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Monday, July 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Read the Bible

Simplified Cowboy Version

Luke 19:3

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.

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.
Bible in Basic English
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.
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.

Contextual Overview

1Jesus finally got into Jericho and rode through town. 2There was a fellow who lived there named Zacc. He was the head brand inspector for the area and had become rich off of the fees he charged. 3He 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. 4So 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. 5Sure enough, Jesus rode right by the tree. But instead of passing by, Jesus pulled up and looked up and said, "Zacc, climb down from there. I'm going to stay with you while I'm here. Let's go to your place." 6Zacc scurried down the tree and led the way to his place. His face had a smile a mile wide because Jesus was going to be staying with him. 7But the other folks sure didn't like it much. They said, "Of all the people he could stay with, why did he choose the sorriest one in Jericho?" 8Later that evening during dinner, Zacc stood up in front of Jesus and said, "I am going to give half my wealth to the poor. I will also give back four times as much to all those I cheated on their brand inspections." 9Jesus smiled and said, "Eternal life has come to this ranch today. This guy has shown himself a true cowboy and son of Abraham. 10The Top Hand has come to doctor the sick and bring back the strays."

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

Luke 5:29
That evening, Levi invited a bunch of other outlaws to his place to meet Jesus.
Luke 11:8
But I'll say this, if you keep knocking on that door, he will give you a bag of beans just to make you go away. Persistence and boldness are the keys to prayer.
Luke 14:23
"So the rancher said, 'Bring the mavericks and the mistresses, the whores, and the harlots. Tell the outlaws and rabble-rousers they are welcome. I want their bellies, and my ranch, full.
John 12:2
A meal was prepared in Jesus's honor.
1 Corinthians 5:8
Now that judgment has passed us over, let us celebrate with honor and glory, not horny and gory.
2 Corinthians 5:14
But neither really matters. It's Jesus who we follow every single day. We follow him because he died for us and we are willing to die for him.
Hebrews 13:2
Open up your ranch gates to others. Some have been hospitable to angels and didn't even know it.

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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