The Meaning of Luke 23:32 Explained

Luke 23:32

KJV: And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

YLT: And there were also others -- two evil-doers -- with him, to be put to death;

Darby: Now two others also, malefactors, were led with him to be put to death.

ASV: And there were also two others, malefactors, led with him to be put to death.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  there were also  two  other,  malefactors,  led  with  him  to be put to death. 

What does Luke 23:32 Mean?

Verse Meaning

This verse constitutes a narrative bridge connecting Jesus" journey to the Cross with His crucifixion. One of its functions seems to be to introduce the two criminals who feature later in the story ( Luke 23:33; Luke 23:39-43). More important, it associates Jesus with guilty sinners. [1] This reference also adds to the humiliation of Jesus that Luke stressed. There are several indications that Luke wanted to point out Jesus" humiliation in the next section. This notation also indicates a fulfillment of prophecy (cf. Luke 22:37; Isaiah 53:12).

Context Summary

Luke 23:26-34 - "they Crucified The Lord Of Glory"
Simon's two sons are believed to have become Christians. See Mark 15:21, Romans 16:13. Perhaps this strange interruption in his ordinary experiences led to the whole household becoming Christian. Jesus and he bore the cross together. So later, Symeon of Cambridge, who was much reviled for his evangelical principles, loved to think that he and Christ were suffering together.
Ever more thoughtful for others than for Himself, the Lord seemed to forget His griefs that He might address warnings and entreaties to these poor women, Luke 23:28. He was the young green tree in the forest glade, consumed in the awful heat of divine burnings, while they and theirs were the dry wood, which would soon crackle in the overthrow of their city.
On the cross our Lord became immediately the high priest, pleading for the great world and for His own; and He has never ceased since. See Hebrews 7:25. Sins of ignorance are placed in a different category from those of presumption; See 1 Timothy 1:13, 1 John 5:16. The answer to that prayer, Luke 23:34, was given on the day of Pentecost. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 23

1  Jesus is accused before Pilate, and sent to Herod
8  Herod mocks him
12  Herod and Pilate become friends
13  Barabbas is desired of the people,
24  and is released by Pilate, and Jesus is given to be crucified
26  He tells the women, that lament him, the destruction of Jerusalem;
34  prays for his enemies
39  Two criminals are crucified with him
46  His death
50  His burial

Greek Commentary for Luke 23:32

Were led [αγω]
(αγω — e4gonto). Imperfect passive of κακουργοι — agō were being led.Malefactors (κακον — kakourgoi). Evil (εργον — kakon), doers (work, αναιρετηναι — ergon). Old word, but in the N.T. only in this passage (Luke 23:32, Luke 23:33, Luke 23:39) and 2 Timothy 2:9. Luke does not call them “robbers” like Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:38, Matthew 27:44. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
To be put to death (αναιρεω — anairethēnai). First aorist passive infinitive of anaireō old verb, to take up, to take away, to kill. [source]

Two other []
The possible omission of a comma before malefactors in the A. V. might make a very awkward and unpleasant statement. Better Rev., two others, malefactors. [source]
Put to death [ἀναιρεθῆναι]
Lit., to take up and carry away; so that the Greek idiom answers to our taken off. So Shakspeare:“The deep damnation of his taking off. ”Macbeth, i., 7.“Let her who would be rid of him, deviseHis speedy taking off.”Lear, v., 1. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 23:32

Luke 22:2 How they might put him to death [το πως ανελωσιν αυτον]
Second aorist active deliberative subjunctive (retained in indirect question) of αναιρεω — anaireō to take up, to make away with, to slay. Common in Old Greek. Luke uses it so here and in Luke 23:32 and eighteen times in the Acts, a favourite word with him. Note the accusative neuter singular article το — to with the whole clause, “as to the how, etc.”For they feared (εποβουντο γαρ — ephobounto gar). Imperfect middle describing the delay of the “how.” The triumphal entry and the temple speeches of Jesus had revealed his tremendous power with the people, especially the crowds from Galilee at the feast. They were afraid to go on with their plan to kill him at the feast. [source]
Luke 23:32 Were led [αγω]
(αγω — e4gonto). Imperfect passive of κακουργοι — agō were being led.Malefactors (κακον — kakourgoi). Evil (εργον — kakon), doers (work, αναιρετηναι — ergon). Old word, but in the N.T. only in this passage (Luke 23:32, Luke 23:33, Luke 23:39) and 2 Timothy 2:9. Luke does not call them “robbers” like Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:38, Matthew 27:44. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
To be put to death (αναιρεω — anairethēnai). First aorist passive infinitive of anaireō old verb, to take up, to take away, to kill. [source]

John 18:30 If this man were not an evil-doer [ει μη ην ουτος κακον ποιων]
Condition (negative) of second class (periphrastic imperfect indicative), assumed to be untrue, with the usual apodosis This is a pious pose of infallibility not in the Synoptics. They then proceeded to make the charges (Luke 23:2) as indeed John implies (John 18:31, John 18:33). Some MSS. here read κακοποιος — kakopoios (malefactor) as in 1 Peter 2:12, 1 Peter 2:14, with which compare Luke‘s κακουργος — kakourgos (Luke 23:32.; so also 2 Timothy 2:9), both meaning evil-doer. Here the periphrastic present participle ποιων — poiōn with κακον — kakon emphasizes the idea that Jesus was a habitual evil-doer (Abbott). It was an insolent reply to Pilate (Bernard). [source]
John 19:18 They crucified [εσταυρωσαν]
The soldiers just as in Acts 22:24.; the scourging of Paul was to be done by the soldiers. And Jesus in the midst Predicate adjective μεσον — meson A robber (ληιστης — lēistēs not a thief, κλεπτης — kleptēs) was on each side of Jesus (Mark 15:27; Matthew 27:38) like Barabbas (John 18:40) and probably members of his band, malefactors (κακουργοι — kakourgoi) Luke terms them (Luke 23:32). [source]
Acts 9:23 To kill []
See on Luke 23:32. [source]
Acts 8:1 Death [ἀναιρέσει]
Lit., taking off. See on Luke 23:32. [source]
Acts 5:33 To slay []
See on Luke 23:32. [source]
Acts 22:20 Slew []
See on Luke 23:32. [source]
Acts 9:23 Took counsel together [συνεβουλευσαντο]
First aorist (effective) middle indicative of συνβουλευω — sunbouleuō old and common verb for counselling Things had reached a climax. It was worse than before he left for Arabia. Paul was now seeing the fulfilment of the prophecy of Jesus about him (Acts 9:16). To kill him (ανελειν αυτον — anelein auton). Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω — anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως — hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb (ανελωσιν — anelōsin). Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]
Acts 9:23 To kill him [ανελειν αυτον]
Second aorist (effective) active infinitive of αναιρεω — anaireō to take up, to make away with, to kill (Luke 23:32; Acts 12:1, etc.). The infinitive expresses purpose here as is done in Acts 9:24 by οπως — hopōs and the aorist active subjunctive of the same verb Saul now knew what Stephen had suffered at his hands as his own life was in peril in the Jewish quarter of Damascus. It was a picture of his old self. He may even have been scourged here (2 Corinthians 11:24). [source]
2 Timothy 2:9 As an evildoer [ὡς κακοῦργος]
Only here and in Luke. Better, malefactor. The meaning is technical. Comp. Luke 23:32, Luke 23:33, Luke 23:39. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 23:32 mean?

Were being led away now also other criminals two with Him to be put to death
Ἤγοντο δὲ καὶ ἕτεροι κακοῦργοι δύο σὺν αὐτῷ ἀναιρεθῆναι

Ἤγοντο  Were  being  led  away 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἄγω  
Sense: to lead, take with one.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἕτεροι  other 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλοιόω 
Sense: the other, another, other.
κακοῦργοι  criminals 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κακοῦργος  
Sense: a malefactor.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
ἀναιρεθῆναι  to  be  put  to  death 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive
Root: ἀναιρέω  
Sense: to take up, to lift up (from the ground).