Luke 18:5 (KJV)

What does Luke 18:5 mean?

Luke 18:5 shows a judge deciding to help a widow, not because he cares about justice, but because she keeps bothering him and he wants to avoid being worn out by her persistence. The verse highlights how her continual requests finally move the judge to act on her behalf.

In this part of the story, Jesus is telling a parable to his listeners. The judge in the story is speaking to himself, explaining his reason for giving in to the widow’s demands. The judge is not motivated by compassion or duty, but simply by wanting relief from the widow’s repeated visits and demands for justice.

The Greek behind Luke 18:5

• The word "troubleth" is translated from two Greek words: παρέχει (paréchei, G3930) and κόπον (kopon, G2873). "Paréchei" means "causes" or "brings," and "kopon" means "trouble" or "weariness," so together they show the judge feels the widow is causing him a lot of trouble or annoyance.
• The phrase "weary me" comes from ὑπωπιάζῃ (hupōpiazē, G5299), which literally means "to give a black eye" or "to beat down." Here, it is used figuratively to mean being worn out or exhausted by someone’s persistence. This adds a vivid sense of how relentless the widow’s actions feel to the judge.

Why Luke 18:5 matters

• Luke 18:5 clarifies that the judge’s decision is not based on justice or kindness, but on his desire to stop being bothered, which sets up a contrast with how God responds to prayer in the verses that follow.
• The verse emphasizes the power of persistence, showing that even someone with no interest in doing right can be moved by continual requests.
• Understanding the judge’s motivation helps readers see the point Jesus is making about not giving up in prayer, and how God’s character is very different from the judge’s.