Luke 19 · Verse 3

Luke 19:3

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Luke 19:3, King James Version

Luke 19:3 in other translations

BSBHe was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.
WEBHe was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn’t because of the crowd, because he was short.
ASVAnd he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
YLTand he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small,
DARBYAnd he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was little in stature.
BBEMade an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.
WebsterAnd he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.

What does Luke 19:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 19:2-4

Lu 19:1-10. Zaccheus the Publican. The name is Jewish. 2-4. chief among the publicans--farming a considerable district, with others under him. rich--Ill-gotten riches some of it certainly was. (See on Lu 19:8.)

Read the full comment on Luke 19:2-4 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 3. Who he was. Rather what sort of person he was, or how he appeared. He had that curiosity which is natural to men to see one of whom they have heard much. It would seem, also, that in this case mere curiosity led to his conversion and that of his family. Comp. 1Cor 14:23-25. God makes use of every principle--of curiosity, or sympathy, or affection, or hope, or fear --to lead men in the way of salvation, and to impress truth on the minds of sinners.

The press. The crowd; the multitude that surrounded Jesus. Earthly princes are often borne in splendid equipages, or even carried, as in Eastern nations, in palanquins on the shoulders of men. Jesus mingled with the multitude, not seeking distinctions of that sort, and perhaps, in appearance, not distinguished from thousands that followed him.

Little of stature. Short. Not a tall man.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 And he sought to see Jesus who he was - So the mere principle of curiosity in him led to his conversion and salvation, and to that of his whole family, Luk 19:9.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 19:1-10

Those who sincerely desire a sight of Christ, like Zaccheus, will break through opposition, and take pains to see him. Christ invited himself to Zaccheus' house. Wherever Christ comes he opens the heart, and inclines it to receive him. He that has a mind to know Christ, shall be known of him. Those whom Christ calls, must humble themselves, and come down. We may well receive him joyfully, who brings all good with…

Read the full comment on Luke 19:1-10 →

Luke 19:3 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

καὶkaiAndG2532
ἐζήτειezēteihe was seekingG2212
ἰδεῖνideinto seeG1492
τὸνton<the>G3588
ἸησοῦνIēsounJesusG2424
τίςtiswhoG5101
ἐστινestinHe isG1510
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἠδύνατοēdunatohe was ableG1410
ἀπὸapobecause ofG575
τοῦtoutheG3588
ὄχλου,ochloucrowd,G3793
ὅτιhotibecauseG3754
τῇtēa<the>G3588
ἡλικίᾳhēlikiain statureG2244
μικρὸςmikrossmallG3398
ἦν.ēnhe was.G1510

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 19:3

  • Luke 23:8

    And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long season, because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him.

  • Luke 9:7-9

    Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John was risen from the dead; And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom I hear such things? And he desired to see him.

  • John 12:21

    The same came therefore to Philip, which was of Bethsaida of Galilee, and desired him, saying, Sir, we would see Jesus.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
he sought.
9:7-9; 23:8; Joh 12:21
because.
12:25

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 19:2

    And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

  • Luke 19:3

    And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.

  • Luke 19:4

    And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.

Read all of Luke 19

Luke 19:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y procuraba ver á Jesús quién fuese; mas no podía á causa de la multitud, porque era pequeño de estatura.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		et il cherchait à voir Jésus, quel il était; et il ne pouvait, à cause de la foule, car il était petit de taille.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und er suchte Jesum zu sehen, wer er wäre; und er vermochte es nicht vor der Volksmenge, denn er war klein von Gestalt.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		et quærebat videre Jesum, quis esset: et non poterat præ turba, quia statura pusillus erat.