Luke 19:31
New International Version
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

New Living Translation
If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

English Standard Version
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

Berean Standard Bible
If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Berean Literal Bible
And if anyone asks you, 'Why do you untie it?' thus will you say, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'"

King James Bible
And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

New King James Version
And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you loosing it?’ thus you shall say to him, ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’ ”

New American Standard Bible
And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

NASB 1995
“If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

NASB 1977
“And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ thus shall you speak, ‘The Lord has need of it.’”

Legacy Standard Bible
And if anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this: ‘Because the Lord has need of it.’”

Amplified Bible
If anybody asks you, ‘Why are you untying the colt?’ you will say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

Christian Standard Bible
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it? ’ say this: ‘The Lord needs it.’ ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If anyone asks you, Why are you untying it?’ say this: The Lord needs it.’”

American Standard Version
And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.

Contemporary English Version
If anyone asks why you are doing this, just say, 'The Lord needs it.'"

English Revised Version
And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say, The Lord hath need of him.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say that the Lord needs it."

Good News Translation
If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it."

International Standard Version
If anyone asks you why you are untying it, say this: 'The Lord needs it.'"

Majority Standard Bible
If anyone asks, ?Why are you untying it?? tell him, ?The Lord needs it.??

NET Bible
If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' just say, 'The Lord needs it.'"

New Heart English Bible
If anyone asks you, 'Why are you untying it?' say to him: 'Because the Lord needs it.'"

Webster's Bible Translation
And if any man shall ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say to him, Because the Lord hath need of him.

Weymouth New Testament
And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' simply say, 'The Master needs it.'"

World English Bible
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say to him: ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and if anyone questions you, Why do you loose [it]? Thus you will say to him: The LORD has need of it.”

Berean Literal Bible
And if anyone asks you, 'Why do you untie it?' thus will you say, 'Because the Lord has need of it.'"

Young's Literal Translation
and if any one doth question you, Wherefore do ye loose it? thus ye shall say to him -- The Lord hath need of it.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And if any ask you, Wherefore loose ye? thus shall ye say to him, Because the Lord has need of him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And if any man shall ask you: Why do you loose him? you shall say thus unto him: Because the Lord hath need of his service.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And if anyone will ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you shall say this to him: ‘Because the Lord has requested its service.’ ”

New American Bible
And if anyone should ask you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ you will answer, ‘The Master has need of it.’ ”

New Revised Standard Version
If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if any man should ask you, Why do you untie it? tell him this: Our lord needs it.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“If a man asks you why you are loosing him, say thus to him: 'He is needed for Our Lord.' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And if any one ask you why you loose him, thus shall you say to him: The Lord has need of him.

Godbey New Testament
And if any one may ask you, Why do you loose him? thus say to him, that the Lord hath need of him:

Haweis New Testament
And if any man ask you, Why ye loose it? thus shall ye say to him, That the Lord hath need of him.

Mace New Testament
if any one should ask you, why you untie it, let this be your answer, because the Lord has occasion for it.

Weymouth New Testament
And if any one asks you, 'Why are you untying the colt?' simply say, 'The Master needs it.'"

Worrell New Testament
And, if any one ask you, 'Why do ye loose him?' thus shall ye say, 'Because the Lord hath need of him.'"

Worsley New Testament
And if any one ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, The Lord hath need of him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Triumphal Entry
30saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’” 32So those who were sent went out and found it just as Jesus had told them.…

Cross References
Matthew 21:2-3
saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. / If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Mark 11:2-3
and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”

John 12:14-15
Finding a young donkey, Jesus sat on it, as it is written: / “Do not be afraid, O Daughter of Zion. See, your King is coming, seated on the colt of a donkey.”

Zechariah 9:9
Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, O Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your King comes to you, righteous and victorious, humble and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.

Matthew 21:5
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”

1 Samuel 10:7
When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.

1 Samuel 10:9
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul’s heart, and all the signs came to pass that day.

1 Kings 13:3
That day the man of God gave a sign, saying, “The LORD has spoken this sign: ‘Surely the altar will be split apart, and the ashes upon it will be poured out.’”

1 Kings 13:5
And the altar was split apart, and the ashes poured out, according to the sign that the man of God had given by the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 4:13
and Elisha said to Gehazi, “Now tell her, ‘Look, you have gone to all this trouble for us. What can we do for you? Can we speak on your behalf to the king or the commander of the army?’” “I have a home among my own people,” she replied.

2 Kings 4:15
“Call her,” said Elisha. So Gehazi called her, and she stood in the doorway.

2 Kings 9:12
“That is a lie!” they said. “Tell us now!” So Jehu answered, “He talked to me about this and that, saying, ‘This is what the LORD says: I anoint you king over Israel.’”

2 Kings 9:13
Quickly, each man took his garment and put it under Jehu on the bare steps. Then they blew the ram’s horn and proclaimed, “Jehu is king!”


Treasury of Scripture

And if any man ask you, Why do you loose him? thus shall you say to him, Because the Lord has need of him.

the Lord.

Psalm 24:1
A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

Psalm 50:10-12
For every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle upon a thousand hills…

Matthew 21:2,3
Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me…

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Luke 19
1. Of Zacchaeus a tax collector.
11. The ten minas.
28. Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;
41. weeps over it;
45. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
47. Teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people.














If anyone asks, 'Why are you untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.'
If anyone asks
This phrase anticipates a potential challenge or inquiry from bystanders or the owners of the colt. In the cultural context of first-century Judea, it was customary for property owners to question the use of their possessions. The Greek word used here, "ἐάν" (ean), implies a conditional situation, suggesting that Jesus was preparing His disciples for a possible encounter. This preparation reflects Jesus' foreknowledge and His divine authority over the situation.

Why are you untying it?
The act of untying the colt is significant. In the ancient world, animals were valuable assets, and untying an animal without permission could be seen as theft. The Greek word "λύετε" (lyete) means to loosen or release, indicating a deliberate action. This action symbolizes liberation and the fulfillment of prophecy, as Jesus was about to enter Jerusalem as the prophesied King (Zechariah 9:9). The question highlights the importance of obedience to Jesus' instructions, even when they might seem unusual or risky.

tell him
This directive underscores the importance of communication and obedience to Jesus' command. The Greek word "ἐρεῖτε" (ereite) is an imperative, showing the authority with which Jesus speaks. It emphasizes the disciples' role as messengers, conveying Jesus' words with confidence and trust. This reflects the broader Christian calling to be communicators of God's will and truth.

The Lord needs it
This phrase is central to understanding the passage. The term "Lord" (κύριος, kyrios) is a title of authority and divinity, acknowledging Jesus' sovereign right over all creation. The use of "needs" (χρείαν, chreian) is intriguing, as it suggests that the Lord, who is self-sufficient, chooses to involve His creation in His divine plan. This reflects the mystery of God's interaction with humanity, where He invites us to participate in His purposes. The statement also implies that the colt's ultimate purpose is to serve the Lord, a reminder that all creation is intended for God's glory.

(31) Because the Lord hath need of him.--See Note on Matthew 21:3 as to the meaning of the word "Lord" as thus used.

Verse 31. - And if any man ask you, Why do ye loose him? thus shall ye say unto him, Because the Lord hath need of him. Had he not right here? surely the cattle on a thousand hills were his I St. Matthew not only mentions the colt, but also the ass. This little detail is unnoticed by St. Luke. Probably the colt, though not broken in, would go the more quietly accompanied by its mother. But the reason of St. Matthew's special mention of the ass as well as of the colt was the reference to Genesis 49:11, in which Justin Martyr, in a curious chapter of the 'Dialogue with Trypho,' finds a direct reference to the ass and the foal (see Justin Martyr, 'Dialogue with Trypho,' c. 53.).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
If
ἐάν (ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

anyone
τις (tis)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 5100: Any one, some one, a certain one or thing. An enclitic indefinite pronoun; some or any person or object.

asks
ἐρωτᾷ (erōta)
Verb - Present Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2065: Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request.

why
Διὰ (Dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

you are untying [it],
λύετε (lyete)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3089: A primary verb; to 'loosen'.

tell [him]
ἐρεῖτε (ereite)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2046: Probably a fuller form of rheo; an alternate for epo in certain tenses; to utter, i.e. Speak or say.

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

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.

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.

needs
χρείαν (chreian)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5532: From the base of chraomai or chre; employment, i.e. An affair; also occasion, demand, requirement or destitution.

it.”
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.


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NT Gospels: Luke 19:31 If anyone asks you 'Why are you (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 19:30
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