And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

LUKE 19:5KJV
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Luke 19:5 (KJV)

What does Luke 19:5 mean?

Luke 19:5 shows Jesus stopping, looking up, and calling Zacchaeus by name, telling him to hurry down from the tree because Jesus must stay at his house that day. This verse highlights Jesus’ personal attention to Zacchaeus and his intention to visit him, surprising both Zacchaeus and the crowd.

In this scene, Jesus is traveling through Jericho, and Zacchaeus, a tax collector, has climbed a tree to see him because he is short and cannot see over the crowd. Jesus addresses Zacchaeus directly, showing that he knows him and wants to spend time with him. The verse sets up the rest of the story, where Jesus’ choice to stay with Zacchaeus leads to a significant change in Zacchaeus’s life.

The Greek behind Luke 19:5

  • The word σπεύσας (speusas, “make haste”) carries the sense of urgency—Jesus is not just inviting Zacchaeus, but telling him to come quickly, showing that this meeting is important and immediate.
  • The verb δεῖ (dei, “must”) in “I must abide at thy house” is often understood as expressing necessity or a sense of divine purpose, suggesting that Jesus’ visit to Zacchaeus is not random but part of a larger plan.
  • The verb μένω (menō, “abide”) means to stay or remain, indicating that Jesus intends to spend real time at Zacchaeus’s home, not just pay a brief visit.

Why Luke 19:5 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that Jesus only interacted with the respected or religious people; instead, he seeks out someone like Zacchaeus, who was seen as a social outsider.
  • The urgency and necessity in Jesus’ words show that his actions are intentional and meaningful, not accidental or casual.
  • Luke 19:5 connects to the wider passage by setting up the transformation in Zacchaeus’s life and showing Jesus’ mission to seek out and save those who are lost.

Where else these words appear

“Zacchaeus” Greek G2195 · used in 3 verses

  • Luke 19:2 And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
  • Luke 19:8 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.

“haste” Greek G4692 · used in 6 verses

  • Luke 2:16 And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.
  • Luke 19:6 And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
  • Acts 22:18 And saw him saying unto me, Make haste, and get thee quickly out of Jerusalem: for they will not receive thy testimony concerning me.

“up” Greek G308 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 11:5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
  • Mark 10:51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
  • Luke 21:1 And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.

“day” Greek G4594 · used in 40 verses

  • Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread.
  • Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.
  • Acts 26:29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds.