LUK 20:9-18

The Parable of the Wicked Tenants

9He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it out to tenant farmers and went away for a long time. [20:10] At the appointed season he sent a bondservant to the farmers so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. [20:11] He proceeded to send another bondservant; they beat that one too and treated him with contempt and sent him away empty-handed. [20:12] He proceeded to send a third; they wounded this one as well and threw him out. [20:13] Then the master of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son — perhaps they will revere him.' [20:14] But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so the inheritance may become ours.' [20:15] And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the master of the vineyard do to them? [20:16] He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "May it never be!" [20:17] But he looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone that the builders rejected — this one has become the cornerstone'? [20:18] Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered; but the one on whom it falls, it will crush him to dust."

In the world it was spoken into

In first-century Judea, land ownership and tenant farming were common economic arrangements. Wealthy landowners often leased vineyards to tenant farmers, who were expected to return a portion of the harvest as rent. The parable’s listeners would recognize the vineyard as a symbol of Israel, echoing Isaiah 5:1-7, where God’s people are depicted as His vineyard. The sending of slaves reflects the Roman and Jewish practice of using slaves as intermediaries in business dealings. The tenants’ violent rejection of the slaves and the son would have been shocking, as it violated the honor-shame economy and the expectation of respect for the owner’s authority. The son’s designation as (beloved/only-begotten) underscores his unique status and the owner’s final, desperate attempt to reclaim his property. The listeners, likely familiar with prophetic critiques of Israel’s leaders, would hear this as a condemnation of their failure to honor God’s claims. The stone imagery (Psalm 118:22) would evoke messianic expectations, challenging the audience to reconsider their response to God’s ultimate emissary.

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How other translations render this

LUK 20:9

KJV: Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
BSB: Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.
Koinōnos: He began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard and leased it out to tenant farmers and went away for a long time.

LUK 20:10

KJV: And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty.
BSB: At harvest time, he sent a servant to the tenants to collect his share of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat the servant and sent him away empty-handed.
Koinōnos: At the appointed season he sent a bondservant to the farmers so that they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed.

LUK 20:11

KJV: And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty.
BSB: So he sent another servant, but they beat him and treated him shamefully, sending him away empty-handed.
Koinōnos: He proceeded to send another bondservant; they beat that one too and treated him with contempt and sent him away empty-handed.

LUK 20:12

KJV: And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out.
BSB: Then he sent a third, but they wounded him and threw him out.
Koinōnos: He proceeded to send a third; they wounded this one as well and threw him out.

LUK 20:13

KJV: Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him.
BSB: ‘What shall I do?’ asked the owner of the vineyard. ‘I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.’
Koinōnos: Then the master of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son — perhaps they will revere him.

LUK 20:14

KJV: But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.
BSB: But when the tenants saw the son, they discussed it among themselves and said, ‘This is the heir. Let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.’
Koinōnos: But when the farmers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Let us kill him so the inheritance may become ours.

LUK 20:15

KJV: So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?
BSB: So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them?
Koinōnos: And they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. What then will the master of the vineyard do to them?

LUK 20:16

KJV: He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.
BSB: He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.” And when the people heard this, they said, “May such a thing never happen!”
Koinōnos: He will come and destroy those farmers and give the vineyard to others." When they heard this, they said, "May it never be!

LUK 20:17

KJV: And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner?
BSB: But Jesus looked directly at them and said, “Then what is the meaning of that which is written: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone’?
Koinōnos: But he looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone that the builders rejected — this one has become the cornerstone'?

LUK 20:18

KJV: Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.
BSB: Everyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.”
Koinōnos: Everyone who falls on that stone will be shattered; but the one on whom it falls, it will crush him to dust.

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

Translator's notes

LUK 20:10

farmers:The word translated 'farmers' here is the common term for a slave or bondservant. It emphasizes their complete subservience and lack of personal rights, highlighting their obligation to the landowner.

LUK 20:13

beloved;:The word translated 'beloved' often carried the connotation of being unique or only-begotten, suggesting a special, singular affection. It implies a cherished status, often of an only child.
having seen:The word translated 'having seen' here carries the sense of causing someone to feel shame or respect, often leading to a change in behavior. It implies a moral impact or a sense of awe that compels deference.