Luke 19:40 kjv
And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
Luke 19:40 nkjv
But He answered and said to them, "I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out."
Luke 19:40 niv
"I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Luke 19:40 esv
He answered, "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out."
Luke 19:40 nlt
He replied, "If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!"
Luke 19 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Ps 8:2 | From the lips of children and infants you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. | God receives perfect praise even from the simplest. |
| Ps 96:11–13 | Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it!... | All creation called to praise the Lord. |
| Ps 98:7–9 | Let the sea roar, and all that fills it; the world and those who dwell in it! Let the rivers clap their hands; let the mountains sing for joy | Nature joins in proclaiming God's arrival and reign. |
| Ps 148:7–10 | Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps, fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulfilling his word!... | Elements of creation are commanded to praise God. |
| Isa 55:12 | For you shall go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and the hills before you shall break forth into singing... | Nature rejoices at the manifestation of God's presence. |
| Hab 2:11 | For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the woodwork will answer it. | Even inanimate objects testify against human wrongdoing. |
| Matt 3:9 / Lk 3:8 | Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father,’ for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children for Abraham. | God's power to create witness/descendants from anything. |
| Zech 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you...riding on a donkey... | Prophecy fulfilled in Jesus' triumphal entry. |
| Isa 2:11–12 | The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled...For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be against all... | Condemnation of human pride that resists God. |
| Rom 1:20 | For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen... | Creation itself testifies to God's existence and power. |
| Ps 19:1–4 | The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork... | Creation's continuous declaration of God's glory. |
| Acts 4:18–20 | So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right..." | Believers compelled to speak God's truth despite threats. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Obedience to God takes precedence over human decrees. |
| Php 2:10–11 | ...at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord... | Universal submission and confession to Christ. |
| Isa 42:8 | I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. | God's exclusive claim to glory and praise. |
| Mt 21:16 | And he said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have perfected praise'?" | Jesus quotes Ps 8:2, affirming divinely ordained praise. |
| 1 Pet 2:9 | But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him... | God's people called to proclaim His praises. |
| Rev 5:13 | And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits..." | Future universal worship of God and the Lamb. |
| Lk 19:37–38 | As He was drawing near...the whole multitude of His disciples began to rejoice and praise God... | Immediate context: the cause of the Pharisees' complaint. |
| Lk 19:39 | And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, "Teacher, rebuke your disciples." | Immediate context: the demand for silence. |
| Heb 12:26 | At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, "Yet once more I will make not only the earth but also the heavens tremble." | Divine presence causes creation to react. |
Luke 19 verses
Luke 19 40 Meaning
This verse conveys Jesus' unwavering affirmation of His identity and the divinely ordained nature of His Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. When the Pharisees demanded that Jesus rebuke His disciples for their exuberant praise, Jesus declared that the praise was inevitable and essential. He emphasized that if His followers were to become silent, the very stones of the earth would spontaneously cry out to proclaim His glory and the fulfillment of prophecy, highlighting the truth's intrinsic power and God's sovereign will to receive worship.
Luke 19 40 Context
Luke 19:40 takes place during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, often called Palm Sunday. Jesus is fulfilling ancient prophecies by entering Jerusalem humbly on a donkey, signifying His role as a king of peace (Zech 9:9). As He descends the Mount of Olives and approaches the city, a large multitude of His disciples joyfully praises God with loud voices, acknowledging Him as the "King who comes in the name of the Lord!" (Lk 19:37-38). This outburst of praise triggers a complaint from some Pharisees within the crowd (Lk 19:39), who are indignant at the titles attributed to Jesus and the implied rebellion against Roman authority, viewing it as blasphemy or sedition. The Pharisees demand that Jesus silence His followers. This verse is Jesus' profound response, asserting that the praise is not merely spontaneous human excitement but an undeniable, divinely mandated revelation that cannot be suppressed. The broader context of Luke's Gospel highlights Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, His impending passion, and the continued rejection by religious leaders, contrasting with the recognition by His humble followers.
Luke 19 40 Word analysis
- And he answered (καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς / kai apokritheis): Indicates a direct and authoritative response to the Pharisees' demand. It shows Jesus is fully aware of their complaint and addresses it decisively.
- said (εἶπεν / eipen): Simple verb "he said," but in context of Jesus, carries inherent authority and truthfulness.
- “I tell you (λέγω ὑμῖν / legō hymin):” A common introductory phrase used by Jesus, emphasizing the certainty and absolute truth of what He is about to say. It marks a significant declaration that holds divine weight, contrasting with mere human opinion.
- that if (ὅτι ἐὰν / hoti ean): Introduces a conditional clause, positing a hypothetical scenario.
- these (οὗτοι / houtoi): Refers to the "whole multitude of His disciples" (Lk 19:37) who were just praising Him. Jesus acknowledges them as His agents of praise.
- were silent (σιωπήσουσιν / siōpēsousin): From siōpaō, meaning "to be silent, quiet, still." The aorist active subjunctive suggests a completed action in the past relative to the main clause, meaning if they were to become silent.
- the stones (οἱ λίθοι / hoi lithoi): Lithos means "stone, rock, pebble." Here, literal stones of the road or the surrounding rocky landscape. Symbolically, inanimate creation, highlighting its inherent purpose to declare God's glory.
- would immediately (εὐθέως / eutheōs): Emphasizes the certainty and swiftness of the alternative. If one means of praise is cut off, God's providence will instantly provide another.
- cry out (κραύσουσιν / krausousin): From krazō, meaning "to cry out, shriek, shout, roar." It denotes a loud, often public and impassioned declaration, much like the crowd's initial shouting. It signifies an unavoidable, resounding testimony.
Luke 19 40 Bonus section
The concept of "stones crying out" connects to a theological principle that creation itself groans under the weight of sin and yearns for the revelation of God's children (Rom 8:19-22). It implies an inherent testimony within the created order, a silent witness to the Creator that can be activated by divine decree. In this instance, it underscores that the acknowledgment of Jesus as King is not merely a human preference but a cosmic truth, embedded in the very structure of reality. The refusal to acknowledge this truth means one must defy creation itself. This also suggests the pervasive and inescapable nature of divine revelation – even without human agency, God’s glory and truth will be manifested.
Luke 19 40 Commentary
Luke 19:40 is a powerful testament to the inherent, irrepressible truth of Jesus' messianic identity and the inevitability of His praise. When the Pharisees, driven by their rejection of Jesus' authority and their fear of socio-political upheaval, demanded silence, Jesus asserted that the unfolding events were not merely human enthusiasm but a divine imperative. The "praise" was an undeniable prophetic fulfillment that could not be thwarted by human will or decree.
Jesus' declaration about stones crying out is a vivid hyperbole, drawing on the Old Testament concept of creation testifying to God's glory and His presence (e.g., Ps 19:1-4; Isa 55:12; Hab 2:11). It serves several purposes:
- Divine Vindication: It validates the disciples' praise, demonstrating it aligns with God's will and purpose for that moment. The praise is not misdirected but divinely appropriate.
- Irrepressible Truth: It highlights that God's truth cannot be silenced. Even if humans refuse to acknowledge or praise Him, God will ensure His glory is proclaimed, implying that suppressing this truth is futile.
- God's Sovereignty: It underscores God's absolute sovereignty and His ability to raise up witnesses from the most unlikely sources (as He could raise up children for Abraham from stones, Matt 3:9).
- Implicit Rebuke: It serves as a gentle yet firm rebuke to the Pharisees, implying that their resistance is not against mere human actions but against a divinely orchestrated revelation, making their demands futile and their unbelief pronounced. Their attempt to suppress the truth reveals their blindness to God's working.
This verse ultimately teaches that the praise of God, particularly for the redemptive work of Christ, is an eternal necessity that will always find expression, whether through believing hearts or the very fabric of creation itself.