Luke 23 · Verse 17

Luke 23:17

(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)
Luke 23:17, King James Version

Luke 23:17 in other translations

WEBNow he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.
YLTfor it was necessary for him to release to them one at every feast,
DARBY(Now he was obliged to release one for them at the feast.)
Webster(For of necessity he must release one to them at the feast.)

What does Luke 23:17 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verse 17. Mt 27:15

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 17 For of necessity he must release one - That is, he was under the necessity of releasing one at this feast. The custom, however it originated, had now been so completely established that Pilate was obliged to attend to it. See on Mat 27:15 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 23:13-25

The fear of man brings many into this snare, that they will do an unjust thing, against their consciences, rather than get into trouble. Pilate declares Jesus innocent, and has a mind to release him; yet, to please the people, he would punish him as an evil-doer. If no fault be found in him, why chastise him? Pilate yielded at length; he had not courage to go against so strong a stream. He delivered Jesus to their…

Read the full comment on Luke 23:13-25 →

Luke 23:17 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.

ἀνάγκηνanagkēnnecessityG318
δέdenowG1161
εἶχενeichenhadG2192
ἀπολύεινapolueinto releaseG630
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
κατὰkataaccording toG2596
ἑορτὴνhe'ortēnfeastG1859
ἕνα.henaone.G1520

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mt 27:15; Mr 15:6; Joh 18:39

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

Context

  • Luke 23:16

    I will therefore chastise him, and release him.

  • Luke 23:17

    (For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.)

  • Luke 23:18

    And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas:

Read all of Luke 23

Luke 23:17 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y tenía necesidad de soltarles uno en cada fiesta.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Or il était obligé de leur relâcher quelqu’un à la fête.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er mußte ihnen aber notwendig auf das Fest einen losgeben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Necesse autem habebat dimittere eis per diem festum unum.