Bible Strands
Luke 19:3
He was trying to see who Jesus was, but could not see over the crowd because he was small in stature.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Zacchaeus, a wealthy chief tax collector, attempts to locate Jesus in a crowd before Jesus passes through Jericho. He acts alone, driven by a desire to identify the approaching teacher.
The words — The Greek verb ἐζήτει (ezētei) literally means "he was seeking," paired with ἰδεῖν (idein), "to see," forming a continuous action of active pursuit. This phrasing emphasizes Zacchaeus’s deliberate effort rather than passive observation.
The thread — The desire to see Jesus appears elsewhere in Luke and John, where Herod seeks Him for signs (Luke 23:8), crowds request His presence (John 12:21), and political leaders react to His growing reputation (Luke 9:7).
Why it lands — The text demands acknowledgment that physical limitations or social status do not automatically grant access to Jesus, requiring intentional action to overcome obstacles.
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 he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
Cross-references
- Luke 23:8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased. He had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had heard about Him and was hoping to see Him perform a miracle.
- Luke 9:7 When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,
- John 12:21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
- Luke 12:25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?