Luke 11:44

Woes to Pharisees and Experts in the Law · Luke 11:37–54
Read Luke 11

Translations

Modern
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”
Traditional
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.
Literal
Woe to you, because you are like unmarked tombs, and the men walking above do not know.”
Latin
Væ vobis, quia estis ut monumenta, quæ non apparent, et homines ambulantes supra, nesciunt.

Original

Greek
English
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

Notes

unmarked graves: Touching a grave or a dead body made a Jew ceremonially unclean. Jesus accused the religious leaders of being a defiling influence rather than a purifying one. This was a strongly offensive accusation (11:45).

Woe to you Pharisees! Woes are the opposite of blessings (see study note on 6:24–26). Jesus pronounced six woes. Three were against the Pharisees (11:42, 43, 44) and three were against the teachers of religious law (11:46, 47, 52).

Theme notes and profiles

The Pharisees Encounters with Jesus

Events

Parallels

Matthew 23:1–36

People

Pharisee: A strict Jewish sect known for legalism and hypocrisy

Glossary

Apothegm Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Biblical Concept of Law Luke, Gospel of

Topics

Burial: Sometimes not Apparent Hypocrisy: General Scriptures Concerning Hypocrites: Illustrated Jesus, the Christ: Denounces the Pharisees and Other Hypocrites (In Galilee) Pharisees: Hypocrisy of, Reproved by Jesus Reproof: Faithfulness in Jesus, of the Scribes and Pharisees Satire of Jesus Against Hypocrites Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: but External Self-Righteousness is Vain Because Our Righteousness Is: but Partial Self-Righteousness: Pharisees Teachers: False: Admonition Against The Pharisees: Christ: Compared, to Graves That Appear Not