The Meaning of Luke 18:37 Explained

Luke 18:37

KJV: And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

YLT: and they brought him word that Jesus the Nazarene doth pass by,

Darby: And they told him that Jesus the Nazaraean was passing by.

ASV: And they told him that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they told  him,  that  Jesus  of Nazareth  passeth by. 

What does Luke 18:37 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 18:31-43 - The Reward Of Faith
Our Lord knew what was awaiting Him. He laid down His life "of Himself." But all the significance of His life and death was concealed from the Apostles and others. Their eyes were blinded, till the glory of the Resurrection morning had dawned and the day of Pentecost had fully come.
Our Lord's mind must have been filled with the anticipation of the momentous issues to be decided; but He was sufficiently at leisure from Himself to hear the cry of distress from this blind beggar. How absolutely He placed Himself at the disposal of those who needed His help! Human need and sorrow always commanded Him. Each comer was able to draw all the grace he required, according to the measure of the bucket of his faith when let down into that infinite well. There is no reason why each of us should not be made whole and follow Christ, glorifying Him. But we are blind! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 18

1  Of the importunate widow
9  Of the Pharisee and the tax collector
15  Of Children brought to Jesus
18  A ruler would follow Jesus, but is hindered by his riches
28  The reward of those who leave all for his sake
31  He foretells his death;
35  and restores a blind man to sight

Greek Commentary for Luke 18:37

Passeth by [παρερχεται]
Present middle indicative retained in indirect discourse as παραγει — paragei is in Matthew 20:30. No reason for differences of English tenses in the two passages (was passing by, passeth by). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 18:37

Acts 24:5 A pestilent fellow [λοιμον]
An old word for pest, plague, pestilence, Paul the pest. In N.T. only here and Luke 21:11 This was an offence against Roman law if it could be proven. “Plotted against at Damascus, plotted against at Jerusalem, expelled from Pisidian Antioch, stoned at Lystra, scourged and imprisoned at Philippi, accused of treason at Thessalonica, haled before the proconsul at Corinth, cause of a serious riot at Ephesus, and now finally of a riot at Jerusalem” (Furneaux). Specious proof could have been produced, but was not. Tertullus went on to other charges with which a Roman court had no concern (instance Gallio in Corinth). Throughout the world The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης — Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος — prōtos and ιστημι — histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις — hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι — Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]
Acts 24:5 Throughout the world [κατα την οικουμενην]
The Roman inhabited earth Πρωτοστατης — Prōtostatēs is an old word in common use from πρωτος — prōtos and ιστημι — histēmi a front-rank man, a chief, a champion. Here only in the N.T. This charge is certainly true. About “sect” (αιρεσις — hairesis) see note on Acts 5:17. Ναζωραιοι — Nazōraioi here only in the plural in the N.T., elsewhere of Jesus (Matthew 2:23; Matthew 26:71; Luke 18:37; John 18:5, John 18:7; John 19:19; Acts 2:22; Acts 3:6; Acts 4:10; Acts 6:14; Acts 22:8; Acts 26:9). The disciple is not above his Master. There was a sneer in the term as applied to Jesus and here to his followers. [source]
2 Corinthians 5:17 Passed away [παρῆλθεν]
Lit., passed by. So Luke 18:37; Mark 6:48. As here, James 1:10; Matthew 5:8; Matthew 24:34, etc. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 18:37 mean?

They told then him - Jesus of Nazareth is passing by
Ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς Ναζωραῖος παρέρχεται

Ἀπήγγειλαν  They  told 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀγγέλλω 
Sense: to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report.
ὅτι  - 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Ναζωραῖος  Nazareth 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ναζωραῖος  
Sense: an inhabitant of Nazareth.
παρέρχεται  is  passing  by 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: παρέρχομαι  
Sense: to go past, pass by.