Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Parallel translations
- WEB Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.
- BSB Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up His garments by casting lots.
- NKJV Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” And they divided His garments and cast lots.
- NASB [But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”] And they cast lots, dividing His garments among themselves.
- NLT Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
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 prayed, Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they do, while soldiers gambled for His clothes. He interceded for His executioners even as He suffered.
Overview
From the cross Jesus prays for those crucifying Him, embodying His own teaching to love enemies and pray for persecutors. The dividing of His garments by lot fulfills Psalm 22:18. Though some manuscripts question this prayer's inclusion, it beautifully expresses the heart of the merciful High Priest who intercedes for transgressors and offers forgiveness to the ignorant and the guilty alike.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 22
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- Acts 7:60And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
- 1 Pet 3:9Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.
- 1 Pet 2:20–23For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God.
- Luke 6:27–28But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,
- Rom 12:14Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not.
- Gen 50:17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
- 1 Cor 2:8Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
- Ps 22:18They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
- Isa 53:12Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
- 1 Tim 1:13Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
- Acts 3:17And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
- 1 Cor 4:12And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:
- John 15:22–24If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
- Matt 11:25At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
- John 19:23–24Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also his coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
- John 19:11Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
- Luke 23:47–48Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.
- Luke 12:47–48And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.
- Matt 27:35–36And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
- Mark 15:24And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
- Ps 106:16–23They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron the saint of the LORD.
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 23:34 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
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