But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
Parallel translations
- WEB But they didn’t understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
- BSB But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
- NKJV But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
- NASB But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
- NLT But they didn’t know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn’t understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
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 disciples do not understand this saying, and it is concealed from them; they are afraid to ask. Their spiritual dullness keeps them from grasping the cross.
Overview
Despite Jesus' plain words, the disciples fail to comprehend His coming death, and the meaning is hidden from them for a time. Their fear to ask reveals reluctance to face so disturbing a truth. Full understanding would come only after the resurrection, when the Spirit opened their eyes.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Luke 18:34And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken.
- Luke 2:50And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them.
- John 12:16These things understood not his disciples at the first: but when Jesus was glorified, then remembered they that these things were written of him, and that they had done these things unto him.
- Mark 9:32But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
- Mark 9:10And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
- 2 Cor 3:14–16But their minds were blinded: for until this day remaineth the same vail untaken away in the reading of the old testament; which vail is done away in Christ.
- John 16:17–18Then said some of his disciples among themselves, What is this that he saith unto us, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me: and, Because I go to the Father?
- Mark 8:16–18And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have no bread.
- Mark 8:32–33And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
- Matt 16:22Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.
- John 14:5Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
- John 12:34The people answered him, We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up? who is this Son of man?
- Luke 9:46Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.
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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 9:45 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.