The Meaning of Luke 7:26 Explained

Luke 7:26

KJV: But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

YLT: 'But what have ye gone forth to see? a prophet? Yes, I say to you, and much more than a prophet:

Darby: But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say to you, and what is more excellent than a prophet.

ASV: But what went ye out to see? a prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  what  went ye out  for to see?  A prophet?  Yea,  I say  unto you,  and  much more  than a prophet. 

What does Luke 7:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 7:24-35 - A Great Man And A Still Greater
The Master chose the moment of John's fainting fit to pass this high eulogium on the Baptist's stalwart character, his indifference to worldly bribes and his divine commission. When we write hard things against ourselves, He may be judging us with infinite tenderness and wisdom. Heaven does not estimate us by our passing moods. But the least believer in this Christian age has a clearer knowledge of Christ and a closer relationship to Him, than had the Baptist. He was a servant; we are brothers, sons, heirs, Romans 8:16-17.
If we will not accept the lower call of duty, as was manifested in the appeal of the Baptist, we shall never profit by Christ. Accept the dim light of the morning star and it will lead to the dawn.
It ill becomes us to observe the winds of human caprice. If we please one party, we shall displease the other. There is but one path through life, and that is to do the will of God, in which, as Dante puts it, is our peace. But the children of wisdom recognize her alike in the anxiety of the Baptist and in the graces of the Son of man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 7

1  Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
10  heals his servant, being absent;
11  raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
18  answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
24  testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
31  compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
36  and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
44  he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance

Greek Commentary for Luke 7:26

A prophet? [προπητην]
A real prophet will always get a hearing if he has a message from God. He is a for-speaker, forth-teller He may or may not be a fore-teller. The main thing is for the prophet to have a message from God which he is willing to tell at whatever cost to himself. The word of God came to John in the wilderness of Judea (Luke 3:2). That made him a prophet. There is a prophetic element in every real preacher of the Gospel. Real prophets become leaders and moulders of men. [source]
A prophet [προφήτην]
The popular conception of a prophet is limited to his foretelling future events. This is indeed included in the term, but does not cover its meaning entirely. The word is from φημί , to speak, and πρό , before, in front of. This meaning of the preposition may have reference to time, viz.,before, beforehand; or to place, viz.,in front of, and so, publicly; and this latter meaning, in turn, easily runs into that of in behalf of; for. The prophet is, therefore, primarily, one who speaks standing before another, and thus forming a medium between him and the hearer. This sense runs naturally into that of instead of. Hence it is the technical term for the interpreter of a divine message. So Plato: “For this reason it is customary to appoint diviners or interpreters to be judges of the true inspiration. Some persons call them diviners, seers ( μάντεις ); they do not know that they are only repeaters of dark sayings and visions, and are not to be called diviners at all, but interpreters ( προφῆται ) of things divine” (“Timaeus,” 72). Similarly of an advocate to speak for, or instead of one. The central idea of the word is, one to whom God reveals himself and through whom he speaks. The revelation may or may not relate to the future. The prophet is a forth-teller, not necessarily a foreteller. The essence of the prophetic character is immediate intercourse with God. One of the Hebrew names for “prophet,” and, as some maintain, the earlier name, signified a shewer or seer. See 1 Samuel 9:10; and in 1 Corinthians 14:26-30, Paul shows that revelation stands in necessary connection with prophesying. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 7:26

Luke 7:25 And live delicately [τρυπηι]
From τρυπτω — thruptō to break down, to enervate, an old word for luxurious living. See the verb τρυπαω — truphaō in James 5:5.In kings‘ courts (εν τοις βασιλειοις — en tois basileiois). Only here in the N.T. Matthew 11:8 has it “in kings‘ houses.” Luke 7:26, Luke 7:27 are precisely alike in Matthew 11:9, Matthew 11:10. See note on Matthew 11:9 for discussion. [source]
Luke 7:25 In kings‘ courts [εν τοις βασιλειοις]
Only here in the N.T. Matthew 11:8 has it “in kings‘ houses.” Luke 7:26, Luke 7:27 are precisely alike in Matthew 11:9, Matthew 11:10. See note on Matthew 11:9 for discussion. [source]
John 4:19 A prophet []
See on Luke 7:26. The order is a prophet art thou; the emphasis being on prophet. [source]
Acts 13:1 Prophets []
See on Luke 7:26. [source]
Acts 11:27 Prophets []
See on Luke 7:26. [source]
Acts 11:27 Prophets [προπηται]
Christian prophets these were (cf. Acts 13:1) who came from Jerusalem (the headquarters, Acts 8:15). Judas and Silas are called prophets (Acts 14:4; Acts 15:32). They were not just fore-tellers, but forth-tellers. The prophet had inspiration and was superior to the speaker with tongues (1 Corinthians 14:3). John was a prophet (Luke 7:26). We need prophets in the ministry today. [source]
Romans 12:6 Prophecy []
See on prophet, Luke 7:26. In the New Testament, as in the Old, the prominent idea is not prediction, but the inspired delivery of warning, exhortation, instruction, judging, and making manifest the secrets of the heart. See 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:24, 1 Corinthians 14:25. The New-Testament prophets are distinguished from teachers, by speaking under direct divine inspiration. [source]
1 Corinthians 12:10 Prophecy []
Not mere foretelling of the future. Quite probably very little of this element is contemplated; but utterance under immediate divine inspiration: delivering inspired exhortations, instructions, or warnings. See on prophet, Luke 7:26. The fact of direct inspiration distinguished prophecy from “teaching.” [source]
Revelation 11:3 They shall prophesy [προφητεύσουσιν]
See on prophet, Luke 7:26. Commonly explained of preaching repentance, though some take it in the later sense of foretelling future events. [source]
Revelation 1:3 Prophecy []
See on prophet, Luke 7:26. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 7:26 mean?

But what have you gone out to see A prophet Yes I say to you and [one] more excellent than a prophet
Ἀλλὰ τί ἐξήλθατε ἰδεῖν προφήτην ναί λέγω ὑμῖν καὶ περισσότερον προφήτου

ἐξήλθατε  have  you  gone  out 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἐξέρχομαι 
Sense: to go or come forth of.
ἰδεῖν  to  see 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
προφήτην  A  prophet 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.
ναί  Yes 
Parse: Particle
Root: ναί  
Sense: yea, verily, truly, assuredly, even so.
λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
καὶ  and  [one] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
περισσότερον  more  excellent 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular, Comparative
Root: περισσός  
Sense: exceeding some number or measure or rank or need.
προφήτου  than  a  prophet 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: προφήτης  
Sense: in Greek writings, an interpreter of oracles or of other hidden things.

What are the major concepts related to Luke 7:26?

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