Luke 19:48
New International Version
Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

New Living Translation
But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.

English Standard Version
but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

Berean Standard Bible
Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not find what they might do; for all the people are listening, hanging on His words.

King James Bible
And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

New King James Version
and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

New American Standard Bible
and yet they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

NASB 1995
and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.

NASB 1977
and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging upon His words.

Legacy Standard Bible
and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people hung upon every word He said.

Amplified Bible
and they could not find anything that they could do, for all the people [stayed close to Him and] were hanging on to every word He said.

Christian Standard Bible
but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard.

American Standard Version
and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.

Contemporary English Version
But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.

English Revised Version
and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.

Good News Translation
but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people kept listening to him, not wanting to miss a single word.

International Standard Version
but they couldn't find a way to do it, because all the people were eager to hear him.

Majority Standard Bible
Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

NET Bible
but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.

New Heart English Bible
They could not find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.

Webster's Bible Translation
And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Weymouth New Testament
But they could not find any way of doing it, for the people all hung upon His lips.

World English Bible
They couldn’t find what they might do, for all the people hung on to every word that he said.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and they were not finding what they will do, for all the people were hanging on Him, hearing Him.

Berean Literal Bible
And they did not find what they might do; for all the people are listening, hanging on His words.

Young's Literal Translation
and they were not finding what they shall do, for all the people were hanging on him, hearing him.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they found not what they might do: for all the people hearing hanged on him.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they found not what to do to him: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But they could not find what to do to him. For all the people were listening to him attentively.

New American Bible
but they could find no way to accomplish their purpose because all the people were hanging on his words.

New Revised Standard Version
but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
But they were not able to find what to do to him; for all the people hung around him to hear him.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And they could not find what they might do to him, for all the people were hanging on him to hear him.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
and found nothing that they could do, for all the people hung on his words.

Godbey New Testament
And they were not finding what they might do; for all the people hung on Him, hearing Him.

Haweis New Testament
but did not discover how they could do any thing: for all the people attentively hung on his lips.

Mace New Testament
but they could not find the means of effecting it; for all the populace were strongly attach'd to his doctrine.

Weymouth New Testament
But they could not find any way of doing it, for the people all hung upon His lips.

Worrell New Testament
and they were not finding anything they could do; for the people were all hanging upon Him, listening.

Worsley New Testament
and could not find how to effect it: for all the people were attentive to hear Him.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Cleanses the Temple
47Jesus was teaching at the temple every day, but the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people were intent on killing Him. 48Yet they could not find a way to do so, because all the people hung on His words.

Cross References
Mark 11:18
When the chief priests and scribes heard this, they looked for a way to kill Him. For they were afraid of Him, because the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

Matthew 21:46
Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

John 7:32
When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.

John 7:45-46
Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?” / “Never has anyone spoken like this man!” the officers answered.

John 11:47-48
Then the chief priests and Pharisees convened the Sanhedrin and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. / If we let Him go on like this, everyone will believe in Him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”

Acts 4:16-17
“What shall we do with these men?” they asked. “It is clear to everyone living in Jerusalem that a remarkable miracle has occurred through them, and we cannot deny it. / But to keep this message from spreading any further among the people, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in this name.”

Matthew 7:28-29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching, / because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

Mark 12:37
David himself calls Him ‘Lord.’ So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.

John 12:19
Then the Pharisees said to one another, “You can see that this is doing you no good. Look how the whole world has gone after Him!”

Acts 5:24-28
When the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests heard this account, they were perplexed as to what was happening. / Then someone came in and announced, “Look, the men you put in jail are standing in the temple courts teaching the people!” / At that point, the captain went with the officers and brought the apostles—but not by force, for fear the people would stone them. ...

Matthew 22:33
When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at His teaching.

John 7:12-13
Many in the crowds were whispering about Him. Some said, “He is a good man.” But others replied, “No, He deceives the people.” / Yet no one would speak publicly about Him for fear of the Jews.

John 7:40-43
On hearing these words, some of the people said, “This is truly the Prophet.” / Others declared, “This is the Christ.” But still others asked, “How can the Christ come from Galilee? / Doesn’t the Scripture say that the Christ will come from the line of David and from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” ...

John 8:2
Early in the morning He went back into the temple courts. All the people came to Him, and He sat down to teach them.

John 18:20
“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus answered. “I always taught in the synagogues and at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret.


Treasury of Scripture

And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.

could.

Luke 20:19,20
And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them…

Luke 22:2-4
And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people…

Matthew 22:15,16
Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk…

were very attentive to hear him.

Nehemiah 8:3
And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.

John 7:46-49
The officers answered, Never man spake like this man…

Acts 16:14
And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.

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Luke 19
1. Of Zacchaeus a tax collector.
11. The ten minas.
28. Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;
41. weeps over it;
45. drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
47. Teaching daily in it. The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people.














Yet they could not find a way to do it
This phrase highlights the frustration and impotence of the religious leaders who sought to undermine Jesus. The Greek word for "find" (εὑρίσκω, heuriskō) implies a diligent search or investigation. Despite their efforts, they were unable to devise a plan to arrest or discredit Jesus. This reflects the divine protection over Jesus' mission and the futility of human schemes against God's sovereign will. Historically, the religious leaders were threatened by Jesus' growing influence and sought to eliminate Him, yet their inability to act underscores the divine timing and purpose in Jesus' ministry.

because all the people
The phrase emphasizes the collective nature of the crowd's response to Jesus. The Greek word for "people" (λαός, laos) often refers to a group united by common beliefs or heritage. In this context, it signifies the Jewish populace who were drawn to Jesus' teachings. This collective interest in Jesus' message posed a significant obstacle to the religious leaders, as any action against Him could incite public unrest. The historical context reveals a populace weary of religious legalism and eager for the hope and truth that Jesus offered.

hung on His words
This vivid expression captures the deep engagement and captivation of the people with Jesus' teachings. The Greek verb "hung" (ἐκκρέμαμαι, ekkremamai) conveys a sense of being suspended or wholly absorbed. The people were not merely passive listeners; they were actively clinging to every word Jesus spoke, recognizing the authority and life-giving power in His message. Scripturally, this reflects the fulfillment of prophecies about the Messiah who would teach with authority and draw people to Himself (Isaiah 61:1-2). The people's response is a testament to the transformative power of Jesus' words, which offered hope, challenged the status quo, and revealed the heart of God.

(48) All the people were very attentive to hear him.--Literally, hung upon him as they heard. The Greek phrase is another of the words characteristic of St. Luke. Its force may be gathered by its use in the Greek version of Genesis 44:30, where it stands for "his life is bound up in" (or, hangs upon) "the lad's life."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Yet
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

they could not find
εὕρισκον (heuriskon)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

a way
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

to do [so],
ποιήσωσιν (poiēsōsin)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

because
γὰρ (gar)
Conjunction
Strong's 1063: For. A primary particle; properly, assigning a reason.

all
ἅπας (hapas)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 537: All, the whole, altogether. Absolutely all or every one.

the
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

people
λαὸς (laos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2992: Apparently a primary word; a people.

hung
ἐξεκρέματο (exekremato)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1582: To hang out, mid: I hang upon. Middle voice from ek and kremannumi; to hang upon the lips of a speaker, i.e. Listen closely.

on His words.
ἀκούων (akouōn)
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 191: To hear, listen, comprehend by hearing; pass: is heard, reported. A primary verb; to hear.


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NT Gospels: Luke 19:48 They couldn't find what they might do (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 19:47
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