Luke 10:13 Meaning and Explanation
“Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus laments over Chorazin and Bethsaida: pagan Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes had they seen such mighty works.
What Does Luke 10:13 Mean?
Chorazin and Bethsaida were towns of the Galilean lakeside that had watched Jesus teach and heal in abundance. Tyre and Sidon were Gentile ports the prophets denounced for pride. Jesus sets them side by side: given the same evidence, the pagan cities would have repented generations ago.
The woe is grief as much as verdict — the sorrow of love over wasted privilege. Miracles witnessed are not the same as miracles received; familiarity can harden a town against wonder. Sackcloth and ashes were the dress of repentance, and Jesus would rather see a city in ashes of sorrow than at ease in unbelief.
Luke 10:13 in the Original Language
metanoeo (μετανοέω), 'repented' -- a change of mind that turns the whole life around.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:13
What does Luke 10:13 mean?
Jesus laments over Chorazin and Bethsaida: pagan Tyre and Sidon would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes had they seen such mighty works.