Luke 18 6

Luke 18:6 kjv

And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Luke 18:6 nkjv

Then the Lord said, "Hear what the unjust judge said.

Luke 18:6 niv

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says.

Luke 18:6 esv

And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.

Luke 18:6 nlt

Then the Lord said, "Learn a lesson from this unjust judge.

Luke 18 verses

Luke 18 6 Meaning

Luke 18:6 reveals Jesus's emphatic instruction to His listeners, drawing their attention to the implications of the unrighteous judge's actions in the preceding parable. It serves as the interpretive key to the parable of the persistent widow, establishing an "a fortiori" argument: if even a godless, unjust human judge can be swayed by relentless petitioning, how much more certainly will a just, loving, and righteous God answer the persistent prayers of His chosen ones. The verse highlights God's stark contrast to corrupt human authority and underscores His unwavering commitment to His elect.

Luke 18 6 Context

Luke 18:6 immediately follows the Parable of the Unrighteous Judge and the Persistent Widow (Luke 18:1-5). Jesus narrates this parable with the stated purpose in Luke 18:1: "that they ought always to pray and not lose heart." The parable itself depicts a corrupt judge who neither feared God nor cared for people, yet grants justice to a persistent widow simply to rid himself of her incessant demands. Verse 6 is Jesus's direct interjection, instructing His audience to deeply consider the implications of the judge's motives and actions. This verse transitions from the story to its divine application, setting the stage for Jesus's explanation in Luke 18:7-8 regarding God's willingness to answer the prayers of His elect. The broader context in Luke emphasizes prayer, the nature of God's Kingdom, and discipleship, often challenging the prevalent understanding of righteousness held by religious leaders of the day.

Luke 18 6 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction that simply links the narrative directly to Jesus's interpretative comment.
• the Lord (ὁ Κύριος - ho Kyrios): Refers to Jesus, highlighting His divine authority and the importance of His words. This title often denotes His supremacy and position as Master and teacher, affirming the weightiness of what He is about to reveal.
• said (εἶπεν - eipen): Aorist active indicative, simply stating that Jesus spoke. It marks a direct statement by Jesus, not a continuation of the parable narrative but an authoritative explanation.
• Hear (Ἀκούετε - Akouete): Second person plural, present active imperative of akouo. It is a strong command meaning "Listen attentively," "Pay close attention," or "Understand." Jesus is calling His disciples and the crowd to not just physically hear but to grasp the deep significance and application of the parable's lesson. It signals that what follows is the crucial takeaway.
• what (τί - ti): An interrogative pronoun, here functioning to mean "that which" or "the things which." It directs the focus to the specific substance of the judge's declaration, which reveals his character and motive.
• the unrighteous (τῆς ἀδικίας - tēs adikias): Genitive noun modifying "judge." Literally "of unrighteousness" or "of injustice." It describes the judge's inherent nature, not just a single unrighteous act. He embodies injustice, indicating a profound lack of moral and ethical grounding. This stark characterization is vital for the a fortiori argument that follows; his motivations are solely self-serving.
• judge (ὁ κριτὴς - ho kritēs): The human arbiter of justice. In this context, his role contrasts sharply with his character. His actions were not based on justice, but annoyance.
• says (λέγει - legei): Present active indicative of legō, meaning "he says" or "he is saying." This brings the judge's previous statement (from the parable in verse 4) to the forefront for immediate consideration, reinforcing that his words, despite his character, carried weight in achieving a result.

Words-group analysis

• And the Lord said, "Hear...": This opening immediately highlights Jesus as the divine interpreter. The command "Hear" emphasizes the critical importance of understanding the truth He is about to reveal, indicating that the preceding parable has a profound spiritual lesson. It elevates the subsequent teaching from a mere story to a divine instruction requiring careful consideration.
• "what the unrighteous judge says!": This phrase is pivotal. Jesus instructs listeners to focus not just on the judge's actions, but specifically on his cynical reasoning articulated in the parable (Lk 18:4: "Yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not keep coming and wearing me out."). By highlighting the judge's purely self-interested motive—relief from annoyance rather than a commitment to justice—Jesus establishes the lower premise of His a fortiori argument. If this type of motivation (base and human) could lead to a positive outcome (justice for the widow), then divine motivation (righteous, loving, compassionate) would undoubtedly lead to an even more certain and greater outcome.

Luke 18 6 Bonus section

• The rhetorical question posed by Jesus, followed by the imperative "Hear!", forces the listeners to actively engage in drawing the logical conclusion. This isn't merely storytelling but a challenge to apply divine truth to their prayer lives and understanding of God.
• The judge's motive in the parable highlights God's transcendence: He doesn't act out of annoyance or weariness but out of His intrinsic justice, love, and commitment to His covenant with His people. The contrast between the two is designed to build immense confidence in the character of God.
• This verse indirectly sets up the expectation of God's "speedy" answer mentioned in Luke 18:8, even if there is a seeming delay. The concept of divine "delay" often serves to test and strengthen faith, refine believers, and allow God's perfect timing and wisdom to be displayed, which is far superior to human perception of urgency.
• The "unrighteous judge" serves as a prototype of all human systems of justice corrupted by sin, contrasting them sharply with the perfect, incorruptible justice of God. This offers a powerful theological statement about the nature of human authority versus divine sovereignty.

Luke 18 6 Commentary

Luke 18:6 serves as the hermeneutical hinge for the parable of the persistent widow. After presenting the story of a God-fearing and man-disregarding judge yielding to a bothersome widow, Jesus Himself intervenes with an authoritative command: "Hear what the unrighteous judge says!" He doesn't tell His audience to observe the judge's actions, but to hear his words, specifically his selfish rationale for granting the widow justice. The significance lies not in imitating the judge's unrighteousness, but in understanding that if such a contemptible character can be swayed by persistence, then the infinitely righteous and loving God will certainly and promptly respond to His own chosen ones who cry out to Him. It's a powerful a fortiori argument (from the lesser to the greater): human evil yields to persistence; divine goodness responds with vindication. This verse thus encourages steadfast, hopeful, and bold prayer, assuring believers of God's perfect justice and His eager readiness to intervene for His elect, emphasizing His contrast to human injustice.