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Bible in Basic English

Luke 19:3

Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Hospitality;   Jericho;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Publicans;   Zacchaeus (Zaccheus);   Thompson Chain Reference - Divine;   Seeking Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Jericho;   Zaccheus;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jericho;   Luke, gospel of;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Hospitality;   Wealth;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Jericho;   Zacchaeus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Bethany;   Jerusalem;   Zacchaeus;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Banquet;   Community of Goods;   Disciples;   Jericho;   Luke, Gospel of;   Marriage;   Restitution;   Zaccheus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Zacchaeus;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Age (2);   Character;   Claims (of Christ);   Common Life;   Crowd;   Discourse;   Gentleness (2);   Ideal;   Man (2);   Mission;   Multitude;   Paradox;   Property (2);   Scourge, Scourging;   Social Life;   Sympathy;   Trade and Commerce;   Wealth (2);   Zacchaeus ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Zaccheus;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jericho;   Zacch us;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Zacchae'us;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Stature;   Trespass;   Wealth;   Zacchaeus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 14;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because of the crowd, since he was a short man.
King James Version (1611)
And he sought to see Iesus who he was, and could not for the prease, because he was litle of stature.
King James Version
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
English Standard Version
And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature.
New American Standard Bible
Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and he was unable due to the crowd, because he was short in stature.
New Century Version
He wanted to see who Jesus was, but he was not able because he was too short to see above the crowd.
Amplified Bible
Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, but he could not see because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.
Legacy Standard Bible
And Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.
Berean Standard Bible
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd, because he was small in stature.
Contemporary English Version
Jesus was heading his way, and Zacchaeus wanted to see what he was like. But Zacchaeus was a short man and could not see over the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree.
Complete Jewish Bible
He was trying to see who Yeshua was; but, being short, he couldn't, because of the crowd.
Darby Translation
And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was little in stature.
Easy-to-Read Version
He wanted to see who Jesus was. There were many others who wanted to see Jesus too. Zacchaeus was too short to see above the people.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he sought to see Iesus, who hee should be, and coulde not for the preasse, because he was of a lowe stature.
George Lamsa Translation
And he wanted to see who Jesus was; but he could not because of the crowd, for Zacchaeus was small in his stature.
Good News Translation
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he was a little man and could not see Jesus because of the crowd.
Lexham English Bible
And he was seeking to see Jesus—who he was—and he was not able to as a result of the crowd, because he was short in stature.
Literal Translation
And he was seeking to see Jesus, who He is. And he was not able, because of the crowd, and he was little in stature.
American Standard Version
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
Hebrew Names Version
He was trying to see who Yeshua was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.
International Standard Version
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but he couldn't do so because of the crowd. (He was short in height.)
Etheridge Translation
and he wished [fn] to see Jeshu, who he was, and could not for the crowd, because in his stature Zakai was small.
Murdock Translation
and he wished to see Jesus, who he was; and could not, on account of the crowd; because Zaccheus was small in stature.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he sought [meanes] to see Iesus, what he shoulde be, & coulde not for the preasse, because he was litle of stature.
English Revised Version
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
World English Bible
He was trying to see who Jesus was, and couldn't because of the crowd, because he was short.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he sought to see Jesus who he was, and could not for the croud, because he was little of stature.
Weymouth's New Testament
He was anxious to see what sort of man Jesus was; but he could not because of the crowd, for he was short in stature.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he souyte to se Jhesu, who he was, and he myyte not, for the puple, for he was litil in stature.
Update Bible Version
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the crowd, because he was little of stature.
New English Translation
He was trying to get a look at Jesus, but being a short man he could not see over the crowd.
New King James Version
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
New Living Translation
He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowd.
New Life Bible
Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus but he could not because so many people were there and he was a short man.
New Revised Standard
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was short in stature.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he was seeking to see Jesus, what sort of man he was, and could not for the multitude, because, in stature, he was, small.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he sought to see Jesus who he was: and he could not for the crowd, because he was low of stature.
Revised Standard Version
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not, on account of the crowd, because he was small of stature.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And he made meanes to se Iesus what he shuld be: and coulde not for the preace because he was of a lowe stature.
Young's Literal Translation
and he was seeking to see Jesus, who he is, and was not able for the multitude, because in stature he was small,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
and desyred to se Iesus what he shulde be, and he coulde not for the people, for he was lowe of stature.
Mace New Testament (1729)
was very desirous to see the person of Jesus, but could not for the crowd, he being of a low stature.
Simplified Cowboy Version
He wanted to see the man that everyone was talking about, but he couldn't see over the throng of people because he was a short fellow.

Contextual Overview

1 And he went into Jericho, and when he was going through it, 2 A man, named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax-farmer, and a man of wealth, 3 Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man. 4 And he went quickly in front of them and got up into a tree to see him, for he was going that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, looking up, he said to him, Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I am coming to your house today. 6 And he came down quickly, and took him into his house with joy. 7 And when they saw it, they were all angry, saying, He has gone into the house of a sinner. 8 And Zacchaeus, waiting before him, said to the Lord, See, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor, and if I have taken anything from anyone wrongly, I give him back four times as much. 9 And Jesus said to him, Today salvation has come to this house, for even he is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of man came to make search for those who are wandering from the way, and to be their Saviour.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he sought: Luke 9:7-9, Luke 23:8, John 12:21

because: Luke 12:25

Reciprocal: Matthew 18:17 - a publican Mark 5:24 - and thronged Acts 24:24 - he sent

Cross-References

Genesis 19:6
And Lot went out to them in the doorway, shutting the door after him.
Genesis 19:8
See now, I have two unmarried daughters; I will send them out to you so that you may do to them whatever seems good to you: only do nothing to these men, for this is why they have come under the shade of my roof.
Genesis 19:28
And looking in the direction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the lowland, he saw the smoke of the land going up like the smoke of an oven.
Genesis 19:29
So it came about that when God sent destruction on the towns of the lowland, he kept his word to Abraham, and sent Lot safely away when he put an end to the towns where he was living.
Genesis 21:8
And when the child was old enough to be taken from the breast, Abraham made a great feast.
Exodus 12:15
For seven days let your food be unleavened bread; from the first day no leaven is to be seen in your houses: whoever takes bread with leaven in it, from the first till the seventh day, will be cut off from Israel.
Exodus 12:39
And they made unleavened cakes from the paste which they had taken out of Egypt; it was not leavened, for they had been sent out of Egypt so quickly, that they had no time to make any food ready.
Judges 6:19
Then Gideon went in and made ready a young goat, and with an ephah of meal he made unleavened cakes: he put the meat in a basket and the soup in which it had been cooked he put in a pot, and he took it out to him under the oak-tree and gave it to him there.
1 Samuel 28:24
And the woman had in the house a young cow, made fat for food; and she put it to death straight away; and she took meal and got it mixed and made unleavened bread;
2 Kings 4:8
Now there came a day when Elisha went to Shunem, and there was a woman of high position living there, who made him come in and have a meal with her. And after that, every time he went by, he went into her house for a meal.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he sought to see Jesus who he was,.... What sort of a person he was for complexion, stature, and age: having heard much of him, he was very desirous of indulging his curiosity with a sight of him; having, as yet, nothing else that induced him to desire to see him: his desire to see Jesus was not of the same kind with the kings and prophets, Matthew 13:16 but rather like that of Herod,

Luke 23:8

and could not for the press; the multitude of people that were flocking to meet Jesus, or who came before him, or were about him; for one part of the multitude went before him, and the other followed after him; so that he was in the crowd, and therefore could not easily be seen;

because he was little of stature. The Syriac and Persic versions read, "because Zacchaeus was little of stature", lest it should be thought that this is said of Jesus; for the reason why Zacchaeus could not see him for the crowd, was not because Christ was little of stature, and was hid among them, but because Zacchaeus was little of stature, and could not see over their heads.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Who he was - Rather “what sort of person,” he was, or how he appeared. He had that curiosity which is natural to people to see one of whom they have heard much. It would seem, also, that in this case mere “curiosity” led to his conversion and that of his family. Compare 1 Corinthians 14:23-25. God makes use of every principle - of curiosity, or sympathy, or affection, or hope, or fear - to lead people in the way of salvation, and to impress truth on the minds of sinners.

The press - The crowd; the multitude that surrounded Jesus. Earthly princes are often borne in splendid equipages, or even carried, as in Eastern nations, in palanquins on the shoulders of people. Jesus mingled with the multitude, not seeking distinctions of that sort, and perhaps, “in appearance,” not distinguished from thousands that followed him.

Little of stature - Short. Not a tall man.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 19:3. And he sought to see Jesus who he was — So the mere principle of curiosity in him led to his conversion and salvation, and to that of his whole family, Luke 19:9.


 
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