Luke 18:3 Meaning and Explanation
“And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →A widow in the same city keeps coming to the judge with one plea: grant me justice against my adversary.
What Does Luke 18:3 Mean?
Widows in the ancient world had little leverage — no husband to advocate, often no money to bribe, no power to threaten. Scripture names them again and again as God's particular care. This widow has one weapon left, and she uses it: she keeps showing up.
Her cry, 'Avenge me,' is not a thirst for revenge but a plea that a wrong be set right. Notice whom Jesus chooses as his picture of prayer: the person with the least standing and the most persistence. Prayer is not the privilege of the strong; it is the lifeline of those who have nowhere else to go — and exactly such cries reach God.
Luke 18:3 in the Original Language
ekdikeo (ἐκδικέω), 'avenge' -- to grant justice, to vindicate the wronged.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:3
What does Luke 18:3 mean?
A widow in the same city keeps coming to the judge with one plea: grant me justice against my adversary.