Bible Strands
Luke 19:2
And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrator identifies Zacchaeus as Jesus passes through Jericho, placing this introduction immediately before Zacchaeus attempts to view him through the crowd.
The words — ἀνὴρ (anēr) means "a man" and ὀνόματι (onomati) translates literally as "by name," establishing a specific individual rather than a generic figure.
The thread — The text states he was very wealthy, which aligns with the biblical record of wealth as both a sign of divine provision (2 Chronicles 17:5) and a barrier to the kingdom (Luke 18:24).
Why it lands — The verse demands recognition that Jesus encounters individuals defined by social and economic status, requiring the reader to assess how identity shapes access to him.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
Cross-references
- Luke 18:24 Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
- 2 Chronicles 17:5 So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.