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 →The judge relents at last — not from justice or pity, but because the widow's relentless coming is wearing him out.
What Does Luke 18:5 Mean?
His reasoning is comically self-interested: he will grant justice simply to get relief. The word translated 'weary' is startlingly physical, as though the powerless widow were landing blows on the mighty judge. By sheer refusal to quit, the person with no power in the story has become its irresistible force.
The point is not that God is like this judge but that he is gloriously unlike him. If shameless persistence can pry justice from a corrupt man, persistent prayer cannot fail before a righteous Father. And Jesus dignifies the widow's stubbornness: holy persistence is not unbelief nagging at heaven's door. It is faith refusing to believe the door will stay shut.
Luke 18:5 in the Original Language
hypopiazo (ὑπωπιάζω), 'weary' -- literally to strike under the eye; to wear down.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 18:5
What does Luke 18:5 mean?
The judge relents at last — not from justice or pity, but because the widow's relentless coming is wearing him out.