13"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the acts of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. [10:14] But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you. [10:15] And you, Capernaum — will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be brought down to the realm of the dead. [10:16] Whoever hears you hears me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me."
LUK 10:13-16
Woe to the Unrepentant
In the world it was spoken into
In this passage, Jesus pronounces woes on the Galilean towns of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, contrasting their lack of repentance with the hypothetical response of Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities historically condemned by Jewish prophets for their idolatry and arrogance. The mention of sackcloth and ashes evokes a traditional Jewish practice of mourning and repentance, signaling profound grief and humility before God. Tyre and Sidon, though pagan, would have responded to Jesus’ (acts of power) with (a transformative change of mind), unlike these Jewish towns. The judgment language reflects Jewish apocalyptic expectations of divine retribution against the unrighteous. Capernaum’s pride is met with a reversal of fortunes: instead of being exalted to heaven, it will be brought down to (the realm of the dead), echoing prophetic oracles against arrogance. The final lines tie rejection of Jesus to rejection of God, emphasizing the gravity of dismissing his message. For Jewish listeners, this would have been a stark warning about the consequences of failing to recognize God’s work in their midst.
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How other translations render this
LUK 10:13
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
- Koinōnos
- Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the acts of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would long ago have repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
LUK 10:14
- KJV
- But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
- BSB
- But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.
- Koinōnos
- But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment than for you.
LUK 10:15
- KJV
- And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
- BSB
- And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!
- Koinōnos
- And you, Capernaum — will you be lifted up to heaven? You will be brought down to the realm of the dead.
LUK 10:16
- KJV
- He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
- BSB
- Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
- Koinōnos
- Whoever hears you hears me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Where the historical framing draws from
- Josephus, WarsWars 2.18.5
›Josephus, Wars Wars 2.18.5
“those of Tyre also put a great number to death, but kept a greater number in prison; moreover, those of Hippos, and those of Gadara, did the like”
Cited to ground: Tyre and Sidon, Gentile cities historically condemned by Jewish prophets for their idolatry and arrogance.
Translator's notes
LUK 10:13
- miracles:The word translated 'miracles' here refers to acts demonstrating supernatural power or ability, often with an inherent sense of wonder or awe, rather than just a surprising event.
- they would have repented.:The phrase 'they would have repented' implies a fundamental change of mind and purpose, leading to a new direction in life, not merely regret or sorrow for past actions.
LUK 10:15
- <the>:The term used here for 'Hades' refers to the realm of the dead, the underworld, rather than a specific place of torment like 'hell' in modern English usage.
LUK 10:16
- rejecting:The word translated 'rejecting' carries the sense of setting something aside as worthless, treating it with contempt, or annulling it, rather than simply refusing to accept it.