Luke 11:38
New International Version
But the Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

New Living Translation
His host was amazed to see that he sat down to eat without first performing the hand-washing ceremony required by Jewish custom.

English Standard Version
The Pharisee was astonished to see that he did not first wash before dinner.

Berean Standard Bible
But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Pharisee, having seen, marveled that He did not wash first before the dinner.

King James Bible
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner.

New King James Version
When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

New American Standard Bible
When the Pharisee saw this, he was surprised that Jesus had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.

NASB 1995
When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.

NASB 1977
And when the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.

Legacy Standard Bible
But when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first ceremonially washed before the meal.

Amplified Bible
The Pharisee noticed this and was surprised that Jesus did not first ceremonially wash before the meal.

Christian Standard Bible
When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that he did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the Pharisee saw this, he was amazed that He did not first perform the ritual washing before dinner.

American Standard Version
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first bathed himself before dinner.

Contemporary English Version
The Pharisee was surprised that he did not wash his hands before eating.

English Revised Version
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus didn't wash before the meal.

Good News Translation
The Pharisee was surprised when he noticed that Jesus had not washed before eating.

International Standard Version
The Pharisee was surprised to see that he didn't first wash before the meal.

Majority Standard Bible
But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

NET Bible
The Pharisee was astonished when he saw that Jesus did not first wash his hands before the meal.

New Heart English Bible
When the Pharisee saw it, he was surprised that he had not first washed himself before dinner.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner.

Weymouth New Testament
Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

World English Bible
When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed himself before dinner.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the Pharisee having seen, wondered that He did not first immerse Himself before the early meal.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Pharisee, having seen, marveled that He did not wash first before the dinner.

Young's Literal Translation
and the Pharisee having seen, did wonder that he did not first baptize himself before the dinner.

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Pharisee having seen, wondered that he was not first washed before dinner.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself, why he was not washed before dinner.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the Pharisee began to say, thinking within himself: “Why might it be that he has not washed before eating?”

New American Bible
The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal.

New Revised Standard Version
The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not first wash before dinner.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
When the Pharisee saw him, he was amazed because he did not first wash before dinner.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But that Pharisee when he saw him, he was amazed that he did not wash before his dinner.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And when the Pharisee saw it, he wondered that he had not first immersed himself before dinner.

Godbey New Testament
And the Pharisee seeing, was astonished because He was not first baptized before dinner.

Haweis New Testament
But the Pharisee seeing it, marvelled, that he had not washed before dinner.

Mace New Testament
but the Pharisee was surprized to see that he did not wash before dinner.

Weymouth New Testament
Now the Pharisee saw to his surprise that He did not wash His hands before breakfasting.

Worrell New Testament
And the Pharisee, seeing it, marvelled that He was not first immersed before breakfast.

Worsley New Testament
And when the pharisee saw it he wondered that He did not wash first, before dinner.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Woes to Religious Leaders
37As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table. 38But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal. 39“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.…

Cross References
Matthew 15:2
“Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They do not wash their hands before they eat.”

Mark 7:2-5
and they saw some of His disciples eating with hands that were defiled—that is, unwashed. / Now in holding to the tradition of the elders, the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat until they wash their hands ceremonially. / And on returning from the market, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions for them to observe, including the washing of cups, pitchers, kettles, and couches for dining. ...

Matthew 23:25-26
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. / Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, so that the outside may become clean as well.

Mark 7:8-9
You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.” / He went on to say, “You neatly set aside the command of God to maintain your own tradition.

Matthew 23:27-28
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and every kind of impurity. / In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Matthew 15:11
A man is not defiled by what enters his mouth, but by what comes out of it.”

Mark 7:14-15
Once again Jesus called the crowd to Him and said, “All of you, listen to Me and understand: / Nothing that enters a man from the outside can defile him; but the things that come out of a man, these are what defile him.”

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”

Matthew 23:5
All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels.

Mark 7:6-7
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

Matthew 23:3
So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Matthew 23:13
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter.


Treasury of Scripture

And when the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that he had not first washed before dinner.

he marvelled.

Matthew 15:2,3
Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread…

Mark 7:2-5
And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault…

John 3:25
Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

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Luke 11
1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him.
14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27. and shows who are blessed;
29. preaches to the people;
37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness.














But the Pharisee was astonished
The word "astonished" in the Greek is "θαυμάζω" (thaumazō), which conveys a sense of wonder or amazement. In the context of the Pharisees, who were known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions, this astonishment likely stems from Jesus' disregard for their ritualistic practices. The Pharisees were often depicted as being more concerned with outward appearances and ceremonial purity than with the heart's true condition. This moment highlights the tension between Jesus' teachings and the established religious norms of the time.

to see that Jesus did not first wash
The Greek word for "wash" here is "βαπτίζω" (baptizō), which is related to the concept of ceremonial washing or purification. This was a common practice among the Jews, especially the Pharisees, who adhered to a tradition of washing hands before meals to maintain ritual purity. This act was not just about physical cleanliness but was deeply rooted in religious tradition. Jesus' choice not to engage in this ritual challenges the Pharisees' emphasis on external rituals over internal righteousness.

before the meal
Meals in the ancient Near Eastern culture were significant social and religious events. Sharing a meal was an act of fellowship and often had religious connotations. The Pharisees' concern with Jesus not washing before the meal underscores their focus on maintaining purity laws even in social settings. This setting provides a backdrop for Jesus to teach about the importance of inner purity over external observance, a recurring theme in His ministry.

(38) He marvelled that he had not first washed.--See Notes on Matthew 15:2; Mark 7:3. Here the word "washed" (literally, though of course not in the technical sense, baptized) implies actual immersion, or, at least, a process that took in the whole body. Mark 7:4 shows that this was the Pharisaic standard of ceremonial purity.

Verse 38. - He marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner. An elaborate system of utter meaningless ablutions, each carried out with particular gestures, had been instituted by the rabbinical schools. All these senseless forms and ceremonies had been developed out of the original simple directions to secure cleanliness in the Levitical Law. It is probable that our Lord, intending to bring about this discussion. pointedly abstained from even the ordinary ablution on this occasion. The language of ver. 37 seems to point to his entering the house and at once sitting down at the table. The Talmud has many references to these practices. R. Akhibha, it proudly relates, died of thirst rather than pass over these preliminary washings. In the same compilation we read that it was currently supposed that a demon sat on hands unwashed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisee
Φαρισαῖος (Pharisaios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

was astonished
ἐθαύμασεν (ethaumasen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2296: (a) intrans: I wonder, marvel, (b) trans: I wonder at, admire. From thauma; to wonder; by implication, to admire.

to see
ἰδὼν (idōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3708: Properly, to stare at, i.e. to discern clearly; by extension, to attend to; by Hebraism, to experience; passively, to appear.

that
ὅτι (hoti)
Conjunction
Strong's 3754: Neuter of hostis as conjunction; demonstrative, that; causative, because.

[Jesus] did not first wash
ἐβαπτίσθη (ebaptisthē)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 907: Lit: I dip, submerge, but specifically of ceremonial dipping; I baptize.

before
πρὸ (pro)
Preposition
Strong's 4253: A primary preposition; 'fore', i.e. In front of, prior to.

the
τοῦ (tou)
Article - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

meal.
ἀρίστου (aristou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 712: Breakfast or a mid-day meal. Apparently neuter of a superlative from the same as arrhen; the best meal ('early'), i.e. Luncheon.


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NT Gospels: Luke 11:38 When the Pharisee saw it he marveled (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 11:37
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