Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
Parallel translations
- WEB yet because this widow bothers me, I will defend her, or else she will wear me out by her continual coming.’”
- BSB yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’”
- NKJV yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’ ”
- NASB yet because this widow is bothering me, I will give her justice; otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.’ ”
- NLT but 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!’”
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
The judge grants justice only to stop the widow wearing him out. Even self-interest yields to persistent appeal.
Overview
The judge acts not from justice or compassion but to be rid of the bother. If such a corrupt man finally responds to persistence, how much more will a just and loving God respond to his people. The contrast prepares for Jesus' assurance in the verses that follow.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 11:8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
- Luke 18:39And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
- Judg 16:16And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death;
- Mark 10:47–48And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
- 2 Sam 13:24–27And Absalom came to the king, and said, Behold now, thy servant hath sheepshearers; let the king, I beseech thee, and his servants go with thy servant.
- Matt 15:23But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 18:5 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.