Luke 7:47
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
Luke 7:47 in other translations
| BSB | Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” |
|---|---|
| WEB | Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” |
| ASV | Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. |
| YLT | therefore I say to thee, her many sins have been forgiven, because she did love much; but to whom little is forgiven, little he doth love.' |
| DARBY | For which cause I say to thee, Her many sins are forgiven; for she loved much; but he to whom little is forgiven loves little. |
| BBE | And so I say to you, She will have forgiveness for her sins which are great in number, because of her great love: but he who has small need of forgiveness gives little love. |
| Webster | Wherefore I say to thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. |
What does Luke 7:47 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 7:44-47
44-47. I entered ... no water--a compliment to guests. Was this "much love?" Was it any?
Barnes' Notes
"Grant that she has been as great a sinner as you affirm,For she loved much. In our translation this would seem to be given as a reason why her sins had been forgiven--that she had loved much before they were pardoned; but this is clearly not the meaning. This would be contrary to the whole New Testament, which supposes that love succeeds, not precedes forgiveness; and which nowhere supposes that sins are forgiven because we love God. It would be also contrary to the design of the Saviour here. It was not to show why her sins had been forgiven, but to show that she had given evidence that they actually had been, and that it was proper, therefore, that she should come near to him and manifest this love. The meaning may be thus expressed:
and even grant that if she had continued so it might be
improper to suffer her to touch me, yet her conduct shows
that her sins have been forgiven. She has evinced so much
love for me as to show that she is no longer such a sinner
as you suppose, and it is not, therefore, improper that she
should be suffered to come near me."
"That her sins, so many and aggravated, have beenTo whom little is forgiven. He who feels that little has been forgiven--that his sins were not as great as those of others. A man's love to God will be in proportion to the obligation he feels to him for forgiveness. God is to be loved for his perfections, apart from what he has done for us. But still it is proper that our love should be increased by a consideration of his goodness; and they who feel--as Christians do--that they are the chief of sinners,will feel under infinite obligation to love God and their Redeemer, and that no expression of attachment to him can be beyond what is due.
forgiven--that she is no longer such a sinner as you
suppose, is manifest from her conduct. She shows deep
gratitude, penitence, love. Her conduct is the
proper expression of that love. While you have
shown comparatively little evidence that you felt that
your sins were great, and comparatively little
love at their being forgiven, she has shown that
she felt hers to be great, and has loved much."
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 7:36-50
None can truly perceive how precious Christ is, and the glory of the gospel, except the broken-hearted. But while they feel they cannot enough express self-abhorrence on account of sin, and admiration of his mercy, the self-sufficient will be disgusted, because the gospel encourages such repenting sinners. The Pharisee, instead of rejoicing in the tokens of the woman's repentance, confined his thoughts to her former…
Luke 7:47 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Luke 7:47
- 1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
- 1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
- Romans 5:20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
- Galatians 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
- Isaiah 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
- John 21:15-17
So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs. He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep. He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
- Ephesians 6:24
Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. Written from Rome unto the Ephesians by Tychicus.
- Isaiah 55:7
Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
- Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
- Acts 5:31
Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
- Matthew 10:37
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Luke 7:46
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
- Luke 7:47
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.
- Luke 7:48
And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.
Luke 7:47 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Por lo cual te digo que sus muchos pecados son perdonados, porque amó mucho; mas al que se perdona poco, poco ama. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | C’est pourquoi je te dis: Ses nombreux péchés sont pardonnés, car elle a beaucoup aimé; mais celui à qui il est peu pardonné, aime peu. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Deswegen sage ich dir: Ihre vielen Sünden sind vergeben, denn sie hat viel geliebt; wem aber wenig vergeben wird, der liebt wenig. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Propter quod dico tibi: remittuntur ei peccata multa, quoniam dilexit multum. Cui autem minus dimittitur, minus diligit. |