Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?”
- KJV There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
- BSB Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”
- 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 50:23Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
- Matt 15:24–28But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
- Ps 106:13They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,
- Isa 42:12Let them give glory to Yahweh, and declare his praise in the islands.
- Rev 14:7He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and the springs of waters!”
- Matt 19:30But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
- Matt 8:12but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matt 8:10When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in Israel.
- Ps 29:1–2A Psalm by David. Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
- Matt 20:16So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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.