Luke 9 · Verse 61

Luke 9:61

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.
Luke 9:61, King James Version

Luke 9:61 in other translations

BSBStill another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”
WEBAnother also said, “I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to say good-bye to those who are at my house.”
ASVAnd another also said, I will follow thee, Lord; but first suffer me to bid farewell to them that are at my house.
YLTAnd another also said, ‘I will follow thee, sir, but first permit me to take leave of those in my house;'
DARBYAnd another also said, I will follow thee, Lord, but first allow me to bid adieu to those at my house.
BBEAnd another man said, I will come with you, Lord, but first let me say a last good-day to those who are at my house.
WebsterAnd another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house.

What does Luke 9:61 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
61. I will follow ... but--The second disciple had a "but" too--a difficulty in the way just then. Yet the different treatment of the two cases shows how different was the spirit of the two, and to that our Lord addressed Himself. The case of Elisha (1Ki 19:19-21), though apparently similar to this, will be found quite different from the "looking back" of this case, the best illustration of which is that of those Hindu converts of our day who, when once persuaded to leave their spiritual fathers in order to "bid them farewell which are at home at their house," very rarely return to them. (Also see on Mt 8:21.)

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 61. Bid them farewell. To take leave, inform them of the design, and set things at home in order. Jesus did not suffer this, because he probably saw that he would be influenced by a love of his friends, or by their persuasions, not to return to him. The purpose to be a Christian requires decision. Men should not tamper with the world. They should not consult earthly friends about it. They should not even allow worldly friends to give them advice whether to be Christians or not. God is to be obeyed rather than man, and they should come forth boldly, and resolve at once to give themselves to his service.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 61 Another also said - This circumstance is not mentioned by any of the other evangelists; and Matthew alone mentions the former case, Luk 9:57, Luk 9:58. Let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home - Επιτρεψον μοι αποταξασθαι τοις εις τον οικον μου - Permit me to set in order my affairs at home. Those who understand the Greek text will see at once that it will bear this translation well; and that this is the most natural. This person seems to have had in view the case of Elisha, who made a similar request to the Prophet Elijah, 1Kgs 19:19, 1Kgs 19:20, which request was granted by the prophet; but our Lord, seeing that this person had too much attachment to the earth, and that his return to worldly employments, though for a short time, was likely to become the means of stifling the good desires which he now felt, refused to grant him that permission. That which we object to the execution of God's designs is sometimes the very thing from which we should immediately disengage ourselves.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 9:57-62

Here is one that is forward to follow Christ, but seems to have been hasty and rash, and not to have counted the cost. If we mean to follow Christ, we must lay aside the thoughts of great things in the world. Let us not try to join the profession of Christianity, with seeking after worldly advantages. Here is another that seems resolved to follow Christ, but he begs a short delay. To this man Christ first gave the…

Read the full comment on Luke 9:57-62 →

Luke 9:61 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.

ΕἶπενEipenSaidG2036
δὲdethenG1161
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἕτερος·heterosanother;G2087
ἀκολουθήσωakolouthēsōI will followG190
σοι,soiYou,G4771
κύριε·kurieLord;G2962
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
δὲdehoweverG1161
ἐπίτρεψόνepitrepsondo allowG2010
μοιmoimeG3165
ἀποτάξασθαιapotaxasthaito bid farewellG657
τοῖςtoisto thoseG3588
εἰςeisatG1519
τὸνtontheG3588
οἶκόνoikonhomeG3624
μου.mouof mine.G3165

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

Cross references for Luke 9:61

  • Luke 14:26

    If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

  • 1 Kings 19:20

    And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

  • Luke 14:18-20

    And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

  • Matthew 10:37-38

    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. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.

  • Deuteronomy 33:9

    Who said unto his father and to his mother, I have not seen him; neither did he acknowledge his brethren, nor knew his own children: for they have observed thy word, and kept thy covenant.

  • Ecclesiastes 9:10

    Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
but.
14:18-20,26; De 33:9; 1Ki 19:20; Ec 9:10; Mt 10:37,38

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

Context

  • Luke 9:60

    Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

  • Luke 9:61

    And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

  • Luke 9:62

    And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

Read all of Luke 9

Luke 9:61 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces también dijo otro: Te seguiré, Señor; mas déjame que me despida primero de los que están en mi casa.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et un autre aussi dit: Je te suivrai, Seigneur; mais permets-moi de prendre premièrement congé de ceux qui sont dans ma maison.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es sprach aber auch ein anderer: Ich will dir nachfolgen, Herr; zuvor aber erlaube mir, Abschied zu nehmen von denen, die in meinem Hause sind.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ait alter: Sequar te Domine, sed permitte mihi primum renuntiare his quæ domi sunt.