Luke - 11:38

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38 When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 11:38.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.
And the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself, why he was not washed before dinner.
But the Pharisee seeing it wondered that he had not first washed before dinner.
and the Pharisee having seen, did wonder that he did not first baptize himself before the dinner.
Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.
And when the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised because he came to the meal without first washing himself.
But the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself: "Why might it be that he has not washed before eating?"
The Pharisee noticed, to his astonishment, that Jesus omitted the ceremonial washing before breakfast.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

Saw it - Saw that he sat immediately down without washing.
Marvelled - Wondered. Was amazed. It was so unusual, and in his view so improper.
Had not first washed - He wondered particularly, as he had been among a mixed multitude, and they esteemed the "touch" of such persons polluting. They never ate, therefore, without such washing. The origin of the custom of washing with so much formality "before" they partook of their meals was that they did not use, as we do, knives and forks, but used their hands only. Hence, as their hands would be often in a dish on the table, it was esteemed proper that they should be washed clean before eating. Nor was their impropriety in the thing itself, but the Pharisees made it a matter of ceremony; they placed no small part of their religion in such ceremonies; and it was right, therefore, that our Lord should take occasion to reprove them for it. Compare Mark 7:4.

First washed - See on Mark 7:2-4 (note).

And when the Pharisee saw it,.... That Christ laid himself down on one of the couches and began to eat:
he marvelled; that so great a prophet as he was, and a man of so much religion and holiness, should show no regard to a common custom with them, and which was one of the traditions of their elders, and which they put upon a level with the commands of God. The Vulgate Latin version, and so Beza's most ancient copy, and another exemplar, read, "he began to say, thinking" (or judging) "within himself": he was "moved" at it, as the Persic version renders it; he was filled with astonishment and indignation,
that he had not first washed before dinner; especially since he had been in a crowd of people, Luke 11:29 for the Pharisees not only washed their hands, by immersing them up to the elbow before eating; but when they had been at market, or among any large number of people, or had reason to think they had, or feared they had touched any unclean person or thing, they immersed themselves all over in water: and which is the sense of the word here used; See Gill on Mark 7:2, Mark 7:3 and See Gill on Mark 7:4.

DENUNCIATION OF THE PHARISEES. (Luke 11:37-54)
marvelled, &c.--(See Mark 7:2-4).

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