Luke 7:44

KJV

And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he turned {G4762} to {G4314} the woman {G1135}, and said {G5346} unto Simon {G4613}, Seest thou {G991} this {G5026} woman {G1135}? I entered {G1525} into {G1519} thine {G4675} house {G3614}, thou gavest me {G1325} no {G3756} water {G5204} for {G1909} my {G3450} feet {G4228}: but {G1161} she {G3778}{G846} hath washed {G1026} my {G3450} feet {G4228} with tears {G1144}, and {G2532} wiped {G1591} them with the hairs {G2359} of her {G846} head {G2776}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then, turning to the woman, he said to Shim`on, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house -- you didn't give me water for my feet, but this woman has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair!

Berean Standard Bible

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

American Standard Version

And turning to the woman, he said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thy house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath wetted my feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hair.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 7:44 presents a pivotal moment in Jesus' encounter with Simon the Pharisee, where Jesus directly confronts Simon's glaring lack of customary hospitality towards Him, starkly contrasting it with the extravagant and deeply humble devotion shown by the unnamed woman. This verse serves as the lynchpin for Jesus' subsequent teaching on the profound connection between the depth of one's love and the magnitude of forgiveness received, challenging conventional notions of righteousness and social standing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a broader narrative in [Luke 7](/luke/7 "Luke 7 - Faith, Forgiveness, and True Discipleship") that highlights Jesus' authority, compassion, and unique understanding of faith. The preceding verses ([Luke 7:36-39](/luke/7-36-39 "Luke 7:36-39 - The Sinner Woman Anoints Jesus")) set the scene: Jesus is invited to dine at the home of Simon, a Pharisee. While there, a woman "who was a sinner" enters, weeps over Jesus' feet, wipes them with her hair, kisses them, and anoints them with ointment. Simon's internal judgmental thoughts about both the woman and Jesus' prophetic claims ([Luke 7:39](/luke/7-39 "Luke 7:39 - Simon's Judgment")) immediately precede Jesus' direct address to him. Jesus then tells the [Parable of the Two Debtors](/luke/7-41-43 "Luke 7:41-43 - The Parable of the Two Debtors"), which provides the interpretive framework for understanding the woman's actions and Simon's reaction. Verse 44 is Jesus' pointed application of that parable, directly challenging Simon's spiritual blindness by contrasting his actions with the woman's.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Hospitality was a cornerstone of ancient Near Eastern culture, particularly in Jewish society. Upon entering a home, especially after travel on dusty roads, it was customary for a host to offer water for foot washing, a kiss of greeting, and anointing oil for the head, especially for an honored guest. These acts were not merely courtesies but expressions of respect, welcome, and honor. Simon, as a Pharisee and host, would have been acutely aware of these customs, yet he conspicuously withheld them from Jesus. The woman's actions, therefore, are not merely an act of devotion but a profound inversion of social norms: a "sinner" performs acts of honor that the "righteous" host neglects. Furthermore, a woman letting down her hair in public was considered highly immodest and a sign of disrepute, making her act of wiping Jesus' feet with her hair an extraordinary display of humility and self-abasement.

* **Key Themes:** [Luke 7:44](/luke/7-44 "Luke 7:44 - Jesus Contrasts Simon's Lack of Hospitality with the Woman's Devotion") powerfully contributes to several key themes within [Luke's Gospel](/luke/1 "The Gospel of Luke - The Compassionate Savior"). Firstly, it underscores the theme of **true versus superficial righteousness**. Simon, outwardly pious, lacks genuine love and spiritual insight, while the woman, a social outcast, demonstrates profound faith and gratitude. Secondly, it highlights **Jesus' authority to forgive sins** and His radical compassion for those marginalized by society, a recurring motif in Luke. Thirdly, the passage emphasizes the **relationship between forgiveness and love**, articulating that great love flows from the realization of great forgiveness, as explicitly stated in [Luke 7:47](/luke/7-47 "Luke 7:47 - Love as a Response to Forgiveness"). Finally, it subtly introduces the theme of **true hospitality**, demonstrating that genuine welcome extends beyond mere social obligation to heartfelt, sacrificial love.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **washed (Greek, _bréchō'_):** While _bréchō_ can mean "to moisten" or "to rain," here it is used in the sense of "to wash" or "to wet." The choice of this verb, combined with "tears," emphasizes the unconventional and deeply personal nature of the woman's act. It highlights that her "washing" was not with water, the customary element, but with her own sorrow and devotion.
* **tears (Greek, _dákry'_):** This word specifically denotes "a tear." The mention of tears is crucial, as it signifies the woman's profound emotional state—her sorrow, repentance, and overwhelming gratitude. It is a raw, unmediated expression of her heart, contrasting sharply with the dry, formal atmosphere created by Simon. Her tears are not just a medium for washing, but a symbol of her contrite spirit.
* **wiped (Greek, _ekmássō'_):** This verb means "to knead out" or, by analogy, "to wipe dry." The action implies thoroughness and care. The woman not only washed Jesus' feet with her tears but then meticulously dried them with her hair. This act of wiping, combined with the use of her hair, underscores her humility and total self-giving, as her hair was considered her glory and was typically kept bound in public.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, ‹Seest thou this woman?":** Jesus shifts His focus from Simon's unspoken judgment to the woman, but His words are directed *to* Simon. This rhetorical question forces Simon to truly "see" the woman, not through the lens of social stigma, but through the lens of her actions and, implicitly, her heart. It challenges Simon's perception and invites him to re-evaluate his own spiritual state in light of her devotion.
* **"I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet:":** Jesus directly calls out Simon's failure in hospitality. The lack of water for feet was a significant social slight, especially for a guest of honor who had traveled dusty roads. This omission reveals Simon's underlying disrespect or indifference towards Jesus, despite inviting Him to his home. It highlights a superficiality in Simon's welcome.
* **"but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped [them] with the hairs of her head.›":** This clause presents the stark and powerful contrast. The adversative "but" (G1161, _dé_) emphasizes the dramatic difference. The woman, a social outcast, performs an act of profound humility and costly devotion that far surpasses the expected courtesies. Her use of tears instead of water, and her hair instead of a towel, elevates her actions from mere hospitality to an extraordinary expression of love, repentance, and worship, demonstrating a depth of spiritual understanding that eludes Simon.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's narrative in [Luke 7:44](/luke/7-44 "Luke 7:44 - Jesus Contrasts Simon's Lack of Hospitality with the Woman's Devotion") masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its profound message. The most prominent is **Contrast**, which is central to Jesus' entire argument. He juxtaposes Simon's cold, perfunctory welcome with the woman's lavish, heartfelt devotion, highlighting the difference between outward religious observance and genuine inward transformation. This contrast is further amplified by **Irony**: the "sinner" acts more righteously and lovingly than the "righteous" Pharisee. The woman's actions are also deeply **Symbolic**: her tears symbolize her repentance and sorrow, her hair represents her humility and self-abasement, and the anointing of Jesus' feet with costly ointment symbolizes her profound reverence and the value she places on Jesus. The entire scene functions as an **Allegory** or a living parable, illustrating the principle Jesus articulates in the Parable of the Two Debtors immediately prior. The woman's actions are a form of **Hyperbole** in their extravagance, designed to shock and to underscore the depth of her gratitude.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 7:44 is a profound theological statement on the nature of true love, forgiveness, and discipleship. It reveals that genuine love for God is not merely a matter of intellectual assent or outward religious observance, but an overflowing response to the experience of God's radical forgiveness. Simon's failure to offer basic hospitality reflects a heart that has not fully grasped its own need for grace, leading to a judgmental spirit and a lack of authentic love. Conversely, the woman's extravagant actions demonstrate a heart overwhelmed by the reality of her forgiveness, prompting a spontaneous and costly outpouring of devotion. This passage challenges believers to move beyond superficial religiosity to a deep, transformative encounter with God's grace, which then compels a life of humble, sacrificial love.

* [Luke 7:47](/luke/7-47 "Luke 7:47 - Love as a Response to Forgiveness")
* [John 13:1-17](/john/13-1-17 "John 13:1-17 - Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet")
* [1 Peter 4:9](/1_peter/4-9 "1 Peter 4:9 - Practice Hospitality")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
This powerful encounter at Simon's house challenges us to deeply examine the state of our own hearts. Are we, like Simon, prone to judging others based on their outward appearance or past mistakes, while remaining blind to our own spiritual pride and need for grace? Do we offer God a mere customary, lukewarm devotion, or does our worship flow from a profound, heartfelt gratitude for the immense forgiveness and love we have received through Christ? The woman's actions call us to a costly, humble, and unreserved love for Jesus—a love that is willing to break social conventions, humble ourselves, and offer our most precious possessions (whether literal or symbolic) in worship. True hospitality, both to God and to others, is not about fulfilling a checklist of duties, but about extending genuine welcome, compassion, and honor from a heart transformed by grace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways might I, like Simon, be guilty of offering superficial "hospitality" or devotion to God, rather than a heartfelt and costly love?**
* **How does my understanding of God's forgiveness for my own sins impact the way I love and serve Him, and the way I view and treat others?**
* **What "tears" or "hairs of my head"—representing my deepest emotions, vulnerabilities, or even my "glory"—am I willing to offer in humble devotion to Jesus?**
* **Am I quick to judge others based on their past or reputation, or do I seek to see them through the eyes of Christ's compassion and potential for transformation?**

### FAQ

**What was the significance of washing feet in ancient culture, and why was Simon's omission so glaring?**

Answer: In ancient Near Eastern culture, especially in a dusty climate, washing a guest's feet was a fundamental act of hospitality and respect. It was typically performed by a servant and was a practical necessity for comfort. For a host like Simon, a Pharisee, to neglect this basic courtesy towards an invited guest, particularly one as esteemed as Jesus, was a significant social slight. It signaled a lack of true welcome, honor, and perhaps even veiled disrespect, especially when contrasted with the lavish welcome given to other honored guests. This omission reveals Simon's underlying attitude towards Jesus, which was likely one of intellectual curiosity mixed with skepticism, rather than genuine reverence.

**Why did the woman use her tears and hair instead of water and a towel?**

Answer: The woman's actions were extraordinary precisely because they deviated from the norm. Using her tears instead of water underscored her deep sorrow, repentance, and overwhelming emotion. It was a raw, personal, and profoundly humble act, signifying that her cleansing came from within her contrite spirit. Wiping Jesus' feet with her hair was an even more radical act of self-abasement. In that culture, a woman's unbound hair was considered her glory and was typically not displayed publicly, especially not in such a subservient manner. By using her hair, she demonstrated extreme humility, vulnerability, and a complete disregard for social conventions, prioritizing her devotion to Jesus above all else. These actions were not merely functional but deeply symbolic of her utter brokenness and profound love.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 7:44, while a powerful indictment of self-righteousness and a celebration of humble devotion, ultimately points to Christ as the source and object of such transformative love. Simon's failure to offer water for Jesus' feet foreshadows humanity's inability to cleanse itself or offer true spiritual refreshment. In stark contrast, Jesus Himself is the one who provides the "living water" that truly cleanses and satisfies, as He tells the Samaritan woman in [John 4:10-14](/john/4-10-14 "John 4:10-14 - Jesus Offers Living Water"). Furthermore, the woman's act of washing Jesus' feet with her tears and hair, a profound act of humility and service, is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus' own supreme act of humility and service. In [John 13:1-17](/john/13-1-17 "John 13:1-17 - Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet"), Jesus, the Lord and Teacher, stoops to wash the feet of His disciples, providing the ultimate example of servant leadership and demonstrating that true greatness is found in humble service. The woman's lavish anointing, born of forgiveness, also anticipates Jesus' own anointing for burial ([Matthew 26:6-13](/matthew/26-6-13 "Matthew 26:6-13 - The Anointing at Bethany")), where another woman's costly devotion is recognized and commended. Ultimately, the scene in Luke 7:44 underscores that Jesus is not merely a prophet who discerns hearts, but the very Lamb of God whose sacrifice provides the forgiveness that evokes such profound love and devotion, enabling "sinners" to become true worshipers.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Timothy 5:10

Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.

Judges 19:21

So he brought him into his house, and gave provender unto the asses: and they washed their feet, and did eat and drink.

Genesis 19:2

And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

Genesis 43:24

And the man brought the men into Joseph's house, and gave [them] water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender.

Genesis 18:4

Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

1 Samuel 25:41

And she arose, and bowed herself on [her] face to the earth, and said, Behold, [let] thine handmaid [be] a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

James 2:6

But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?