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the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Literal Standard Version

Luke 19:4

and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see Him, because through that [way] He was about to pass by.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

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

Dictionaries:

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

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Sycomore Tree;   Trespass;   Wealth;   Zacchaeus;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for November 14;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
So running ahead, he climbed up a sycamore tree to see Jesus, since he was about to pass that way.
King James Version (1611)
And he ranne before, and climed vp into a sycomore tree to see him, for he was to passe that way.
King James Version
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
English Standard Version
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way.
New American Standard Bible
So he ran on ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree in order to see Him, because He was about to pass through that way.
New Century Version
He ran ahead to a place where Jesus would come, and he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.
Amplified Bible
So he ran on ahead [of the crowd] and climbed up in a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
Legacy Standard Bible
So he ran on before and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.
Berean Standard Bible
So he ran on ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Him, since Jesus was about to pass that way.
Complete Jewish Bible
So he ran on ahead and climbed a fig tree in order to see him, for Yeshua was about to pass that way.
Darby Translation
And running on before, he got up into a sycamore that he might see him, for he was going to pass that [way].
Easy-to-Read Version
So he ran to a place where he knew Jesus would come. Then he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see him.
Geneva Bible (1587)
Wherefore he ranne before, and climed vp into a wilde figge tree, that he might see him: for he should come that way.
George Lamsa Translation
So he ran ahead of Jesus, and climbed up into a fig tree without leaves, that he might see him, because he was to pass that way.
Good News Translation
So he ran ahead of the crowd and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus, who was going to pass that way.
Lexham English Bible
And he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree so that he could see him, because he was going to go through that way.
Literal Translation
And running ahead, he went up onto a sycamore tree, so that he might see Him; for He was going to pass through that way .
American Standard Version
And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Bible in Basic English
And he went quickly in front of them and got up into a tree to see him, for he was going that way.
Hebrew Names Version
He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.
International Standard Version
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see Jesus,him
">[fn] who was going to pass that way.
Etheridge Translation
And he ran before Jeshu, and ascended a wild fig-tree [fn] to see him, because so he was about to pass.
Murdock Translation
And he ran forward of Jesus, and climbed a wild fig-tree, in order to see him; for he was to pass that way.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And he ran before, and clymed vp into a wylde fygge tree, to see hym: for he was to come that way.
English Revised Version
And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
World English Bible
He ran on ahead, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And running before, he climbed into a sycamore tree, to see him, for he was to pass by that way.
Weymouth's New Testament
So he ran on in front and climbed up a mulberry tree to see Him; for He was about to pass that way.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he ran bifore, and stiyede in to a sicomoure tree, to se hym; for he was to passe fro thennus.
Update Bible Version
And he ran on before, and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he ran before, and climbed up upon a sycamore-tree to see him; for he was to pass that [way].
New English Translation
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, because Jesus was going to pass that way.
New King James Version
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
New Living Translation
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree beside the road, for Jesus was going to pass that way.
New Life Bible
He ran ahead and got up into a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus was going by that way.
New Revised Standard
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, running forward unto the front, he got up a sycamore-tree, that he might see him; for, by that way, was he about to pass.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And running before, he climbed up into a sycamore tree, that he might see him: for he was to pass that way.
Revised Standard Version
So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was to pass that way.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Wherfore he ran before and asceded vp into a wilde fygge tree to se him: for he shulde come that same waye.
Young's Literal Translation
and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see him, because through that [way] he was about to pass by.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And he ranne before, and clymmed vp in to a wylde fygge tre, that he might se him: for he shulde come yt waye.
Mace New Testament (1729)
so he ran before, and climb'd up a mulberry-tree to view him; for he was to pass that way.
Simplified Cowboy Version
So he did the only thing he knew to do. He climbed a tree nearby. He knew Jesus would come right by there and he would get a good look.

Contextual Overview

1And having entered, He was passing through Jericho, 2and behold, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax collector, and he was rich, 3and he was seeking to see Jesus, who He is, and was not able for the multitude, because he was small in stature, 4and having run forward before, he went up on a sycamore, that he may see Him, because through that [way] He was about to pass by.5And as Jesus came up to the place, having looked up, He saw him and said to him, "Zaccheus, having hurried, come down, for it is necessary for Me to remain in your house today"; 6and he having hurried came down, and received Him rejoicing; 7and having seen [it], they were all murmuring, saying, "He went in to lodge with a sinful man!" 8And Zaccheus having stood, said to the LORD, "Behold, half of my goods, Lord, I give to the poor, and if I took by false accusation anything of anyone, I give back fourfold." 9And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation came to this house, inasmuch as he also is a son of Abraham; 10for the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

climbed: Luke 5:19

a sycamore: 1 Kings 10:27, 1 Chronicles 27:28, Isaiah 9:10, Amos 7:14

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 9:27 - the sycamore 1 Corinthians 13:7 - hopeth

Cross-References

Genesis 13:13
and the men of Sodom [are] evil, and sinners before YHWH exceedingly.
Genesis 18:20
And YHWH says, "The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah—because great; and their sin—because exceedingly grievous:
Genesis 19:1
And two of the messengers come toward Sodom at evening, and Lot is sitting at the gate of Sodom, and Lot sees, and rises to meet them, and bows himself—face to the earth,
Genesis 19:6
And Lot goes out to them, to the opening, and the door has shut behind him,
Genesis 19:20
now behold, this city [is] near to flee there, and it [is] little; please let me escape there (is it not little?) that my soul may live."
Genesis 19:25
and He overthrows these cities, and all the circuit, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which is shooting up from the ground.
Exodus 16:2
And all the congregation of the sons of Israel murmur against Moses and against Aaron in the wilderness;
Exodus 23:2
You are not after many to [do] evil, nor do you testify concerning a strife, to turn aside after many to cause [others] to turn aside;
Proverbs 4:16
For they do not sleep if they do no evil, || And their sleep has been taken away violently, || If they do not cause [some] to stumble.
Proverbs 6:18
A heart devising thoughts of vanity, || Feet hastening to run to evil,

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he ran before,.... Jesus, and the company that was with him; so very desirous was he of seeing him:

and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him: which sort of trees were very common about Jericho: hence we read of, של שקמה

קורות, "beams of sycamore" in Jericho, which those that were strong took up in their arms, and the owners stood and devoted them to God g; and among the things which the men of Jericho did, this was one, that they permitted the branches of trees devoted to sacred uses, and of the "charub" tree, and of the "sycamore", to be cut down and used h. This sort of trees used to grow in plains and valleys, as appears from some passages of Scripture, 1 Kings 10:27 and from Jewish writings i; and certain it is, that Jericho was in such a situation. Josephus k says, it was seated in a plain; and Strabo says l, that Jericho is a plain surrounded with mountains; to which agrees the account that m Justin gives of it. There is a valley, which is enclosed by mountains on all sides, as with a wall, like a castle; the space of the place is two hundred acres, and it is called Jericho. Hence we read of the plains and valley of Jericho in Scripture, Deuteronomy 34:3 so that it is very probable sycamore trees grew there in great plenty; though the place was more famous for palm trees: hence it is called the city of the palm trees,

Deuteronomy 24:3 which the Targumist, in both places, interprets, the city of Jericho: to which agree the accounts given of it by Pliny n, Strabo o, and Justin p, who all affirm, that it abounded with palm trees; and the latter says also with balsam trees, from the sweet smell of which it might have its name: so the Jews say q, the ointment of balsam is called the ointment of our land, because it grows in Jericho, and because of the smell of it, it is called Jericho; though some think it has its name from the plain, being in the form of a half moon; the moon, in the Hebrew language, being called ירח r. This tree seems to have been without the city: and indeed, according to the Jewish canon, it ought to be, which runs thus s;

"they set a tree at a distance from a city, twenty and five cubits, but a "charub tree", and "sycamore", fifty cubits.''

The reason of the greater distance of the latter is, as one of their commentators says t, because their branches were large; and this is the reason why Zacchaeus went up into one of these trees, because it was large and able to bear him, and tall, from whence he could have a full view of Christ:

for he was to pass that [way]; or rather, "pass by that"; for the word "way" is not in the text; and the sense is, he was to pass by that tree; or "under" it, as the Arabic version renders it. The tree stood by the road side, in which Jesus came, for which reason Zacchaeus made choice of it, as fit for his purpose.

g T. Bab. Pesachim, fol. 57. 1. & Juchashin, fol. 69. 1. h T. Bab. Menachot, fol. 71. 1. & Pesachim, fol. 56. 1. i Misn. Sheviith, c. 9. sect. 2. k De Bello Jud. l. 4. c. 27. l Geograph. l. 16. m Hist. l. 36. c. 3. n Nat. Hist. l. 5. c. 14. o Ut supra. (Geograph. l. 16.) p Ib. q Gloss. in T. Bab. Beracot, fol. 43. 1. r Vid. Masium in Josh. c. 2. p. 37. s Misna Bava Bathra, c. 2. sect. 7. t Bartenora in ib.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A sycamore tree - See this described in the notes at Luke 17:6.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 19:4. He ran before — The shortness of his stature was amply compensated by his agility and invention. Had he been as tall as the generality of the crowd, he might have been equally unnoticed with the rest. His getting into the tree made him conspicuous: had he not been so low of stature he would not have done so. Even the imperfections of our persons may become subservient to the grace of God in our eternal salvation. As the passover was at hand, the road was probably crowded with people going to Jerusalem; but the fame of the cure of the blind man was probably the cause of the concourse at this time.


 
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