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There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
Luke 17:18 · King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?”
  • BSB Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
  • NKJV Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
  • NASB Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
  • NLT Has no one returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Quick answer

Jesus observes that only the foreigner returned to give God glory. Insiders by birth can miss what outsiders embrace by faith.

Overview

Calling the Samaritan a "stranger" (foreigner) sharpens the irony: those nearest the covenant often respond least, while the outsider gives God glory. This anticipates Israel's broad rejection of Jesus and the inclusion of Gentiles in the gospel. Giving glory to God is shown to be the heart of a right response to his saving work.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 10

  • Ps 50:23Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.
  • Matt 15:24–28But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
  • Ps 106:13They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:
  • Isa 42:12Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.
  • Rev 14:7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.
  • Matt 19:30But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.
  • Matt 8:12But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  • Matt 8:10When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
  • Ps 29:1–2Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength.
  • Matt 20:16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (2)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Luke videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Luke 17:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on LukeMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.

How Luke 17:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.

Original language

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.