Bible Strands
Luke 7:49
But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The text records the reaction of the guests reclining at the meal immediately after Jesus declares the sinful woman forgiven in Luke 7:48. They are the unnamed table companions who observe the declaration and question his authority.
The words — The Greek ἤρξαντο (ērxanto) means "began," and οἱ συνανακεκείμενοι (hoi sunanakeimenoi) translates literally to "those reclining together." These terms identify the specific group that initiated the internal questioning.
The thread — The same tension over Jesus’ authority to forgive appears in Luke 5:20, Matthew 9:3, and Mark 2:7, where observers question who can exercise this divine prerogative.
Why it lands — The verse forces the reader to confront the question of Jesus’ identity by recording the guests’ own internal doubt. It demands an assessment of whether forgiving sins belongs to God alone or to the one speaking.
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 they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
Cross-references
- Luke 5:20 When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”
- Matthew 9:3 On seeing this, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man is blaspheming!”
- Mark 2:7 “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”