Luke - 17:18



18 Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this stranger?"

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 17:18.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.
There are not found returning to give glory to God, save this stranger.
There were not found who did turn back to give glory to God, except this alien;'
Have none been found to come back and give glory to God except this foreigner?"
Have not any of them come back to give glory to God, but only this one from a strange land?
Was no one found who would return and give glory to God, except this foreigner?"
Were there none to come back and praise God except this foreigner?

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


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

This stranger - Often God receives more praise and affectionate obedience from those who had long lived without his knowledge and fear, than from those who were bred up among his people, and who profess to be called by his name. The simple reason is, Those who have Much forgiven will love much, Luke 7:47.

There are not found that returned,.... Or it do not appear, that any have returned:
to give glory to God; for inasmuch as they did not return to give thanks to Christ, and acknowledge him the author of their cure and cleansing they did not give glory to God:
save this stranger; for so the Samaritans were reckoned by the Jews, even as the Gentile, aliens from the commonwealth, of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise. Christ speaks in the language and dialect of the nation, and yet we find sometimes, that, "a Cuthite", or a Samaritan, is distinguished from, "a stranger", Or a Gentile: they might set up their beasts in the inns of the Samaritans, but not in the inns of "strangers"; and a man might let out his bath to a Samaritan, but not to a "stranger" (b); but this must be understood of them in times past, before they were found out to be idolaters; when, as Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel says (c), they were as Israelites in all things, and kept the law and the precepts of it, and even more exactly than the Israelites themselves did (d); but afterwards a Samaritan was reckoned a Gentile, and so he was in the times of Christ; and therefore he calls a Samaritan a stranger: that tradition of the Jews, requires some notice and consideration (e); all are defiled
"with leprosies, except "strangers", and the proselyte of the gate.''
And yet here is a stranger among the Jews, and reckoned unclean, on account of leprosy, and sent with them to show himself to the priest.
(b) T. Bab. Avoda Zara, fol. 15. 2. & 21. 2. (c) T. Hieros Shekalim, fol. 46. 2. (d) Maimon. in Misn. Beracot, c. 8. sect. 8. & Bartenora in ib. c. 7. sect. 1. (e) Misn. Negaim, c. 3. sect. 1. Maimon. Tumaot Tzaraot, c. 9. sect. 1.

this stranger--"this alien" (literally, "of another race"). The language is that of wonder and admiration, as is expressly said of another exhibition of Gentile faith (Matthew 8:10).

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Luke 17:18

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.