For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

LUKE 19:10KJV
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Luke 19:10 (KJV)

What does Luke 19:10 mean?

Luke 19:10 gives Jesus’ reason for coming: he seeks out and saves people described as lost. Jesus says this after meeting Zacchaeus, a tax collector whose conduct had drawn the crowd’s disapproval. The verse presents Jesus’ visit as purposeful, not accidental.

Jesus speaks of himself as “the Son of man.” In this setting, the image of being lost describes someone in need of being found and saved. The saying follows Jesus’ statement that salvation had come to Zacchaeus’s house.

The Greek behind Luke 19:10

  • “seek” — ζητέω (zēteō): The word carries the sense of looking for or searching for someone or something. It describes an active search, rather than waiting for the lost to appear.
  • “lost” — ἀπόλλυμι (apollymi): The word can describe something lost, ruined, or destroyed. Here the form points to those who have come to be in a lost condition.

Why Luke 19:10 matters

  • Jesus’ words explain his choice of company. People had complained that he was staying with a “sinner” (Luke 19:7), but Jesus describes such a meeting as part of his purpose.
  • Zacchaeus is not treated as beyond belonging. Jesus calls him “a son of Abraham” in Luke 19:9, recognizing his place among Abraham’s descendants despite the crowd’s objections.
  • The verse joins searching with rescue. “Seek” describes Jesus’ pursuit; “save” states the intended result.

Where else these words appear

“lost” Greek G622 · used in 86 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Luke 5:37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
  • John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

“save” Greek G4982 · used in 103 verses

  • Matthew 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
  • Luke 9:56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.
  • Romans 11:14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.

“seek” Greek G2212 · used in 116 verses

  • Matthew 2:13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
  • Luke 13:6 He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
  • John 16:19 Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me?