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[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.
Luke 23:34 · New American Standard Bible
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.
  • KJV Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and 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.
  • 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 tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
  • Acts 7:60He kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, “Lord, don’t hold this sin against them!” When he had said this, he fell asleep.
  • 1 Pet 3:9not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult; but instead blessing; knowing that to this were you called, that you may inherit a blessing.
  • 1 Pet 2:20–23For what glory is it if, when you sin, you patiently endure beating? But if, when you do well, you patiently endure suffering, this is commendable with God.
  • Luke 6:27–28“But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you,
  • Rom 12:14Bless those who persecute you; bless, and don’t curse.
  • Gen 50:17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
  • 1 Cor 2:8which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn’t have crucified the Lord of glory.
  • Ps 22:18They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.
  • Isa 53:12Therefore will I give him a portion with the great, and he will divide the plunder with the strong; because he poured out his soul to death, and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
  • 1 Tim 1:13although I was before a blasphemer, a persecutor, and insolent. However, I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
  • Acts 3:17“Now, brothers, I know that you did this in ignorance, as did also your rulers.
  • 1 Cor 4:12We toil, working with our own hands. When people curse us, we bless. Being persecuted, we endure.
  • John 15:22–24If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
  • Matt 11:25At that time, Jesus answered, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the wise and understanding, and revealed them to infants.
  • 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 the coat. Now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout.
  • John 19:11Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.”
  • Luke 23:47–48When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”
  • Luke 12:47–48That servant, who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
  • Matt 27:35–36When they had crucified him, they divided his clothing among them, casting lots,
  • Mark 15:24Crucifying him, they parted his garments among them, casting lots on them, what each should take.
  • Ps 106:16–23They envied Moses also in the camp, and Aaron, Yahweh’s saint.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (7)

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 23:34YouTube · 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 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

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.