Luke 18:3
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Luke 18:3 in other translations
| BSB | And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ |
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| WEB | A widow was in that city, and she often came to him, saying, ‘Defend me from my adversary!’ |
| ASV | and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. |
| YLT | and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent, |
| DARBY | and there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of mine adverse party. |
| BBE | And there was a widow in that town, and she kept on coming to him and saying, Give me my right against the man who has done me wrong. |
| Webster | And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary. |
What does Luke 18:3 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 18:1-5
Lu 18:1-8. Parable of the Importunate Widow. 1-5. always--Compare Lu 18:7, "night and day." faint--lose heart, or slacken.
Barnes' Notes
Avenge me. This would have been better translated, "Do me justice against my adversary, or vindicate me from him." It does not denote vengeance or revenge, but simply that she wished to have justice done her--a thing which this judge was bound to do, but which it seems he had no disposition to do.
Adversary. One opposed in law. In this case it seems that the judge was unwilling to do justice, and probably took advantage of her condition to oppress her.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 18:1-8
All God's people are praying people. Here earnest steadiness in prayer for spiritual mercies is taught. The widow's earnestness prevailed even with the unjust judge: she might fear lest it should set him more against her; but our earnest prayer is pleasing to our God. Even to the end there will still be ground for the same complaint of weakness of faith.
Luke 18:3 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Luke 18:3
- Isaiah 1:17
Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
- Jeremiah 5:28
They are waxen fat, they shine: yea, they overpass the deeds of the wicked: they judge not the cause, the cause of the fatherless, yet they prosper; and the right of the needy do they not judge.
- Job 22:9
Thou hast sent widows away empty, and the arms of the fatherless have been broken.
- Deuteronomy 27:19
Cursed be he that perverteth the judgment of the stranger, fatherless, and widow. And all the people shall say, Amen.
- Luke 18:7-8
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
- Job 29:13
The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.
- Romans 13:3-4
For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil.
- 2 Samuel 14:5-24
And the king said unto her, What aileth thee? And she answered, I am indeed a widow woman, and mine husband is dead. And thy handmaid had two sons, and they two strove together in the field, and there was none to part them, but the one smote the other, and slew him. And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth. And the king said unto the woman, Go to thine house, and I will give charge concerning thee. …
- Isaiah 1:21-23
How is the faithful city become an harlot! it was full of judgment; righteousness lodged in it; but now murderers. Thy silver is become dross, thy wine mixed with water: Thy princes are rebellious, and companions of thieves: every one loveth gifts, and followeth after rewards: they judge not the fatherless, neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Luke 18:2
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
- Luke 18:3
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
- Luke 18:4
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
Luke 18:3 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Había también en aquella ciudad una viuda, la cual venía á él diciendo: Hazme justicia de mi adversario. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | et dans cette ville-là il y avait une veuve, et elle alla vers lui, disant: Venge-moi de mon adversaire. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Es war aber eine Witwe in jener Stadt; und sie kam zu ihm und sprach: Schaffe mir Recht von meinem Widersacher. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Vidua autem quædam erat in civitate illa, et veniebat ad eum, dicens: Vindica me de adversario meo. |