The Meaning of Luke 10:30 Explained

Luke 10:30

KJV: And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

YLT: and Jesus having taken up the word, said, 'A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, and having stripped him and inflicted blows, they went away, leaving him half dead.

Darby: And Jesus replying said, A certain man descended from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who also, having stripped him and inflicted wounds, went away leaving him in a half-dead state.

ASV: Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

What is the context of Luke 10:30?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  Jesus  answering  said,  A certain  [man]  went down  from  Jerusalem  to  Jericho,  and  fell among  thieves,  which  stripped  him  of his raiment,  and  wounded  [him], and departed,  leaving  [him] half dead. 

What does Luke 10:30 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The man in view may have been a real person and the incident Jesus described could have really happened. Yet the fact that Jesus told this story as He did, similar to other parables, has led most students of the passage to conclude that He invented it to teach a lesson.
Jesus left the man"s race and occupation unspecified, though His hearers would have assumed that he was a Jew. The17-mile desert road that descended about3 ,300 feet from Jerusalem to Jericho was treacherous, winding, and a favorite haunt of robbers. [1] Clothing was a valuable commodity in Jesus" society, and this fact probably explains why the bandits took the man"s clothes. Perhaps the man resisted his attackers, which would have been a common reaction, and suffered a near fatal beating.

Context Summary

Luke 10:25-37 - The Man Who Loved His Neighbor
This parable was probably suggested by the journey up to Jerusalem. It may be founded on an actual occurrence. Notice how the Master answered the inquiry, Who is my neighbor? He said in effect: The question is not, Who will "neighbor" you? but, Whom will you "neighbor?" You ought to ask, Who wants my help? Neighborhood consists, not in what you receive, but in what you give. It is independent of race, creed and the ordinary sentiment of pity. Love overleaps all these distinctions and risks its very life in order to render help. In fact, this parable is a very poem of Love. It is to be compared with 1 Corinthians 13:1-13.
Notice those two clauses, He took care of him and Take care of him, Luke 10:34-35. It is thus that our Lord deals with us. When we are too far gone to ask for His help, He comes to our side and restores our ebbing life; and He raises up others to do the same. At the best, we are pilgrims and refresh ourselves in inns, but the home awaits us yonder! Begin by loving with your "strength" and you will end with the "heart!" [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 10

1  Jesus sends out at once seventy disciples to work miracles, and to preach;
13  pronounces a woe against certain cities
17  The seventy return with joy;
18  he shows them wherein to rejoice,
21  and thanks his Father for his grace;
23  magnifies the happy estate of his church;
25  teaches the lawyer how to attain eternal life,
30  and tells the parable of the good Samaritan;
38  reprimands Martha, and commends Mary her sister

Greek Commentary for Luke 10:30

Made answer [υπολαβων]
Second aorist active participle of υπολαμβανω — hupolambanō (See note on Luke 7:43), to take up literally, and then in thought and speech, old verb, but in this sense of interrupting in talk only in the N.T. [source]
Was going down [κατεβαινεν]
Imperfect active describing the journey.Fell among robbers (ληισταις περιεπεσεν — lēistais periepesen). Second aorist ingressive active indicative of περιπιπτω — peripiptō old verb with associative instrumental case, to fall among and to be encompassed by (περι — peri around), to be surrounded by robbers. A common experience to this day on the road to Jericho. The Romans placed a fort on this “red and bloody way.” These were bandits, not petty thieves.Stripped Of his clothing as well as of his money, the meanest sort of robbers.Beat him (πληγας επιτεντες — plēgas epithentes). Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.”Half-dead Late word from ημι — hēmi half, and τνησκω — thnēskō to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery. [source]
Fell among robbers [ληισταις περιεπεσεν]
Second aorist ingressive active indicative of περιπιπτω — peripiptō old verb with associative instrumental case, to fall among and to be encompassed by (περι — peri around), to be surrounded by robbers. A common experience to this day on the road to Jericho. The Romans placed a fort on this “red and bloody way.” These were bandits, not petty thieves. [source]
Stripped [εκδυσαντες]
Of his clothing as well as of his money, the meanest sort of robbers.Beat him (πληγας επιτεντες — plēgas epithentes). Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.”Half-dead Late word from ημι — hēmi half, and τνησκω — thnēskō to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery. [source]
Beat him [πληγας επιτεντες]
Second aorist active participle of επιτιτημι — epitithēmi a common verb. Literally, “placing strokes or blows” (πληγας — plēgas plagues) upon him. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23; and Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, and Revelation 15:8 for “plagues.” [source]
Half-dead [ημιτανη]
Late word from ημι — hēmi half, and τνησκω — thnēskō to die. Only here in the N.T. Vivid picture of the robbery. [source]
Answering [ὑπολαβὼν]
Used by Luke only, and in this sense only here. See on Luke 7:43. It means, strictly, to take up; and hence, of conversation, to take up another's discourse and reply. [source]
Fell among []
See on James 1:2. [source]
Thieves [λῃσταῖς]
See on Matthew 26:55; and Luke 23:39-43. These were not petty stealers, but men of violence, as was shown by their treatment of the traveller. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho passed through a wilderness (Joshua 16:1), which was so notorious for robberies and murders that a portion of it was called “the red or bloody way,” and was protected by a fort and a Roman garrison. [source]
Stripped []
Not of his clothing only, but of all that he had. [source]
Wounded [πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες]
Lit., having laid on blows. Blows or stripes is the usual sense of the word in the New Testament. See Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23. It has the metaphorical sense of plagues in Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, Revelation 15:8, etc. [source]
Half dead [ἡμιθανῆ τυγχάνοντα]
The full force of the expression cannot be rendered into English. The word τυγχάνοντα throws an element of chance into the ease. Lit., happening to be half dead; or “leaving him half dead, as it chanced; ” his condition being a matter of unconcern to these robbers. The word ἡμιθανῆ ,half dead, occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. The best texts, however, omit τυγχάνοντα . [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 10:30

Matthew 21:13 Thieves [λῃστῶν]
Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 26:55; and Luke 10:30. [source]
Mark 11:17 Of all nations []
Which rendering implies, shall be called by all nations. But render with Rev., a house of prayer for all the nations ( πᾶσιν τοῖς ἔθνεσιν )Thieves ( λῃστῶν )Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
Mark 11:17 Which rendering implies, shall be called by all nations. But render with Rev., a house of prayer for all the nations [λῃστῶν]
Rev., correctly, robbers. See on Matthew 21:13; and Matthew 26:55; and John 10:1, John 10:8. From ληίς or λεία , booty. In classical usage mostly of cattle. The robber, conducting his operations on a large and systematic scale, and with the aid of bands, is thus to be distinguished from the κλέπτης , or thief who purloins or pilfers whatever comes to hand. A den would be appropriate to a band of robbers, not to thieves. Thus the traveller to Jericho, in Christ's parable (Luke 10:30), fell among robbers, not thieves. [source]
Luke 22:52 Thief [λῃστὴν]
See on Matthew 26:55; and Luke 10:30; sa40" translation="">Mark 11:17.sa40 [source]
Luke 19:46 Thieves [λῃστῶν]
See on Matthew 26:55; Luke 10:30; Mark 11:17. [source]
Luke 12:48 Stripes []
See on Luke 10:30. [source]
Luke 10:31 Was going down [katebainen)]
Imperfect active as in Luke 10:30. Passed by on the other side Second aorist active indicative of antiparerchomai a late double compound here (Luke 10:31, Luke 10:32) only in the N.T., but in the papyri and late writers. It is the ingressive aorist (ēlthen), came alongside (para), and then he stepped over to the opposite side (anti) of the road to avoid ceremonial contamination with a stranger. A vivid and powerful picture of the vice of Jewish ceremonial cleanliness at the cost of moral principle and duty. The Levite in Luke 10:32 behaved precisely as the priest had done and for the same reason. [source]
Luke 12:47 Shall be beaten with many stripes [δαρησεται πολλας]
Second future passive of δερω — derō to skin, to beat, to flay (see on Matthew 21:35; Mark 12:3, Mark 12:5). The passive voice retains here the accusative πολλας — pollas (supply πληγας — plēgas present in Luke 10:30). The same explanation applies to ολιγας — oligas in Luke 12:48. [source]
Luke 7:43 I suppose [υπολαμβανω]
Old verb, originally to take up from under, to bear away as on high, to take up in speech (Luke 10:30), to take up in mind or to assume as here and Acts 2:15. Here with an air of supercilious indifference (Plummer). [source]
John 18:40 Robber [λῃστής]
See on Matthew 26:55; see on Mark 11:17; see on Luke 10:30. Matthew calls him a “notable prisoner” (Matthew 27:16). Mark states that he had made insurrection, and had committed murder (Mark 15:7), speaking of the insurrection as a well-known event. Luke says, “for some insurrection ( στάσιν τινὰ ) that had arisen in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19). Writing for Gentiles, Luke would not refer to the event as something familiar. Bandits of this kind were numerous in the neighborhood of Jerusalem under the Roman dominion. Their leaders were well known. Josephus describes them by the same word which Matthew uses, ἐπίσημοι , notable. Their depredations were often committed under patriotic pretenses, so that Barabbas might have had influential friends among the people. [source]
Acts 27:41 But lighting upon [περιπεσοντες δε]
Second aorist active participle of περιπιπτω — peripiptō old verb to fall into and so be encompassed by as in Luke 10:30; James 1:2. There is a current on one side of St. Paul‘s Bay between a little island (Salmonetta) and Malta which makes a sand bank between the two currents. Unexpectedly the ship stuck in this sandbar. [source]
Acts 16:23 Many stripes [πολλας πληγας]
The Jewish law was forty stripes save one (2 Corinthians 11:24). The Roman custom depended on the caprice of the judge and was a terrible ordeal. It was the custom to inflict the stripes on the naked body (back) as Livy 2.5 says: “Missique lictores ad sumendum supplicium, nudatos virgis caedunt.” On πληγας — plēgas (from πλησσω — plēssō to strike a blow) See note on Luke 10:30; and notes on Luke 12:47. The jailor (τωι δεσμοπυλακι — tōi desmophulaki). Late word (δεσμοσ πυλαχ — desmosαρχιδεσμοπυλαχ — phulax keeper of bonds), in the N.T. only here (Acts 16:23, Acts 16:27, Acts 16:36). The lxx has the word ασπαλως τηρειν — archidesmophulax (Genesis 39:21-23). Chrysostom calls this jailor Stephanus, he was of Achaia (1 Corinthians 16:15). To keep safely Present active infinitive, to keep on keeping safely, perhaps “as dangerous political prisoners” (Rackham). He had some rank and was not a mere turnkey. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:5 In stripes [εν πληγαις]
In blows, wounds (Luke 10:30; Luke 12:48; Acts 16:23, Acts 16:33). Our plague. [source]
James 1:2 All joy [πασαν χαραν]
“Whole joy,” “unmixed joy,” as in Philemon 2:29. Not just “some joy” along with much grief.When (οταν — hotan). “Whenever,” indefinite temporal conjunction.Ye fall into Second aorist active subjunctive (with the indefinite οταν — hotan) from περιπιπτω — peripiptō literally to fall around (into the midst of), to fall among as in Luke 10:30 ληισταις περιεπεσεν — lēistais periepesen (he fell among robbers). Only other N.T. example of this old compound is in Acts 27:41. Thucydides uses it of falling into affliction. It is the picture of being surrounded Associative instrumental case. The English word temptation is Latin and originally meant trials whether good or bad, but the evil sense has monopolized the word in our modern English, though we still say “attempt.” The word πειρασμος — peirasmos (from πειραζω — peirazō late form for the old πειραω — peiraō as in Acts 26:21, both in good sense as in John 6:6, and in bad sense as in Matthew 16:1) does not occur outside of the lxx and the N.T. except in Dioscorides (a.d. 100?) of experiments on diseases. “Trials” is clearly the meaning here, but the evil sense appears in James 1:12 (clearly in πειραζω — peirazō in James 1:13) and so in Hebrews 3:8. Trials rightly faced are harmless, but wrongly met become temptations to evil. The adjective ποικιλος — poikilos (manifold) is as old as Homer and means variegated, many coloured as in Matthew 4:24; 2 Timothy 3:6; Hebrews 2:4. In 1 Peter 1:6 we have this same phrase. It is a bold demand that James here makes. [source]
James 1:2 Ye fall into [περιπεσητε]
Second aorist active subjunctive (with the indefinite οταν — hotan) from περιπιπτω — peripiptō literally to fall around (into the midst of), to fall among as in Luke 10:30 ληισταις περιεπεσεν — lēistais periepesen (he fell among robbers). Only other N.T. example of this old compound is in Acts 27:41. Thucydides uses it of falling into affliction. It is the picture of being surrounded Associative instrumental case. The English word temptation is Latin and originally meant trials whether good or bad, but the evil sense has monopolized the word in our modern English, though we still say “attempt.” The word πειρασμος — peirasmos (from πειραζω — peirazō late form for the old πειραω — peiraō as in Acts 26:21, both in good sense as in John 6:6, and in bad sense as in Matthew 16:1) does not occur outside of the lxx and the N.T. except in Dioscorides (a.d. 100?) of experiments on diseases. “Trials” is clearly the meaning here, but the evil sense appears in James 1:12 (clearly in πειραζω — peirazō in James 1:13) and so in Hebrews 3:8. Trials rightly faced are harmless, but wrongly met become temptations to evil. The adjective ποικιλος — poikilos (manifold) is as old as Homer and means variegated, many coloured as in Matthew 4:24; 2 Timothy 3:6; Hebrews 2:4. In 1 Peter 1:6 we have this same phrase. It is a bold demand that James here makes. [source]
3 John 1:8 To receive [ἀπολαμβάνειν]
The best texts read ὑπολαμβάνειν tosupport; i.e., to welcome with the provision of hospitality. Rev., welcome. The verb means, originally, to take underneath in order to raise. Hence, to support. Figuratively, to take upon the mind, to suppose, as Luke 7:43; Acts 2:15: to take up or follow in speech; hence to answer, as Luke 10:30. [source]
3 John 1:8 To welcome [υπολαμβανειν]
Present active infinitive (habit of welcoming) of υπολαμβανω — hupolambanō old word, to take up under, to carry off (Acts 1:9), to reply (Luke 10:30), to suppose (Acts 2:15), only here in N.T. in this sense of receiving hospitably or to take under one‘s protection like υποδεχομαι — hupodechomai (Luke 10:38).Such (τους τοιουτους — tous toioutous). “The such” according to the Greek idiom (1 Corinthians 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:18).That we may be Purpose clause with ινα — hina and the present middle subjunctive of γινομαι — ginomai “that we may keep on becoming.”Fellow-workers (συνεργοι — sunergoi). Old compound (συν εργον — sunτηι αλητειαι — ergon).With the truth So associative instrumental case with συνεργοι — sun in συνεργεω — sunergoi but it is not certain that this is the idea, though εργοις — sunergeō is so used with Συνεργος — ergois in James 2:22. τεου συνεργοι — Sunergos itself occurs with the genitive of the person as in της χαρας — theou sunergoi (1 Corinthians 3:9) or with genitive of the thing tēs charās (1 Corinthians 3:9). So then here the meaning may be either “co-workers with such brethren for the truth” (dative of advantage) or “co-workers with the truth” (associative instrumental case). [source]
Revelation 9:18 These three []
Add πληγῶν plagueson which see on Mark 3:10; see on Luke 10:30. [source]
Revelation 15:1 The seven last plagues [πληγὰς ἑπτὰ τὰς ἐσχάτας]
Lit., seven plagues the last. Rev., “which are the last.” See on Mark 3:10; see on Luke 10:30. [source]
Revelation 9:18 By these three plagues [απο των τριων πληγων τουτων]
Our “plague” or stroke from πλησσω — plēssō as in Luke 10:30 and often in Rev (Revelation 9:20; Revelation 11:6; Revelation 15:1, Revelation 15:6, Revelation 15:8; Revelation 16:9; Revelation 18:4, Revelation 18:8; Revelation 22:18). It is used in Exodus 11:1. for the plagues in Egypt. The three plagues here are the fire, smoke, and brimstone which proceed from the mouths of the horses. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 10:30 mean?

Having taken [it] up then - Jesus said A man certain was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and robbers fell among who both having stripped him wounds having inflicted went away having left [him] half dead
Ὑπολαβὼν ‹δὲ› Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν Ἄνθρωπός τις κατέβαινεν ἀπὸ Ἰερουσαλὴμ εἰς Ἰεριχὼ καὶ λῃσταῖς περιέπεσεν οἳ καὶ ἐκδύσαντες αὐτὸν πληγὰς ἐπιθέντες ἀπῆλθον ἀφέντες ἡμιθανῆ

Ὑπολαβὼν  Having  taken  [it]  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ὑπολαμβάνω  
Sense: to take up in order to raise, to bear on high.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἄνθρωπός  A  man 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἄνθρωπος  
Sense: a human being, whether male or female.
τις  certain 
Parse: Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: τὶς  
Sense: a certain, a certain one.
κατέβαινεν  was  going  down 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καταβαίνω  
Sense: to go down, come down, descend.
Ἰερουσαλὴμ  Jerusalem 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰερουσαλήμ  
Sense: denotes either the city itself or the inhabitants.
Ἰεριχὼ  Jericho 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: Ἰεριχώ  
Sense: a noted city, abounding in balsam, honey, cyprus, myrobalanus, roses and other fragrant products.
λῃσταῖς  robbers 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιλῃστής 
Sense: a robber, plunderer, freebooter, brigand.
περιέπεσεν  fell  among 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: περιπίπτω  
Sense: so to fall into as to be encompassed.
καὶ  both 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἐκδύσαντες  having  stripped 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐκδύω  
Sense: to take off.
πληγὰς  wounds 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: πληγή  
Sense: a blow, stripe, a wound.
ἐπιθέντες  having  inflicted 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐπιτίθημι  
Sense: in the active voice.
ἀπῆλθον  went  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
ἀφέντες  having  left  [him] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
ἡμιθανῆ  half  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: ἡμιθανής  
Sense: half dead.