Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature.
Parallel translations
- WEB He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short.
- KJV And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
- BSB He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.
- NKJV And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
- NLT He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
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
Zacchaeus wants to see Jesus but cannot because he is short and the crowd is large. His earnest desire drives him to act.
Overview
Despite his wealth and status, Zacchaeus is hindered by his small stature and the pressing crowd. His determination to see Jesus reveals a genuine spiritual seeking beneath his hardened reputation. This eager desire, soon expressed in climbing a tree, prepares for Jesus' gracious initiative toward him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Luke 23:8Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.
- Luke 9:7–9Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,
- John 12:21These, therefore, came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and asked him, saying, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
- Luke 12:25Which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his height?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 19:3 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.