King James Version

What Does Luke 10:13 Mean?

Luke 10:13 in the King James Version says “Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have b... — study this verse from Luke chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

Luke 10:13 · KJV


Context

11

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

12

But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.

13

Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14

But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.

15

And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. The repeated ouai (οὐαί, "woe") is a prophetic lament pronouncing divine judgment—not a curse but a declaration of impending disaster. Jesus names specific cities: Chorazin and Bethsaida, Galilean towns where He performed miracles.

The term mighty works (dynameis, δυνάμεις) means acts of power or miracles—healings, exorcisms, nature miracles demonstrating Jesus' messianic authority. The conditional statement ei en Tyrō kai Sidōni egenēthesan hai dynameis hai genomenai en hymin, palai an en sakkō kai spodō kathēmenoi metenoēsan (εἰ ἐν Τύρῳ καὶ Σιδῶνι ἐγενήθησαν αἱ δυνάμεις αἱ γενόμεναι ἐν ὑμῖν, πάλαι ἂν ἐν σάκκῳ καὶ σποδῷ καθήμενοι μετενόησαν) employs a contrary-to-fact condition: if pagan Tyre and Sidon had witnessed these miracles, they would have repented.

The phrase sitting in sackcloth and ashes (en sakkō kai spodō kathēmenoi, ἐν σάκκῳ καὶ σποδῷ καθήμενοι) describes ancient mourning and repentance rituals (Jonah 3:6, Job 42:6). That pagan cities would have responded with repentance while Jewish cities remained hard-hearted magnifies the latter's guilt. Chorazin and Bethsaida had maximum revelation but minimum response—the essence of unbelief.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Chorazin was a town near Capernaum; Bethsaida was Philip's hometown and the location of multiple miracles (Mark 8:22-26, Luke 9:10-17). Despite witnessing Jesus' power firsthand, these cities rejected Him. Tyre and Sidon were Phoenician cities representing pagan wickedness—Jezebel's homeland (1 Kings 16:31), condemned by prophets (Isaiah 23, Ezekiel 26-28). Yet Jesus declares these notoriously wicked Gentile cities more responsive than privileged Jewish towns that saw the Messiah. This foreshadows Israel's rejection and Gentile inclusion in the church (Romans 11).

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does Jesus compare unresponsive Jewish cities to pagan Tyre and Sidon, and what does this reveal about privilege and responsibility?
  2. What does it mean that pagan cities 'would have repented' if they'd witnessed Jesus' miracles, and what does this teach about human accountability?
  3. How should churches and individuals with access to clear biblical teaching respond, knowing that greater revelation brings greater judgment for unbelief?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 27 words
οὐαί1 of 27

! woe

G3759

woe

σοι2 of 27

unto thee

G4671

to thee

Χωραζίν3 of 27

Chorazin

G5523

chorazin, a place in palestine

οὐαί4 of 27

! woe

G3759

woe

σοι5 of 27

unto thee

G4671

to thee

Βηθσαϊδά·6 of 27

Bethsaida

G966

fishing-house; bethsaida, a place in palestine

ὅτι7 of 27

! for

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

εἰ8 of 27

if

G1487

if, whether, that, etc

ἐν9 of 27

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

Τύρῳ10 of 27

Tyre

G5184

the city of tyre

καὶ11 of 27

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

Σιδῶνι12 of 27

Sidon

G4605

sidon (i.e., tsidon), a place in palestine

γενόμεναι13 of 27

had been done

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

αἱ14 of 27

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

δυνάμεις15 of 27

the mighty works

G1411

force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)

αἱ16 of 27

which

G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γενόμεναι17 of 27

had been done

G1096

to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)

ἐν18 of 27

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

ὑμῖν19 of 27

you

G5213

to (with or by) you

πάλαι20 of 27

a great while ago

G3819

(adverbially) formerly, or (by relatively) sometime since; (elliptically as adjective) ancient

ἂν21 of 27

in

G302

whatsoever

ἐν22 of 27

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

σάκκῳ23 of 27

sackcloth

G4526

"sack"-cloth, i.e., mohair (the material or garments made of it, worn as a sign of grief)

καὶ24 of 27

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

σποδῷ25 of 27

ashes

G4700

ashes

καθήμεναι26 of 27

sitting

G2521

and ???? (to sit; akin to the base of g1476); to sit down; figuratively, to remain, reside

μετενόησαν27 of 27

repented

G3340

to think differently or afterwards, i.e., reconsider (morally, feel compunction)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 10:13 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 10:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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