Luke 23:34 kjv
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:34 nkjv
Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.
Luke 23:34 niv
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
Luke 23:34 esv
And Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." And they cast lots to divide his garments.
Luke 23:34 nlt
Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing." And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.
Luke 23 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference ||---|---|---|| Isa 53:12 | ...bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. | Prophetic intercession for sinners. || Acts 7:60 | Lord, do not charge them with this sin. | Stephen's parallel prayer of forgiveness. || Matt 5:44 | But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. | Jesus's teaching on loving enemies exemplified. || Rom 12:14 | Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. | Paul's exhortation to bless persecutors. || 1 Pet 2:23 | When He was reviled, He did not revile in return... but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously. | Christ's patient endurance and trust in God's judgment. || Acts 3:17 | Yet now, brethren, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. | Peter's acknowledgement of their ignorance. || 1 Cor 2:8 | which none of the rulers of this age understood... had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. | Rulers' spiritual blindness regarding Christ's identity. || John 15:22 | If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. | Contrast with those who knowingly reject Christ. || Heb 7:25 | Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. | Christ's ongoing role as intercessor. || Rom 8:34 | ...Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. | Christ's active intercession post-resurrection. || Ps 22:18 | They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing. | Prophetic fulfillment of casting lots for garments. || John 19:23-24 | ...took His garments and made four parts... But for the tunic they said, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots..." | Fulfillment of prophecy in John's account. || Luke 6:28 | Bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. | Consistent teaching with His own actions. || Luke 19:42 | Would that you, even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! | Jesus's sorrow over Jerusalem's spiritual blindness. || John 16:3 | And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me. | Actions stemming from ignorance of God and Christ. || Psa 109:4 | In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer. | Example of turning to prayer amidst persecution. || Mark 15:24 | And they crucified Him and divided His garments among them, casting lots for them to determine what each would take. | Parallel account of dividing garments. || Rom 10:2-3 | For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God's righteousness... | Ignorance of righteousness, leading to rejection. || Col 3:13 | bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. | Instruction to forgive as Christ forgave. || Luke 23:43 | Truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise. | The offer of salvation extended even from the cross, highlighting Jesus's mercy. || Luke 23:47 | Certainly this was a righteous Man! | Centurion's confession, demonstrating initial steps towards understanding. || Jer 31:34 | No longer shall each one teach his neighbor... For they shall all know me... For I will forgive their iniquity. | Prophecy of divine forgiveness tied to knowing God. || Zech 12:10 | ...they will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him... | Future repentance and recognition of whom they pierced. |
Luke 23 verses
Luke 23 34 Meaning
Luke 23:34 presents Jesus's compassionate plea for the forgiveness of those who crucified Him. From the cross, amidst extreme suffering, He addresses God as "Father" and asks for divine pardon for His persecutors—Roman soldiers, Jewish leaders, and the complicit crowd—because "they know not what they do." This statement encapsulates profound divine love, intercession, and highlights the spiritual blindness that fueled their actions, even as their earthly deed was the fulfillment of prophecy.
Luke 23 34 Context
Luke 23:34 takes place during Jesus's crucifixion, specifically after He has been nailed to the cross and before His death. It is recognized as one of His "Seven Last Words." The context immediately preceding this verse involves Jesus being led to Golgotha, mocked, and nailed to the cross between two criminals. The atmosphere is one of intense suffering, cruelty, and public humiliation, witnessed by Roman soldiers, Jewish religious leaders, and a mixed crowd. In this moment, Jesus's prayer stands in stark contrast to the surrounding hatred and violence, revealing the heart of the Gospel—divine forgiveness in the face of human sin and ignorance. The verse itself follows Jesus's crucifixion and precedes the casting of lots for His clothing, embedding it within the sequence of His profound suffering.
Luke 23 34 Word analysis
- Then Jesus said: Indicates a deliberate utterance from the cross, an act of intentional speech amidst His agony.
- Father: Greek Patēr (Πατήρ). An intimate address to God, emphasizing Jesus's unique filial relationship. It reflects His absolute trust and communion with God, even in the depths of His suffering. This address underpins His authority to make such a profound request for forgiveness.
- forgive: Greek Aphiēmi (ἀφίημι). Means "to send away, let go, release, remit." It conveys a full and complete pardon, the cancellation of a debt, or the letting go of an offense. It implies a restoration of relationship, signifying divine mercy.
- them: Refers broadly to all involved in His crucifixion: the Roman soldiers who nailed Him, the Jewish leaders who orchestrated His condemnation, and the general crowd who consented to or mocked His suffering.
- for: Introduces the reason or justification for the plea for forgiveness.
- they know not: Greek ou gar oidasin (οὐ γὰρ οἴδασιν). Oida (οἶδα) means to "know by understanding, perceive, grasp." This is crucial. It suggests a lack of understanding or spiritual perception regarding Jesus's true identity (the Messiah, Son of God) and the immense theological gravity of their actions. It is not an excuse for their sin but a mitigating factor. They committed the act of crucifixion, but did not fully grasp the infinite identity of their victim, nor the full extent of the divine plan they were unwittingly fulfilling.
- what they do: Greek ho poiousin (ὅ ποιοῦσιν). Refers to the act of crucifying the Son of God. While they literally knew they were executing a man, they did not comprehend the eternal significance of crucifying the Lord of glory (1 Cor 2:8). Their "doing" was steeped in spiritual ignorance.
- And dividing His garments: This transition describes the cruel reality occurring simultaneously. It fulfills Psalm 22:18, highlighting the meticulous fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy even in such mundane acts of avarice. This mundane, callous act immediately after such a profound prayer underscores the deep spiritual disconnect of His executioners.
- they cast lots: Demonstrates the indifference and greed of the Roman soldiers, focusing on earthly possessions even in the presence of ultimate sacrifice. This reinforces the "they know not" aspect—their concerns were worldly and mundane while the Son of God was dying.
Luke 23 34 Bonus section
The authenticity of Luke 23:34 has been debated by scholars, as it is absent from some important early manuscripts (e.g., Codex Vaticanus, Codex Bezae) and is present in others (e.g., Codex Sinaiticus, Codex Alexandrinus). However, a significant majority of biblical scholars affirm its authenticity, finding its theological resonance with Jesus's teachings (Matt 5:44, Luke 6:28) and His own character compelling, suggesting its omission in certain texts might be due to scribal reluctance to attribute such grace to those who murdered Christ, or for textual fluidity in the early church. Regardless of textual debates, its inclusion in the canonical text and its profound impact on Christian theology for centuries speaks to its essential message of redemptive love. This prayer sets Jesus apart not only as the suffering Messiah but as the ultimate intercessor and the living embodiment of the divine attribute of forgiveness, showing the extent of God's love even to those who reject Him. It is an act of proactive mercy that anticipates reconciliation.
Luke 23 34 Commentary
Luke 23:34 stands as a monumental expression of divine grace and a foundational example of Christ-like conduct. Amidst excruciating pain, Jesus's first recorded word from the cross is a prayer for His tormentors' forgiveness, exemplifying the core Christian principle of loving one's enemies and interceding for persecutors (Matt 5:44). His plea "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" does not diminish their culpability but identifies their spiritual blindness as a contributing factor to their horrific deed. They committed the act of deicide but did not fully comprehend the true identity of the One they crucified, nor the divine purpose of His death. This ignorance allows for the possibility of forgiveness and opens the door for subsequent repentance, as seen at Pentecost (Acts 2:36-41). The immediate narrative shift to the soldiers casting lots for His garments starkly contrasts their callousness with His boundless compassion, highlighting humanity's base nature against God's infinite mercy. This verse serves as a powerful call to believers to embody radical forgiveness, even in the face of profound injustice and suffering.Examples for practical usage:
- Pray for those who mistreat you, even if their actions are deliberate.
- Seek to understand the roots of hatred or ignorance in others, without condoning their sin.
- Cultivate a forgiving heart in your daily interactions, following Christ's example.