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Mace New Testament

Luke 18:3

a widow was likewise there, who frequently came to him, saying, do me justice against my adversary.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Despondency;   Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Prayer;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ask;   Christ;   Church;   Family;   Importunity;   Prayer;   Secret Prayer;   United Prayer;   Unwise Prayers;   Wicked, the;   Widows;   Women;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Parables;   Prayer;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Parable;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Luke, gospel of;   Prayer;   Widow;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Christ, Christology;   Prayer;   Widow;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Hearing the Word of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Adversary;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Accuser;   Proselytes;   Widow;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Luke, Gospel of;   Parables;   Prayer;   Vengeance;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Parable;   Prayer;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Adversary;   Adversary (2);   Circumstantiality in the Parables;   Discourse;   Elect, Election ;   Justice (2);   Parousia (2);   Police;   Prayer (2);   Reverence;   Vengeance;   Vengeance (2);   Widow ;   Widows;   Winter ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Chief parables and miracles in the bible;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Adversary;   Avenge;   Gospels, the Synoptic;   Prayer;   Prayers of Jesus;   Taber;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Accuser;  

Devotionals:

- Every Day Light - Devotion for April 26;   My Utmost for His Highest - Devotion for September 12;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
And a widow
King James Version (1611)
And there was a widowe in that citie, and she came vnto him, saying, Auenge me of mine aduersarie:
King James Version
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
English Standard Version
And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.'
New American Standard Bible
"Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me justice against my opponent.'
New Century Version
In that same town there was a widow who kept coming to this judge, saying, ‘Give me my rights against my enemy.'
Amplified Bible
"There was a [desperate] widow in that city and she kept coming to him and saying, 'Give me justice and legal protection from my adversary.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.'
Legacy Standard Bible
Now there was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me justice from my opponent.'
Berean Standard Bible
And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, 'Give me justice against my adversary.'
Contemporary English Version
In that same town there was a widow who kept going to the judge and saying, "Make sure that I get fair treatment in court."
Complete Jewish Bible
There was also in that town a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me a judgment against the man who is trying to ruin me.'
Darby Translation
and there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of mine adverse party.
Easy-to-Read Version
In that same town there was a woman whose husband had died. She came many times to this judge and said, ‘There is a man who is doing bad things to me. Give me my rights!'
Geneva Bible (1587)
And there was a widowe in that citie, which came vnto him, saying, Doe mee iustice against mine aduersarie.
George Lamsa Translation
There was a widow in that city, and she used to come to him, saying, Avenge me of my accuser.
Good News Translation
And there was a widow in that same town who kept coming to him and pleading for her rights, saying, ‘Help me against my opponent!'
Lexham English Bible
And there was a widow in that town, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary!'
Literal Translation
And a widow was in that city, and she came to him, saying, Avenge me from my adversary.
American Standard Version
and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Bible in Basic English
And there was a widow in that town, and she kept on coming to him and saying, Give me my right against the man who has done me wrong.
Hebrew Names Version
A widow was in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
International Standard Version
In that city there was also a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
Etheridge Translation
But a certain widow was in that city, who came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.
Murdock Translation
And there was a certain widow in that city; and she came to him, and said: Vindicate me against my adversary.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And there was a certayne widdowe in the same citie, and she came vnto him, saying: Auenge me of mine aduersarie.
English Revised Version
and there was a widow in that city; and she came oft unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
World English Bible
A widow was in that city, and she came often to him, saying, 'Defend me from my adversary!'
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And there was a widow in that city, and she came to him, saying, Do me justice on mine adversary.
Weymouth's New Testament
And in the same town was a widow who repeatedly came and entreated him, saying, "`Give me justice and stop my oppressor.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And a widowe was in that citee, and sche cam to hym, and seide, Venge me of myn aduersarie;
Update Bible Version
and there was a widow in that city; and she came often to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.
Webster's Bible Translation
And there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.
New English Translation
There was also a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.'
New King James Version
Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, "Get justice for me from my adversary.'
New Living Translation
A widow of that city came to him repeatedly, saying, ‘Give me justice in this dispute with my enemy.'
New Life Bible
In that city there was a woman whose husband had died. She kept coming to him and saying, ‘Help me! There is someone who is working against me.'
New Revised Standard
In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my opponent.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, a widow, there was, in that city; and she kept coming unto him, saying - Vindicate me from mine adversary!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And there was a certain widow in that city; and she came to him, saying: Avenge me of my adversary.
Revised Standard Version
and there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, 'Vindicate me against my adversary.'
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And ther was a certayne wedowe in the same cite which came vnto him sayinge: avenge me of myne adversary.
Young's Literal Translation
and a widow was in that city, and she was coming unto him, saying, Do me justice on my opponent,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And in the same cite there was a wedowe, which came vnto him, and sayde: delyuer me fro myne aduersary.
Simplified Cowboy Version
But there was this one lady who felt like she had been wronged who came to him every day and asked for justice to be done for her.

Contextual Overview

1 Jesus propos'd likewise this parable to them, to show that they should persevere in prayer, and not be discouraged. 2 saying, in a certain city there was a judge, who neither feared God, nor regarded man. 3 a widow was likewise there, who frequently came to him, saying, do me justice against my adversary. 4 for some time he refus'd to do it: but at length he said in himself; tho' I neither fear God, nor regard man; 5 yet, because this widow importunes me, I will do her justice, that she may'nt be continually coming to teaze me. 6 observe, said Jesus, that language of this unrighteous judge. 7 and will not God avenge his own elect, who cry to him night and day? will he delay their cause? 8 I tell you, he will speedily avenge them. however, when the son of man comes, how few of the faithful will he find in the land?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

a widow: Deuteronomy 27:19, 2 Samuel 14:5-24, Job 22:9, Job 29:13, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 1:21-23, Jeremiah 5:28

Avenge: Luke 18:7, Luke 18:8, Romans 13:3, Romans 13:4

Reciprocal: 2 Samuel 14:4 - Help 2 Kings 6:26 - my lord 2 Kings 8:3 - General Job 35:9 - they make Psalms 94:7 - they say Jeremiah 21:12 - deliver Acts 25:15 - when

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And there was a widow in that city,.... Poor and helpless, and none among men to counsel, direct, and assist her, and take her part: now as in the accommodation of this parable, the elect of God answer to this widow; such an one is rather pitched upon to represent the helpless, desolate, and forlorn condition they are in among men in this world, though they are espoused to one husband, Christ; and especially to signify the state and condition of God's elect among the Jews in those sad times, before the destruction of Jerusalem, this parable has respect unto. Christ is the bridegroom of his church and people; he is their husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and they are espoused as a chaste virgin to him; and whilst he was here on earth, his disciples, who were the children of the bridegroom, could not fast and mourn, for which they had no reason; but upon the death of Christ, when he was removed from them, they had great sorrow of heart; they were left like widows and orphans; hence those words of Christ, John 14:18 and were persecuted by the Jews in their own land; and wherever they went, they stirred up the Gentiles against them; and so things continued till near the destruction of Jerusalem; during which time many a request was made to God, the judge of the widows and fatherless, to the following purport:

and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of my adversary; or do me justice in the cause depending between me, and him that has wronged me; hear the cause, and do right; vindicate, and deliver me. Many are the adversaries of God's people, as the sins and corruptions of their own hearts, Satan, and his angels, wicked oppressors, and persecutors; the last seem, in the mystical sense, to be designed here: it is lawful to pray for vengeance on them; it is right to apply to God, and leave it with him, to whom it belongs; and it has been the suit and cry of the best of men; see Revelation 6:9. It does not become the people of God to avenge themselves, even when it is in the power of their hands; nor should they desire it for their own sakes, so much as for the glory of God; they should ask it, not to gratify a revengeful spirit in them, but for the honour or divine justice; and this should be always with submission to the will of God, leaving it to his own time and way, to whom vengeance belongs, and who has said it is mine, and I will repay it; as he certainly will sooner or later: the purity of his nature, his abhorrence of sin, and sinful men, and his love to his own people engage him to it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A widow - This is a circumstance that gives increasing interest to the parable. Judges were bound to show special attention to widows, Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3. The reason of this was that they were defenseless, were commonly poor, and were liable to be oppressed by those in power.

Avenge me - This would have been better translated, “Do me justice against my adversary, or vindicate me from him.” It does not denote vengeance or revenge, but simply that she wished to have “justice” done her - a thing which this judge was “bound” to do, but which it seems he had no disposition to do.

Adversary - One opposed in law. In this case it seems that the judge was unwilling to do justice, and probably took advantage of her condition to oppress her.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 18:3. Avenge me of mine adversary. — The original, εκδικησον με απο του αντιδικου μου, had better be translated, Do me justice against, or vindicate me from, my adversary. If the woman had come to get revenge, as our common translation intimates, I think our blessed Lord would never have permitted her to have the honour of a place in the sacred records. She desired to have justice, and that only; and by her importunity she got that which the unrighteous judge had no inclination to give, but merely for his own ease.


 
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