Luke 11:39 "Now then," said the Lord, "you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

◄ Luke 11:39 ►

New International Version
Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

New Living Translation
Then the Lord said to him, “You Pharisees are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but inside you are filthy—full of greed and wickedness!

English Standard Version
And the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Berean Standard Bible
“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees, you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of plundering and wickedness.

King James Bible
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

New King James Version
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness.

New American Standard Bible
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish; but your inside is full of greed and wickedness.

NASB 1995
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.

NASB 1977
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.

Legacy Standard Bible
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness.

Amplified Bible
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and plate [as required by tradition]; but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Christian Standard Bible
But the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the Lord said to him: “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and evil.

American Standard Version
And the Lord said unto him, Now ye the Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Contemporary English Version
So the Lord said to him: You Pharisees clean the outside of cups and dishes, but on the inside you are greedy and evil.

English Revised Version
And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The Lord said to him, "You Pharisees clean the outside of cups and dishes. But inside you are full of greed and evil.

Good News Translation
So the Lord said to him, "Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of your cup and plate, but inside you are full of violence and evil.

International Standard Version
But the Lord told him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish, but on the inside you are full of greed and evil.

Majority Standard Bible
“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

NET Bible
But the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the plate, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

New Heart English Bible
The Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Lord said to him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Weymouth New Testament
The Master however said to him, "Here we see how you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup or plate, while your secret hearts are full of greed and selfishness.

World English Bible
The Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the LORD said to him, “Now you, the Pharisees, make the outside of the cup and of the plate clean, but your inward part is full of robbery and wickedness.

Berean Literal Bible
And the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees, you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but your inside is full of plundering and wickedness.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Lord said unto him, 'Now do ye, the Pharisees, the outside of the cup and of the plate make clean, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness;

Smith's Literal Translation
And the Lord said to him, Now ye Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and trencher; and your inside is full of plunder and wickedness.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord said to him: Now you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter; but your inside is full of rapine and iniquity.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord said to him: “You Pharisees today clean what is outside the cup and the plate, but what is inside of you is full of plunder and iniquity.

New American Bible
The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.

New Revised Standard Version
Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And Jesus said to him, Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and the dish; but within you are full of extortion and iniquity.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But Yeshua said to him, “Now you Pharisees are cleansing the outside of the cup and of the dish, but the inside of some of you is full of rape and wickedness.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And the Lord said to him: Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and the plate; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Godbey New Testament
And the Lord said to him, Now you Pharisees purify the outside of the cup and the plate, but the interior is full of extortion and wickedness.

Haweis New Testament
Then said the Lord unto him, Now ye Pharisees make the outside of the cup and of the dish clean, but your inward parts are full of extortion and wickedness.

Mace New Testament
upon which the Lord said to him, you Pharisees won't leave any filth upon the outside of a cup or a platter: while your consciences are abandon'd to rapine, and sensuality.

Weymouth New Testament
The Master however said to him, "Here we see how you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup or plate, while your secret hearts are full of greed and selfishness.

Worrell New Testament
But the Lord said to him, "Now ye, the Pharisees, cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish; but your inward part is full of extortion and wickedness.

Worsley New Testament
But the Lord said unto him, ye pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but your inward part is full of rapine and wickedness.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Woes to Religious Leaders
…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. 40You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well?…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

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 7:6-8
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.’ / You have disregarded the commandment of God to keep the tradition of men.”

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.

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 15:7-9
You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied correctly about you: / ‘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.’”

Amos 5:21-24
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. ...

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Jeremiah 4:14
Wash the evil from your heart, O Jerusalem, so that you may be saved. How long will you harbor wicked thoughts within you?

Matthew 6:1-2
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. / So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

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.”

Romans 2:28-29
A man is not a Jew because he is one outwardly, nor is circumcision only outward and physical. / No, a man is a Jew because he is one inwardly, and circumcision is a matter of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a man’s praise does not come from men, but from God.

1 Peter 3:3-4
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair or gold jewelry or fine clothes, / but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.

Psalm 51:6
Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Proverbs 4:23
Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.

James 1:26-27
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, he deceives his heart and his religion is worthless. / Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Treasury of Scripture

And the Lord said to him, Now do you Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness.

Now.

Matthew 23:25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.

Galatians 1:14
And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

but.

Luke 16:15
And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

Genesis 6:5
And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

2 Chronicles 25:2
And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart.

ravening.

Psalm 22:13
They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion.

Ezekiel 22:25,27
There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst thereof, like a roaring lion ravening the prey; they have devoured souls; they have taken the treasure and precious things; they have made her many widows in the midst thereof…

Zephaniah 3:3
Her princes within her are roaring lions; her judges are evening wolves; they gnaw not the bones till the morrow.

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Clean Cleanse Cup Dish Evil Extortion Full Greed Hearts However Inside Inward Master Outside Part Parts Pharisees Plate Platter Plunder Rapine Ravening Robbery Secret Selfishness Thieves Wickedness

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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.

Berean Study Bible

But the Lord said to him
This phrase introduces the authority of Jesus, referred to as "the Lord," emphasizing His divine insight and authority. The Greek word for "Lord" is "Kyrios," which denotes authority and ownership, reflecting Jesus' role as the sovereign teacher and judge. In the historical context, Jesus often addressed religious leaders, challenging their understanding and practices. His words here are not just a casual observation but a divine pronouncement, calling for introspection and repentance.

Now you Pharisees
The Pharisees were a prominent religious group in Judaism during Jesus' time, known for their strict adherence to the Law and traditions. The Greek term "Pharisaioi" indicates a sect that prided itself on purity and separation from what they considered unclean. Historically, they were influential in shaping Jewish religious life, but Jesus often critiqued them for their hypocrisy and legalism. This address is direct and personal, highlighting the specific audience of Jesus' rebuke.

clean the outside of the cup and dish
This metaphorical language uses everyday objects to illustrate a spiritual truth. The Greek word for "clean" is "katharizo," meaning to purify or cleanse. The Pharisees focused on external rituals and appearances, akin to cleaning only the outside of a vessel. Archaeological findings show that ritual purity was a significant concern in Jewish culture, with numerous purification practices. Jesus uses this imagery to critique the superficiality of their religious observance, which neglected inner transformation.

but inside you are full of greed and wickedness
The contrast between the external and internal is stark. The Greek word for "greed" is "harpage," implying a ravenous desire for more, often at the expense of others. "Wickedness" is translated from "poneria," denoting moral corruption and evil intent. This internal state of the Pharisees is the antithesis of the purity they outwardly displayed. Scripturally, this echoes the prophetic calls for genuine repentance and heart transformation found throughout the Old Testament, such as in Isaiah and Jeremiah. Jesus' words serve as a call to integrity, urging His listeners to align their inner lives with their outward professions of faith.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(39) Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup.--See Note on Matthew 23:25. The verses that follow stand in the relation to the great discourse against the Pharisees in that chapter, as the Sermon on the Plain (Luke 6) does to the Sermon on the Mount. Here, too, we recognise another instance, not of a narrative misplaced, but of words actually repeated. All past experiences, all faults previously noted, were gathered at last into one great and terrible invective. We note, as an instance of independence, St. Luke's use of a different Greek word for "platter," viz., that which is elsewhere (Matthew 14:8; Matthew 14:11) better translated charger, the large central dish, as distinguished from the smaller "platter" or side-dish. For the "excess" of St. Matthew, St. Luke has the more generic "wickedness." From one point of view the words are more startling here than in their context in St. Matthew. There they are spoken as in open conflict with a class, here they are addressed to an individual member of the class, and by One whom he had invited as a guest. It must be remembered, however, that there was a touch of supercilious scorn in all these invitations, still more, perhaps, in the looks and whispers in which the wonder in this instance showed itself; and the words point to secret sins which the Searcher of hearts knew, and which it was necessary to reprove.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 39, 40. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? Many of the words spoken on this occasion had been uttered by the Master previously. The variations in them, slight though they be, necessitate often quite a different interpretation. This helps us to come to the conclusion that in these cases the Lord must have spoken such sayings on different occasions. In this place, for instance, in the report of a similar accusation levelled against the Pharisees reported by St. Matthew (Matthew 23:25), the second clause of the verse, which treats of the outside of the cup and the platter, reads thus: "but within they are full of extortion and excess." The meaning of this is - while every care had been taken to purify the cup and the dish, no pains whatever had been paid to the source whence came the contents of these. They were too often the proceeds of extortion, they were too frequently consumed with self-indulgence. But here, in St. Luke, the second clause reads, "your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness." The meaning of these words is, "In spite of your extreme care for the vessels of your table, your whole moral life is unclean and defiled. Are you not," argues the Master, "fools to lay down such strict rules to avoid outward defilement, while within, in the soul, you allow all manner of wickedness? Surely God, who created the things we see and touch, created the soul also!"

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

“Now then,”
Νῦν (Nyn)
Adverb
Strong's 3568: A primary particle of present time; 'now'; also as noun or adjective present or immediate.

said
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

the
ὁ (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.

Lord,
Κύριος (Kyrios)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

“you
ὑμεῖς (hymeis)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Pharisees
Φαρισαῖοι (Pharisaioi)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

clean
καθαρίζετε (katharizete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2511: To cleanse, make clean, literally, ceremonially, or spiritually, according to context. From katharos; to cleanse.

the
τὸ (to)
Article - Accusative 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.

outside
ἔξωθεν (exōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 1855: (a) from outside, from without, (b) outside, both as adj. and prep; with article: the outside. From exo; external(-ly).

of 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.

cup
ποτηρίου (potēriou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 4221: A drinking cup, the contents of the cup; fig: the portion which God allots.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

dish,
πίνακος (pinakos)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 4094: A plate, platter, disc, dish. Apparently a form of plax; a plate.

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

inside
ἔσωθεν (esōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 2081: From eso; from inside; also used as equivalent to eso.

you
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

are full
γέμει (gemei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1073: To be full of. A primary verb; to swell out, i.e. Be full.

of greed
ἁρπαγῆς (harpagēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 724: The act of plundering; plunder, spoil, robbery. From harpazo; pillage.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

wickedness.
πονηρίας (ponērias)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 4189: Wickedness, iniquities. From poneros; depravity, i.e., malice; plural plots, sins.

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NT Gospels: Luke 11:39 The Lord said to him Now you (Luke Lu Lk)