27As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts you nursed from!" [11:28] But he said, "On the contrary — blessed are those who hear the word of God and guard it."
LUK 11:27-28
True Blessedness
In the world it was spoken into
In this exchange, a woman in the crowd praises Jesus’ mother, invoking a common 1st-century Jewish honorific for motherhood. In Jewish culture, bearing and nurturing children, especially sons, was seen as a woman’s highest calling and a source of societal honor. The term (blessed) carried connotations of divine favor and happiness, often linked to tangible blessings like fertility and prosperity. By declaring Jesus’ mother blessed, the woman aligns her with this cultural ideal. Jesus’ response, using (on the contrary), shifts the focus from physical motherhood to spiritual obedience. Hearing and (guarding) the word of God was central to Jewish piety, emphasizing active adherence to Torah and divine instruction. This reframing challenges the crowd’s assumptions about honor and blessedness, elevating spiritual fidelity over biological or social status. The exchange reflects tensions between traditional Jewish values and Jesus’ redefinition of what it means to be truly blessed.
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How other translations render this
LUK 11:27
- KJV
- And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
- BSB
- As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”
- Koinōnos
- As he was saying these things, a woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts you nursed from!
LUK 11:28
- KJV
- But he said, Yea rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
- BSB
- But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
- Koinōnos
- But he said, "On the contrary — blessed are those who hear the word of God and guard it.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 11:27
- Blessed [is]:The word translated 'blessed' here refers to someone in an enviable position, experiencing deep well-being and happiness, often implying divine favor or a state of flourishing.
- womb:The term used here for 'womb' literally refers to the belly or internal organs, and in this context, it emphasizes the physical connection and nourishment provided by a mother.
LUK 11:28
- No rather:The phrase translated 'No rather' conveys a strong correction or a decisive shift in emphasis, indicating that what follows is the more accurate or important point.
- keeping:The word translated 'keeping' implies not just passive retention, but active guarding, observing, and obeying, as one would protect a valuable possession or follow a command.