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Saturday, July 12th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

Luke 9:45

They didn't get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn't make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Apostles;   Jesus, the Christ;   Thompson Chain Reference - Discernment-Dullness;   Dullness;  

Dictionaries:

- Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Heal, Health;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Self-Seeking;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Jesus Christ;   John the Apostle;   Luke, Gospel According to;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Announcements of Death;   Discourse;   Endurance;   Fear ;   Understanding;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Transfiguration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Bethsaida;   Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Christ, Offices of;   Conceal;   Jesus Christ (Part 2 of 2);   Luke, the Gospel of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
But they did not understand this statement; it was concealed from them so that they could not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
King James Version (1611)
But they vnderstood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceiued it not: and they feared to aske him of that saying.
King James Version
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.
English Standard Version
But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, so that they might not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
New American Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not comprehend it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
New Century Version
But the followers did not understand what this meant; the meaning was hidden from them so they could not understand. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about it.
Amplified Bible
However, they did not understand this statement. Its meaning was kept hidden from them so that they would not grasp it; and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
Legacy Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they would not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about this statement.
Berean Standard Bible
But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Contemporary English Version
But the disciples did not know what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them. They could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask.
Complete Jewish Bible
But they didn't understand what he meant by this. It had been concealed from them so that they would not grasp its meaning, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
Darby Translation
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them that they should not perceive it. And they feared to ask him concerning this saying.
Easy-to-Read Version
But the followers did not understand what he meant. The meaning was hidden from them so that they could not understand it. But they were afraid to ask Jesus about what he said.
Geneva Bible (1587)
But they vnderstood not that word: for it was hid from them, so that they could not perceiue it: and they feared to aske him of that worde.
George Lamsa Translation
But they did not understand this word, because it was hidden from them so that they might not know it; and they were afraid to ask him concerning this word.
Good News Translation
But the disciples did not know what this meant. It had been hidden from them so that they could not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about the matter.
Lexham English Bible
But they did not understand this statement, and it was concealed from them so that they could not understand it. And they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
Literal Translation
But they did not understand this saying, and it was veiled from them so that they might not perceive it. And they feared to ask Him about this word.
American Standard Version
But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Bible in Basic English
But this saying was not clear to them and its sense was kept secret from them so that they were not able to see it: and they had fear of questioning him about it.
Hebrew Names Version
But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
International Standard Version
But they didn't know what this meant. Indeed, the meaning was hidden from them so that they didn't understand it; and they were afraid to ask him about this statement.Mark 9:32; Luke 2:50; 18:34;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
But they understood not that saying, because it was hidden from them that they should not know it: and they feared to ask of him concerning that saying.
Murdock Translation
But they understood not that speech; because it was hidden from them, that they should not know it: and they feared to ask him concerning that speech.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
But they wyst not what that worde meant, and it was hydde from them that they vnderstoode it not: And they feared to aske hym of that saying.
English Revised Version
But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it: and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
World English Bible
But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of this saying.
Weymouth's New Testament
But they did not understand His meaning: it was veiled from them that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And thei knewen not this word, and it was hid bifor hem, that thei feeliden it not; and thei dredden to axe hym of this word.
Update Bible Version
But they didn't understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Webster's Bible Translation
But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him concerning that saying.
New English Translation
But they did not understand this statement; its meaning had been concealed from them, so that they could not grasp it. Yet they were afraid to ask him about this statement.
New King James Version
But they did not understand this saying, and it was hidden from them so that they did not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask Him about this saying.
New Living Translation
But they didn't know what he meant. Its significance was hidden from them, so they couldn't understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
New Life Bible
They did not understand these words because it was hidden from them. They did not know what Jesus meant and were afraid to ask Him.
New Revised Standard
But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was concealed from them, so that they could not perceive it. And they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, they, understood not this saying, and it had become veiled from them, that they might not grasp it, - and they were afraid to question him, concerning this saying.
Douay-Rheims Bible
But they understood not this word: and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not. And they were afraid to ask him concerning this word.
Revised Standard Version
But they did not understand this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
But they wist not what yt worde meant and yt was hyd fro the that they vnderstode yt not. And they feared to axe him of that sayinge.
Young's Literal Translation
And they were not knowing this saying, and it was veiled from them, that they might not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But they wyst not what that worde meaned, and it was hyd from them, that they vnderstode it not. And they were afrayed to axe him of that worde.
Mace New Testament (1729)
but they did not comprehend that expression: it was as a riddle, which they could not understand, and they were afraid to desire him to explain the meaning of that expression.
Simplified Cowboy Version
They all looked at each other questioningly, but nobody said anything. God didn't want them to understand it yet, and so they were afraid to ask him what he meant.

Contextual Overview

44Keep It Simple Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on." Commissioned, they left. They traveled from town to town telling the latest news of God, the Message, and curing people everywhere they went. Herod, the ruler, heard of these goings on and didn't know what to think. There were people saying John had come back from the dead, others that Elijah had appeared, still others that some prophet of long ago had shown up. Herod said, "But I killed John—took off his head. So who is this that I keep hearing about?" Curious, he looked for a chance to see him in action. The apostles returned and reported on what they had done. Jesus took them away, off by themselves, near the town called Bethsaida. But the crowds got wind of it and followed. Jesus graciously welcomed them and talked to them about the kingdom of God. Those who needed healing, he healed. As the day declined, the Twelve said, "Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the farms or villages around here and get a room for the night and a bite to eat. We're out in the middle of nowhere." "You feed them," Jesus said. They said, "We couldn't scrape up more than five loaves of bread and a couple of fish—unless, of course, you want us to go to town ourselves and buy food for everybody." (There were more than five thousand people in the crowd.) But he went ahead and directed his disciples, "Sit them down in groups of about fifty." They did what he said, and soon had everyone seated. He took the five loaves and two fish, lifted his face to heaven in prayer, blessed, broke, and gave the bread and fish to the disciples to hand out to the crowd. After the people had all eaten their fill, twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered up. One time when Jesus was off praying by himself, his disciples nearby, he asked them, "What are the crowds saying about me, about who I am?" They said, "John the Baptizer. Others say Elijah. Still others say that one of the prophets from long ago has come back." He then asked, "And you—what are you saying about me? Who am I?" Peter answered, "The Messiah of God." Jesus then warned them to keep it quiet. They were to tell no one what Peter had said. He went on, "It is necessary that the Son of Man proceed to an ordeal of suffering, be tried and found guilty by the religious leaders, high priests, and religion scholars, be killed, and on the third day be raised up alive." Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God." About eight days after saying this, he climbed the mountain to pray, taking Peter, John, and James along. While he was in prayer, the appearance of his face changed and his clothes became blinding white. At once two men were there talking with him. They turned out to be Moses and Elijah—and what a glorious appearance they made! They talked over his exodus, the one Jesus was about to complete in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, Peter and those with him were slumped over in sleep. When they came to, rubbing their eyes, they saw Jesus in his glory and the two men standing with him. When Moses and Elijah had left, Peter said to Jesus, "Master, this is a great moment! Let's build three memorials: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." He blurted this out without thinking. While he was babbling on like this, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them. As they found themselves buried in the cloud, they became deeply aware of God. Then there was a voice out of the cloud: "This is my Son, the Chosen! Listen to him." When the sound of the voice died away, they saw Jesus there alone. They were speechless. And they continued speechless, said not one thing to anyone during those days of what they had seen. When they came down off the mountain the next day, a big crowd was there to meet them. A man called from out of the crowd, "Please, please, Teacher, take a look at my son. He's my only child. Often a spirit seizes him. Suddenly he's screaming, thrown into convulsions, his mouth foaming. And then it beats him black-and-blue before it leaves. I asked your disciples to deliver him but they couldn't." Jesus said, "What a generation! No sense of God! No focus to your lives! How many times do I have to go over these things? How much longer do I have to put up with this? Bring your son here." While he was coming, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into convulsions. Jesus stepped in, ordered the vile spirit gone, healed the boy, and handed him back to his father. They all shook their heads in wonder, astonished at God's greatness, God's majestic greatness. While they continued to stand around exclaiming over all the things he was doing, Jesus said to his disciples, "Treasure and ponder each of these next words: The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into human hands." 45 They didn't get what he was saying. It was like he was speaking a foreign language and they couldn't make heads or tails of it. But they were embarrassed to ask him what he meant. 46They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. "Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference." 49 John spoke up, "Master, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn't of our group." 50 Jesus said, "Don't stop him. If he's not an enemy, he's an ally."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Luke 9:46, Luke 2:50, Luke 18:34, Matthew 16:22, Mark 8:16-18, Mark 8:32, Mark 8:33, Mark 9:10, Mark 9:32, John 12:16, John 12:34, John 14:5, John 16:17, John 16:18, 2 Corinthians 3:14-16

Reciprocal: Psalms 119:19 - hide Ezekiel 17:12 - Know Matthew 13:51 - Have Matthew 15:16 - General Matthew 16:21 - began John 4:33 - General John 16:31 - Do John 20:9 - they John 21:12 - durst Acts 7:25 - but Philippians 1:18 - and I

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But they understood not this saying,.... What was meant by being betrayed into the hands of men, and by his being put to death; they knew not, how these things could possibly be, for they could not by any means reconcile them with the notions they had of a temporal Redeemer, and victorious Messiah:

and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not; the true meaning of this saying was hid from their understanding, which was veiled with the above notion of the worldly grandeur of the Messiah, that they did not take it in;

and they feared to ask him of that saying, of the meaning of it; imagining that he had a secret mystical meaning in it, which they could not reach; lest he should reproach them with their dulness and stupidity; or should rebuke them with the like sharpness and severity he had reproved Peter not long ago, upon the same head.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It was hid from them - They had imbibed the common notions of the Jews that he was to be a prince and a conqueror, to deliver the nation. They could not understand how that could be, if he was soon to be delivered into the hands of his enemies to die. In this way it was hid from them - not by God, but by their previous false belief. And from this we may learn that the plainest truths of the Bible are unintelligible to many because they have embraced some belief or opinion before which is erroneous, and which they are unwilling to abandon. The proper way of reading the Bible is to lay aside all previous opinions and submit entirely to God. The apostles should have supposed that their previous notions of the Messiah were wrong, and should have renounced them. They should have believed that what Jesus “then” said was consistent with his being the Christ. So “we” should believe that “all” that God says is consistent with truth, and should forsake all other opinions.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 45. But they understood notMark 9:32; Mark 9:32.


 
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