1After these things the Lord publicly appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he himself was about to come. [10:2] And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Beg earnestly therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest. [10:3] Go — look, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves. [10:4] Carry no money bag, no traveler's bag, no sandals; and greet no one along the road. [10:5] And into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.' [10:6] And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you. [10:7] And remain in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide — for the worker is worthy of his wage. Do not move from house to house. [10:8] And into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you, [10:9] and heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.' [10:10] But into whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say, [10:11] 'Even the dust of your city that has clung to our feet we wipe off against you — nevertheless know this: the kingdom of God has come near.' [10:12] I say to you that on that day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that city.
LUK 10:1-12
Jesus Sends the Seventy-Two
In the world it was spoken into
In first-century Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, sending messengers in pairs was a common practice, ensuring credibility and mutual support. The commissioning of seventy-two (a number symbolizing completeness, echoing the seventy elders of Israel in Exodus 24 or the seventy nations in Genesis 10) reflects a deliberate expansion of Jesus’ mission beyond the Twelve, signaling a broader outreach to all peoples. The metaphor of the harvest, familiar in agrarian societies, underscores the urgency and abundance of the task, while the scarcity of workers highlights the need for divine intervention. The instruction to travel without provisions (purse, bag, sandals) aligns with the Cynic philosophers’ practice of radical dependence on hospitality, but here it emphasizes trust in God’s provision and the generosity of the communities they enter. The warning about being lambs among wolves underscores the vulnerability and potential hostility they would face. The prohibition against greeting on the road reflects the cultural weight of such exchanges, which could delay or distract from their mission. This framing highlights the tension between urgency, vulnerability, and reliance on divine and communal support.
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How other translations render this
LUK 10:1
- KJV
- After these things the LORD appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
- BSB
- After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.
- Koinōnos
- After these things the Lord publicly appointed seventy-two others and sent them out two by two ahead of him into every city and place where he himself was about to come.
LUK 10:2
- KJV
- Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
- BSB
- And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.
- Koinōnos
- And he said to them, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Beg earnestly therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.
LUK 10:3
- KJV
- Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
- BSB
- Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.
- Koinōnos
- Go — look, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
LUK 10:4
- KJV
- Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
- BSB
- Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.
- Koinōnos
- Carry no money bag, no traveler's bag, no sandals; and greet no one along the road.
LUK 10:5
- KJV
- And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
- BSB
- Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’
- Koinōnos
- And into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this house.
LUK 10:6
- KJV
- And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
- BSB
- If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.
- Koinōnos
- And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him; but if not, it will return to you.
LUK 10:7
- KJV
- And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
- BSB
- Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
- Koinōnos
- And remain in that same house, eating and drinking what they provide — for the worker is worthy of his wage. Do not move from house to house.
LUK 10:8
- KJV
- And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
- BSB
- If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you.
- Koinōnos
- And into whatever city you enter and they receive you, eat what is set before you,
LUK 10:9
- KJV
- And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
- BSB
- Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’
- Koinōnos
- and heal the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God has come near to you.
LUK 10:10
- KJV
- But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
- BSB
- But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare,
- Koinōnos
- But into whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into its streets and say,
LUK 10:11
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’
- Koinōnos
- Even the dust of your city that has clung to our feet we wipe off against you — nevertheless know this: the kingdom of God has come near.
LUK 10:12
- KJV
- But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
- BSB
- I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
- Koinōnos
- I say to you that on that day it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that city.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 10:1
- appointed:The word translated 'appointed' here implies a public, formal designation or showing forth of someone for a specific office or task, not merely a private selection.
LUK 10:2
- do pray earnestly:The phrase translated 'do pray earnestly' comes from a word that means to beg or implore, indicating a deep and urgent need, not just a casual request.
LUK 10:3
- as:The word translated 'as' is actually the term for a 'lamb,' emphasizing vulnerability and defenselessness in a way that 'as' does not convey.
LUK 10:4
- may greet.:The word translated 'may greet' carried a sense of embracing, welcoming, or showing respect, often with physical gestures, more than a simple verbal greeting.