Luke 20:3
New International Version
He replied, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me:

New Living Translation
“Let me ask you a question first,” he replied.

English Standard Version
He answered them, “I also will ask you a question. Now tell me,

Berean Standard Bible
“I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:

Berean Literal Bible
And answering, He said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and you tell Me:

King James Bible
And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

New King James Version
But He answered and said to them, “I also will ask you one thing, and answer Me:

New American Standard Bible
But He replied to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

NASB 1995
Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

NASB 1977
And He answered and said to them, “I shall also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

Legacy Standard Bible
And Jesus answered and said to them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell Me:

Amplified Bible
Jesus replied, “I will also ask you a question. You tell Me:

Christian Standard Bible
He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell me,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
He answered them, “I will also ask you a question. Tell Me,

American Standard Version
And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:

Contemporary English Version
Jesus replied, "I want to ask you a question.

English Revised Version
And he answered and said unto them, I also will ask you a question; and tell me:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Jesus answered them, "I, too, have a question for you. Tell me,

Good News Translation
Jesus answered them, "Now let me ask you a question. Tell me,

International Standard Version
He answered them, "I, too, will ask you a question. Tell me:

Majority Standard Bible
“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me:

NET Bible
He answered them, "I will also ask you a question, and you tell me:

New Heart English Bible
He answered them, "I also will ask you one question. Tell me:

Webster's Bible Translation
And he answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

Weymouth New Testament
"I also will put a question to you, "He said;

World English Bible
He answered them, “I also will ask you one question. Tell me:
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He answering said to them, “I will question you—I also—one thing, and tell Me:

Berean Literal Bible
And answering, He said to them, "I also will ask you one thing, and you tell Me:

Young's Literal Translation
And he answering said unto them, 'I will question you -- I also -- one thing, and tell me:

Smith's Literal Translation
And having answered he said to them, I will ask you one word; and tell me:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jesus answering, said to them: I will also ask you one thing. Answer me:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And in response, Jesus said to them: “I will also question you about one word. Respond to me:

New American Bible
He said to them in reply, “I shall ask you a question. Tell me,

New Revised Standard Version
He answered them, “I will also ask you a question, and you tell me:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Jesus answered and said to them, I will also ask you a word, and you tell me;

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
Yeshua answered and he said to them, “I shall also ask you a question and you answer me.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he answered and said to them: I also will ask you one thing, and do you answer me.

Godbey New Testament
And responding He said to them, I will ask you one word; and you tell me:

Haweis New Testament
Then he answering said to them, I also will ask you one question; and resolve me:

Mace New Testament
Jesus answer'd, I will ask you one question;

Weymouth New Testament
"I also will put a question to you, "He said;

Worrell New Testament
And, answering, He said to them, "I, too, will ask you a question; and tell Me:

Worsley New Testament
And He answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one question, tell me,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus' Authority Challenged
2“Tell us,” they said, “by what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” 3 “I will also ask you a question,” Jesus replied. “Tell Me: 4John’s baptism—was it from heaven, or from men?”…

Cross References
Matthew 21:24-27
“I will also ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. / What was the source of John’s baptism? Was it from heaven or from men?” They deliberated among themselves and said, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ / But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the people, for they all regard John as a prophet.” ...

Mark 11:29-33
“I will ask you one question,” Jesus replied, “and if you answer Me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things. / John’s baptism—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me!” / They deliberated among themselves what they should answer: “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will ask, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ...

John 8:7-8
When they continued to question Him, He straightened up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to cast a stone at her.” / And again He bent down and wrote on the ground.

Matthew 22:15-22
Then the Pharisees went out and conspired to trap Jesus in His words. / They sent their disciples to Him along with the Herodians. “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and that You teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You seek favor from no one, because You pay no attention to external appearance. / So tell us what You think: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ...

Mark 12:13-17
Later, they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to catch Jesus in His words. / “Teacher,” they said, “we know that You are honest and seek favor from no one. Indeed, You are impartial and teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not? Should we pay them or not?” / But Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, “Why are you testing Me? Bring Me a denarius to inspect.” ...

John 2:18-19
On account of this, the Jews demanded, “What sign can You show us to prove Your authority to do these things?” / Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again.”

Matthew 12:38-40
Then some of the scribes and Pharisees said to Him, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.” / Jesus replied, “A wicked and adulterous generation demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. / For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

Mark 8:11-12
Then the Pharisees came and began to argue with Jesus, testing Him by demanding from Him a sign from heaven. / Jesus sighed deeply in His spirit and said, “Why does this generation demand a sign? Truly I tell you, no sign will be given to this generation.”

John 10:24-25
So the Jews gathered around Him and demanded, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” / “I already told you,” Jesus replied, “but you did not believe. The works I do in My Father’s name testify on My behalf.

Matthew 16:1-4
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. / But He replied, “When evening comes, you say, ‘The weather will be fair, for the sky is red,’ / and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but not the signs of the times. ...

Exodus 4:1-5
Then Moses answered, “What if they do not believe me or listen to my voice? For they may say, ‘The LORD has not appeared to you.’” / And the LORD asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. / “Throw it on the ground,” said the LORD. So Moses threw it on the ground, and it became a snake, and he ran from it. ...

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

Isaiah 1:18
“Come now, let us reason together,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are as red as crimson, they will become like wool.

Jeremiah 42:2-4
Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. / Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.” / “I have heard you,” replied Jeremiah the prophet. “I will surely pray to the LORD your God as you request, and I will tell you everything that the LORD answers. I will not withhold a word from you.”

Ezekiel 14:1-4
Then some of the elders of Israel came and sat down before me. / And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, / “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I consult with them in any way? ...


Treasury of Scripture

And he answered and said to them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:

I will.

Luke 22:68
And if I also ask you, ye will not answer me, nor let me go.

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

Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

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Jesus Question
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Jesus Question
Luke 20
1. Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism.
9. The parable of the vineyard.
19. Of giving tribute to Caesar.
27. He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection.
41. How Jesus is the Son of David.
45. He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes.














I will also ask you one thing
In this passage, Jesus is responding to the chief priests and scribes who question His authority. The phrase "I will also ask you one thing" demonstrates Jesus' wisdom and strategic approach in dealing with His opponents. The Greek word for "ask" here is "ἐρωτήσω" (erōtēsō), which implies a formal inquiry or question. This reflects Jesus' authoritative yet calm demeanor, as He turns the challenge back on His questioners. Historically, this method of answering a question with a question was a common rabbinic teaching technique, showcasing Jesus' mastery of the cultural and religious context of His time.

He replied
The word "replied" indicates Jesus' direct engagement with those questioning Him. The Greek root "ἀποκριθείς" (apokritheis) suggests a thoughtful and deliberate response. This highlights Jesus' role as a teacher who is not only knowledgeable but also discerning in His interactions. In the broader scriptural context, Jesus' replies often reveal deeper truths and challenge the status quo, encouraging His listeners to think critically and reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions.

Now let me ask you
This phrase underscores Jesus' intention to lead His questioners into a deeper understanding. The use of "let me ask you" is a rhetorical strategy that invites participation and reflection. It is a call to engage in a dialogue rather than a monologue, emphasizing the relational aspect of Jesus' teaching. In the historical context, this approach would have been seen as both respectful and challenging, as it required the listeners to consider their own positions and the implications of their beliefs.

one thing
The focus on "one thing" suggests simplicity and clarity in Jesus' teaching. The Greek word "ἕν" (hen) for "one" emphasizes the singularity and importance of the question Jesus is about to pose. This reflects a common theme in Jesus' ministry, where He often distills complex theological and moral issues into a single, profound point. In the scriptural context, this approach is designed to cut through distractions and focus the listener's attention on what truly matters, encouraging a deeper understanding and commitment to the truth.

Verses 3-6. - And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me: The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men! And they reasoned with themselves saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not? But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet. The reply of Jesus was one of strange wisdom. He - Jesus - as was well known, had been introduced to the people by this very John. If the Sanhedrin acknowledged John the Baptist as a divinely accredited messenger, then surely they could not question the claims of one borne special witness to by him, brought forward and introduced to public notice by him! If, on the other hand, the Sanhedrin refused to acknowledge the authority of John as a Heaven-sent messenger, which would have been the course they would have preferred, then the popularity and influence of the Sanhedrin would have been sorely imperilled, for the people generally held firmly that John the Baptist was really a prophet of the Lord. They even feared - as we read, "All the people will stone us" - personal violence on the part of the people whose favour they so zealously courted.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
“I will also ask
Ἐρωτήσω (Erōtēsō)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2065: Apparently from ereo; to interrogate; by implication, to request.

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

a question,”
λόγον (logon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3056: From lego; something said; by implication, a topic, also reasoning or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, the Divine Expression.

[Jesus] replied.
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“Tell
εἴπατέ (eipate)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

Me:
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.


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NT Gospels: Luke 20:3 He answered them I also will ask (Luke Lu Lk)
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