Luke 10:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A priest happens down the same road, sees the wounded man, and passes by on the opposite side.
What Does Luke 10:31 Mean?
The first hope arrives wearing holy robes. A priest — perhaps returning from temple service, since many priestly families lived at Jericho — comes upon the victim. He sees him. Then he crosses to the far edge of the road and keeps walking.
Luke offers no motive, and the silence is searching: fear of bandits, fear of defilement, a pressing schedule, a shrug. Whatever the reason, religion passed by need on the other side. Knowledge of God that does not bend toward the wounded has missed its own meaning. The road still tests every worshipper walking home from worship.
Luke 10:31 in the Original Language
antiparerchomai (ἀντιπαρέρχομαι), 'passed by on the other side' -- to pass along opposite, deliberately keeping distance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 10:31
What does Luke 10:31 mean?
A priest happens down the same road, sees the wounded man, and passes by on the opposite side.