Luke 18:5 Meaning and Explanation
“Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Delay can make prayer feel fruitless, especially when the matter concerns wrongdoing that has not been set right. The judge's confession exposes his character, yet Jesus turns this surprising scene into encouragement. The widow's continued coming becomes a vivid picture of faith that refuses to abandon its appeal to God.
The unjust judge finally grants the widow justice because her repeated appeals disturb his ease. Jesus uses the judge's own selfish reasoning to strengthen confidence that God hears persistent cries for justice.
The Context of Luke 18:5
This verse follows the widow's request that the city judge avenge her of her adversary. The judge has already been described as fearing neither God nor man, and verse 4 reveals that he initially refused her. In verse 5 he speaks privately about why he will change course. Jesus immediately commands his listeners to hear what this unjust judge says. Verses 7 and 8 then ask whether God will avenge his own elect who cry day and night to him, ending with a question about faith when the Son of man comes. The parable stands before the accounts of prayer in the temple and the ruler who seeks eternal life.
What Does Luke 18:5 Mean?
The judge says, "because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her." His decision grows from personal inconvenience, not from moral concern for her case. The phrase "continual coming" makes clear that the widow has returned again and again. "She weary me" likely conveys his fear of being worn down by her persistence, perhaps even of being publicly shamed or harassed. The exact shade of the expression is less important than the judge's stated motive: he wants relief from her repeated appeal. Her persistence has exposed the judge's unwillingness and has obtained the hearing he withheld.
Jesus does not present the judge as a likeness of God's heart. Verse 6 calls him the unjust judge, and verse 7 directs the argument toward God's far greater faithfulness. If such a judge responds under pressure, God's own elect have greater reason to cry to him day and night. The parable therefore addresses the temptation to faint when justice seems delayed. It also preserves the reality of waiting. Jesus asks whether the Son of man will find faith on the earth, suggesting that persistent prayer is part of faithful endurance while God's purposes unfold. God hears with righteousness, rather than fatigue or self-interest.
The widow's continued coming belongs to a wider biblical pattern of bringing urgent need before God. The Psalms regularly place oppression, fear, and unanswered questions in prayer. Jesus himself teaches his disciples to ask, seek, and knock. In Luke 18, this parable later finds a living echo in the blind man near Jericho. People rebuke him, yet he cries much more, and Jesus stops to receive him. Persistent prayer is therefore neither a technique for controlling God nor a demand to hide pain. It is faithful return to the God whose justice and mercy remain sure even when our timing is unsettled.
Bible Verses Related to Luke 18:5
“I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.”
- Luke 11:8
“Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice.”
- Psalm 55:17
“Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;”
- Romans 12:12
“And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.”
- Luke 18:39
Where Luke 18:5 Echoes in Scripture
Luke 18:39 is the clearest echo within the chapter. The blind man is rebuked as he calls for mercy, yet he cries much more. Jesus stands still and receives him. His persistence reflects the parable's call to keep praying without fainting, while the outcome reveals Jesus' compassionate attention. The echo also keeps the lesson close to actual human need: continued prayer can be a cry for mercy from someone who knows his need before God.
How to Apply Luke 18:5 Today
Repeated prayer can become a steady practice when a need has no quick resolution. We may return to God with the same request, giving thanks, naming what remains painful, and asking for wisdom about the next faithful action. This verse also calls communities to resist the judge's posture. A repeated request from a burdened person may signal that earlier help was insufficient. Listening carefully, seeking truthful remedies, and refusing to grow numb to another person's trouble are fitting responses. God invites perseverance that is joined to patience, honesty, and practical care.
Reflection & Prayer
What concern have we set aside because its repeated return feels tiring or embarrassing? Consider bringing it to God in simple words for several days, while remaining open to wise action. Pray: "Lord, keep our faith from fainting. Teach us to seek your justice with patience, and make us ready to hear the burdens of others with compassion."