Luke 20 · Verse 7

Luke 20:7

And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.
Luke 20:7, King James Version

Luke 20:7 in other translations

BSBSo they answered that they did not know where it was from.
WEBThey answered that they didn’t know where it was from.
ASVAnd they answered, that they knew not whence it was.
YLTAnd they answered, that they knew not whence it was,
DARBYAnd they answered, they did not know whence.
BBEAnd they made answer that they had no idea where it came from.
WebsterAnd they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

What does Luke 20:7 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
7. could not tell--crooked, cringing hypocrites! No wonder Jesus gave you no answer (Mt 7:6). But what dignity and composure does our Lord display as He turns their question upon themselves!

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 20:1-8

Men often pretend to examine the evidences of revelation, and the truth of the gospel, when only seeking excuses for their own unbelief and disobedience. Christ answered these priests and scribes with a plain question about the baptism of John, which the common people could answer. They all knew it was from heaven, nothing in it had an earthly tendency. Those that bury the knowledge they have, are justly denied…

Read the full comment on Luke 20:1-8 →

Luke 20:7 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
ἀπεκρίθησανapekrithēsanthey answeredG611
μὴmēnotG3361
εἰδέναιeidenaito know
πόθεν.pothenfrom where.G4159

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

Cross references for Luke 20:7

  • Isaiah 41:28

    For I beheld, and there was no man; even among them, and there was no counsellor, that, when I asked of them, could answer a word.

  • Isaiah 42:19-20

    Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger that I sent? who is blind as he that is perfect, and blind as the Lord’s servant? Seeing many things, but thou observest not; opening the ears, but he heareth not.

  • John 3:19-20

    And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

  • Jeremiah 8:7-9

    Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times; and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming; but my people know not the judgment of the Lord. How do ye say, We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us? Lo, certainly in vain made he it; the pen of the scribes is in vain. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken: lo, they have rejected the word of the Lord; and what wisdom is in them?

  • 2 Peter 3:3

    Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,

  • Zechariah 11:15

    And the Lord said unto me, Take unto thee yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.

  • Isaiah 44:18

    They have not known nor understood: for he hath shut their eyes, that they cannot see; and their hearts, that they cannot understand.

  • Isaiah 29:14

    Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder: for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.

  • 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12

    And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

  • Isaiah 6:9-10

    And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.

  • John 9:39

    And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.

  • Isaiah 26:11

    Lord, when thy hand is lifted up, they will not see: but they shall see, and be ashamed for their envy at the people; yea, the fire of thine enemies shall devour them.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
that.
Isa 6:9,10; 26:11; 29:9-12,14; 41:28; 42:19,20; 44:18; Jer 8:7-9
Zec 11:15,17; Mal 2:7-9; Joh 3:19,20; 9:39; 2Th 2:10-12; 2Ti 3:8,9
2Pe 3:3

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

Context

  • Luke 20:6

    But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.

  • Luke 20:7

    And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.

  • Luke 20:8

    And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Read all of Luke 20

Luke 20:7 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y respondieron que no sabían de dónde.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et ils répondirent qu’ils ne savaient pas d’où il était.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und sie antworteten, sie wüßten nicht, woher.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et responderunt se nescire unde esset.