Luke 10:30 (KJV)

What does Luke 10:30 mean?

Luke 10:30 describes Jesus telling a story about a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho who is attacked by thieves, robbed of his clothes, beaten, and left nearly dead. This sets the stage for a lesson about compassion and neighborliness in response to a question about who counts as a "neighbor."

Jesus is speaking to a lawyer who asked him, "Who is my neighbor?" Instead of giving a direct answer, Jesus begins this parable. The road from Jerusalem to Jericho was known to be dangerous and steep, making the man's vulnerability realistic to Jesus' listeners. The verse introduces the crisis that will reveal the character of those who encounter the wounded man.

The Greek behind Luke 10:30

• ἄνθρωπός (anthrōpos, G444): This word means "man" or "person" and is often used in Greek to refer to any human being, not just a specific individual. Jesus intentionally leaves the man unnamed and generic, emphasizing that the story could apply to anyone.
• λῃσταῖς (lēstais, G3027): This word means "robbers" or "bandits," and it refers to violent thieves rather than petty criminals. The use of this term highlights the seriousness of the attack and the danger of the road.
• ἡμιθανῆ (hēmithanē, G2253): This word means "half dead." It is a strong term that shows the man is in a desperate, life-threatening condition, not just mildly injured.

Why Luke 10:30 matters

• Luke 10:30 clarifies that Jesus' story is about an ordinary, unnamed person, making the lesson about neighborly love universal rather than limited to a specific group.
• The verse emphasizes the real danger and vulnerability of the man, setting up the importance of the responses from those who pass by.
• Understanding the context of the road and the severity of the attack helps readers grasp why the actions of the next characters in the story are so significant.