LUK 18:9-14

The Pharisee and the Tax Collector

9And he also spoke this parable to some who were confident in themselves, having trusted that they were righteous, and who were despising the rest.

10"Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

11The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus about himself: 'God, I give you thanks that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of everything I acquire.'

13But the tax collector, standing far off, was not willing to lift even his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner.'

14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

In the world it was spoken into

In 1st-century Jewish society, the Pharisee and the tax collector represented polar extremes of social and religious standing. Pharisees were respected for their strict adherence to Torah and oral traditions, often seen as models of piety. Their practices, such as tithing and fasting, were public demonstrations of their righteousness. Tax collectors, however, were despised as collaborators with Roman occupiers, often accused of extortion and impurity. The Pharisee’s prayer reflects the honor-shame culture, where public acknowledgment of one’s virtues was expected. His gratitude for not being like others, especially the tax collector, underscores the social hierarchy and the Pharisee’s confidence in his own merit. The tax collector’s posture—standing afar off, unwilling to lift his eyes—signals profound shame and unworthiness. His plea for mercy acknowledges his need for divine atonement, contrasting sharply with the Pharisee’s self-reliance. The temple setting amplifies this tension, as it was the central place of worship and purity, where one’s standing before God was publicly displayed.

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How other translations render this

LUK 18:9

KJV: And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
BSB: To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:
Koinōnos: And he also spoke this parable to some who were confident in themselves, having trusted that they were righteous, and who were despising the rest.

LUK 18:10

KJV: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
BSB: “Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.
Koinōnos: Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

LUK 18:11

KJV: The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
BSB: The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.
Koinōnos: The Pharisee, standing, prayed thus about himself: 'God, I give you thanks that I am not like the rest of men—swindlers, unrighteous, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

LUK 18:12

KJV: I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
BSB: I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’
Koinōnos: I fast twice a week; I give tithes of everything I acquire.

LUK 18:13

KJV: And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
BSB: But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’
Koinōnos: But the tax collector, standing far off, was not willing to lift even his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner.

LUK 18:14

KJV: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
BSB: I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
Koinōnos: I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than that one. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

LUK 18:9

having trusted:The word translated 'having trusted' here implies a deep-seated conviction or reliance, often with the nuance of being persuaded to believe something is true or reliable.
despising:The term translated 'despising' means to treat as nothing, to utterly reject or scorn, indicating a profound contempt for others.

LUK 18:10

a tax collector.:The word for 'tax collector' referred to someone who bought the right to collect taxes, often extorting more than due, making them widely despised and seen as traitors to their own people.

LUK 18:13

O:The word translated 'O' in this context is part of a phrase meaning 'be merciful' or 'be propitiated,' carrying the sense of an action that turns away divine wrath or makes atonement for sin.