Luke 14:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And answered them, saying, Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus appeals to their own practice: any of them would pull an ox out of a pit at once, even on the sabbath.
What Does Luke 14:5 Mean?
Jesus follows the healing with a question from everyday life. If an animal — a donkey or an ox — fell into a pit on the sabbath, which of them would leave it there until sundown? None. The owner would pull it out 'straightway,' immediately, and no one would call the rescue a sin.
The argument runs from the lesser to the greater. If mercy toward a beast cannot wait a day, how much less mercy toward a man made in the image of God? Jesus is not loosening the sabbath; he is reading it the way its Giver meant it — a day that welcomes rescue. Compassion delayed for the sake of appearances is not holiness, and Jesus will not practice it.
Luke 14:5 in the Original Language
phrear (φρέαρ), 'pit' -- a well or deep shaft, from which an animal would need immediate rescue.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 14:5
What does Luke 14:5 mean?
Jesus appeals to their own practice: any of them would pull an ox out of a pit at once, even on the sabbath.