Luke 19:8 Meaning and Explanation
“And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Zacchaeus stands and pledges half his goods to the poor, with fourfold restitution to anyone he has wronged.
What Does Luke 19:8 Mean?
He stands, a public act before the murmuring town, and addresses Jesus as Lord. The law asked a man who confessed fraud to restore what he took and add a fifth; fourfold was the penalty for stealing and slaughtering a sheep. Zacchaeus volunteers the harshest standard against himself and adds half his fortune for the poor.
Nothing here purchases the welcome, which was given a verse earlier; this is what the welcome does to a man. Repentance becomes concrete, datable, and expensive. Money, the old master of his life, is dethroned in a sentence. When Christ truly enters a house, the ledgers change.
Luke 19:8 in the Original Language
sykophanteo (συκοφαντέω), 'taken by false accusation' -- to extort or defraud by abusing the power to accuse.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 19:8
What does Luke 19:8 mean?
Zacchaeus stands and pledges half his goods to the poor, with fourfold restitution to anyone he has wronged.