Luke 11 44

Luke 11:44 kjv

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Luke 11:44 nkjv

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them."

Luke 11:44 niv

"Woe to you, because you are like unmarked graves, which people walk over without knowing it."

Luke 11:44 esv

Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without knowing it."

Luke 11:44 nlt

Yes, what sorrow awaits you! For you are like hidden graves in a field. People walk over them without knowing the corruption they are stepping on."

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 44 Meaning

This verse is a scathing denunciation by Jesus, primarily directed at the Pharisees and scribes (also called lawyers). It declares that their hidden spiritual corruption, despite their outward appearance of righteousness, renders them like "unmarked graves." Just as accidentally stepping on an unmarked grave made one ritually unclean without their knowledge according to Jewish law (Num 19:16), these religious leaders inwardly carry defilement (spiritual death and corruption). Their teaching and influence subtly corrupt those who follow them or come into contact with them, defiling others unknowingly by leading them astray from true piety and the will of God, causing them to fall into sin and hypocrisy themselves.

Luke 11 44 Context

This verse occurs within a series of sharp rebukes Jesus delivers to the Pharisees and lawyers during a meal at a Pharisee's house. The immediate context (Luke 11:37-41) involves Jesus' failure to perform ritual washing before eating, which provoked the Pharisee's astonishment. Jesus then exposes their superficial piety, noting they clean the outside of the cup and dish while the inside is full of greed and wickedness. Verse 44, specifically, targets their outwardly respectable religious status, which ironically makes them dangerous and defiling to others. It is part of the first woe declared against the Pharisees for their focus on trivial matters (tithing herbs) while neglecting justice and the love of God (Luke 11:42), and their desire for public honor (Luke 11:43). The verse contrasts their outward show of religious adherence with their inner corruption, equating them to sources of unknown spiritual impurity, similar to unknowingly stumbling upon an unmarked grave and becoming ritually defiled according to Old Testament purity laws. This serves as a strong polemic against the legalistic and hypocritical religious system of the time, revealing that its seemingly devout leaders were actively leading people away from true spiritual purity and understanding.

Luke 11 44 Word analysis

• Woe (Οὐαὶ - Ouai): More than a mere exclamation of sadness, this term is a powerful declaration of lament and divine condemnation, signifying a severe judgment and impending calamity or spiritual misfortune. It underscores Jesus' prophetic authority and sorrow over their spiritual condition and the dire consequences awaiting them.
• For you are (ὅτι ἐστὲ - hoti este): Introduces the reason for the "woe," explicitly linking their nature to the metaphor. It's a statement of intrinsic character.
• Like (ὡς - hōs): A comparative particle, introducing a powerful simile that defines the essence of their hidden danger.
• Unmarked graves (μνημεῖα ἀφανῆ - mnēmeia aphana): This is the core metaphor.
  • μνημεῖα (mnēmeia): Refers to "memorials," "tombs," or "graves." In ancient Jewish culture, graves were considered potent sources of ritual defilement (Num 19:16).
  • ἀφανῆ (aphana): Means "unseen," "invisible," "hidden," or "undiscerned." This particular adjective is critical. Unlike Matthew's "whitewashed tombs" (Matt 23:27), which implies an outward show hiding inner decay, Luke's "unmarked graves" emphasizes the insidious nature of the defilement, the danger of which is not apparent. The danger lies in its hiddenness.
• On which (ἐφʼ ἃ - eph' ha): "Upon which," indicating the interaction with these hidden sources of defilement.
• People (οἱ ἄνθρωποι - hoi anthrōpoi): Refers to anyone, the ordinary folk, walking through life, especially those engaging with these religious leaders.
• Walk (περιπατοῦσιν - peripatousin): Implies their everyday activities, their interactions, and the general course of their lives, potentially including their religious or spiritual seeking.
• Without knowing it (καὶ οὐκ οἴδασιν - kai ouk oidasin): "And do not know it," or "without being aware." This highlights the profound danger and tragedy: the unsuspecting are rendered unclean, not by deliberate choice but by unknowingly coming into contact with these hidden sources of corruption. The victims are unaware of their spiritual contamination, which prevents them from seeking purification.

Luke 11 44 Bonus section

The annual custom of whitewashing graves around Passover ensured visibility, preventing accidental defilement for those coming to Jerusalem. By saying these religious leaders were unmarked graves, Jesus emphasized their deceptive appearance – they did not visibly indicate the spiritual impurity within them. This metaphor is more severe than the "whitewashed tombs" in Matthew 23:27, as it highlights not merely a veneer over decay, but a completely hidden and thus unavoidable danger. The Pharisees and lawyers, acting as the spiritual guides, were themselves sources of spiritual death to others precisely because their corruption was not evident. They were not merely neglecting their duty to warn people, but actively functioning as agents of subtle spiritual defilement. This deep-seated hypocrisy made them more dangerous because they polluted others while appearing to be paragons of piety, thereby leading others to adopt a similarly outward and therefore defiled spiritual state.

Luke 11 44 Commentary

Luke 11:44 delivers a stinging indictment against the spiritual leadership of the day, particularly the Pharisees and scribes, revealing the insidious nature of their hypocrisy. Jesus does not accuse them of obvious, overt wickedness but of a subtle, internal corruption that acts as a spiritual pollutant. Just as ancient purity laws dictated that contact with a corpse or grave rendered one unclean, whether known or unknown, so too these leaders, outwardly pristine and devout, inwardly carried the spiritual "death" of self-righteousness, legalism, and a lack of true love for God and neighbor.

Their hidden spiritual defilement—manifested in their traditions over God's commands, their self-exaltation, and their burdening of people with unmanageable rules—unknowingly contaminated those they purported to guide. People walking in their teachings or following their example were becoming spiritually unclean, laden with unnecessary burdens, or led away from genuine relationship with God, all while remaining unaware of the true source of their spiritual malaise. This verse serves as a potent warning against superficial piety and the dangers of religious leaders who prioritize outward appearances and human traditions over the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and the righteousness of God that comes from within. It calls believers to examine not just their actions but the state of their hearts and the true nature of their spiritual influence.