they suffered{G3958} such things{G5108}?
Cross-References (KJV):
John 9:2
- And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
Acts 28:4
- And when the barbarians saw the [venomous] beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.
Job 22:5
- ¶ [Is] not thy wickedness great? and thine iniquities infinite?
Job 22:16
- Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown with a flood:
Luke 13:4
- Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem?
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Luke 13:2
Luke 13:2 is a verse that captures a moment in Jesus's ministry where he addresses a common belief of the time that linked suffering with personal sin. The historical context of this verse is set during the Roman occupation of Judea, a period marked by various forms of oppression and violence. In this specific instance, Jesus is responding to a report about a tragic event where Pilate, the Roman governor, had mingled the blood of certain Galileans with their sacrifices, likely a reference to a historical incident where Pilate ordered the slaughter of some Galileans who were offering sacrifices in Jerusalem.
The themes presented in this verse include the nature of suffering, the misconception of divine retribution, and the call to repentance. Jesus challenges the assumption that those who suffered were greater sinners than others, a view that attributed calamity to personal moral failure. He questions this simplistic cause-and-effect relationship between sin and suffering, emphasizing that all people are vulnerable to suffering regardless of their moral standing. This teaching serves to correct the misunderstanding that those who experience tragedy are being punished by God for their sins.
In essence, Jesus uses this event to teach a broader spiritual lesson about the urgency of repentance and the need to understand God's justice and mercy in a more nuanced way. He encourages self-examination and spiritual reflection rather than judgment of others based on their misfortunes, urging his listeners to consider their own need for spiritual renewal and to turn back to God. This message remains relevant as it speaks to the human tendency to assign blame for suffering and challenges believers to cultivate compassion and introspection instead of judgment.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G2424
There are 935 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Ἰησοῦς
Transliteration: Iēsoûs
Pronunciation: ee-ay-sooce'
Description: of Hebrew origin (יְהוֹשׁוּעַ); Jesus (i.e. Jehoshua), the name of our Lord and two (three) other Israelites:--Jesus. - Strong's Number: G611
There are 248 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἀποκρίνομαι
Transliteration: apokrínomai
Pronunciation: ap-ok-ree'-nom-ahee
Description: from ἀπό and ; to conclude for oneself, i.e. (by implication) to respond; by Hebraism (compare עָנָה) to begin to speak (where an address is expected):--answer. - Strong's Number: G2036
There are 901 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἔπω
Transliteration: épō
Pronunciation: ep'-o
Description: a primary verb (used only in the definite past tense, the others being borrowed from ἐρέω, ῥέω, and φημί); to speak or say (by word or writing):--answer, bid, bring word, call, command, grant, say (on), speak, tell. Compare λέγω. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G1380
There are 62 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: δοκέω
Transliteration: dokéō
Pronunciation: dok'-o
Description: a prolonged form of a primary verb, (used only in an alternate in certain tenses; compare the base of δεικνύω) of the same meaning; to think; by implication, to seem (truthfully or uncertainly):--be accounted, (of own) please(-ure), be of reputation, seem (good), suppose, think, trow. - Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why. - Strong's Number: G3778
There are 344 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὗτος
Transliteration: hoûtos
Pronunciation: how'-tahee
Description: from the article ὁ and αὐτός; the he (she or it), i.e. this or that (often with article repeated):--he (it was that), hereof, it, she, such as, the same, these, they, this (man, same, woman), which, who. - Strong's Number: G1057
There are 10 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: Γαλιλαῖος
Transliteration: Galilaîos
Pronunciation: gal-ee-lah'-yos
Description: from Γαλιλαία; Galilean or belonging to Galilea:--Galilean, of Galilee. - Strong's Number: G1096
There are 636 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γίνομαι
Transliteration: gínomai
Pronunciation: ghin'-om-ahee
Description: a prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e. (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.):--arise, be assembled, be(-come, -fall, -have self), be brought (to pass), (be) come (to pass), continue, be divided, draw, be ended, fall, be finished, follow, be found, be fulfilled, + God forbid, grow, happen, have, be kept, be made, be married, be ordained to be, partake, pass, be performed, be published, require, seem, be showed, X soon as it was, sound, be taken, be turned, use, wax, will, would, be wrought. - Strong's Number: G268
There are 69 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ἁμαρτωλός
Transliteration: hamartōlós
Pronunciation: ham-ar-to-los'
Description: from ἁμαρτάνω; sinful, i.e. a sinner:--sinful, sinner. - Strong's Number: G3844
There are 189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: παρά
Transliteration: pará
Pronunciation: par-ah'
Description: a primary preposition; properly, near; i.e. (with genitive case) from beside (literally or figuratively), (with dative case) at (or in) the vicinity of (objectively or subjectively), (with accusative case) to the proximity with (local (especially beyond or opposed to) or causal (on account of):--above, against, among, at, before, by, contrary to, X friend, from, + give (such things as they), + that (she) had, X his, in, more than, nigh unto, (out) of, past, save, side…by, in the sight of, than, (there-)fore, with. In compounds it retains the same variety of application. - Strong's Number: G3956
There are 1075 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πᾶς
Transliteration: pâs
Pronunciation: pas
Description: including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole:--all (manner of, means), alway(-s), any (one), X daily, + ever, every (one, way), as many as, + no(-thing), X thoroughly, whatsoever, whole, whosoever. - Strong's Number: G3958
There are 41 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: πάσχω
Transliteration: páschō
Pronunciation: pen'-tho
Description: apparently a primary verb; to experience a sensation or impression (usually painful):--feel, passion, suffer, vex. - Strong's Number: G5108
There are 59 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: τοιοῦτος
Transliteration: toioûtos
Pronunciation: toy-oo'-tos
Description: (including the other inflections); from τοί and οὗτος; truly this, i.e. of this sort (to denote character or individuality):--like, such (an one).