Luke 9:59
New International Version
He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

New Living Translation
He said to another person, “Come, follow me.” The man agreed, but he said, “Lord, first let me return home and bury my father.”

English Standard Version
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, allow me first, having gone away, to bury my father."

King James Bible
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

New King James Version
Then He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”

New American Standard Bible
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

NASB 1995
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

NASB 1977
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Permit me first to go and bury my father.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said to another, “Follow Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

Amplified Bible
He said to another, “Follow Me [accepting Me as Master and Teacher].” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to another, “Follow me.” “Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said to another, “Follow Me."” Lord,” he said, “first let me go bury my father.”

American Standard Version
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus told someone else to come with him. But the man said, "Lord, let me wait until I bury my father."

English Revised Version
And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
He told another man, "Follow me!" But the man said, "Sir, first let me go to bury my father."

Good News Translation
He said to another man, "Follow me." But that man said, "Sir, first let me go back and bury my father."

International Standard Version
He told another man, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

Majority Standard Bible
Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

NET Bible
Jesus said to another, "Follow me." But he replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."

New Heart English Bible
He said to another, "Follow me." But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Weymouth New Testament
"Follow me," He said to another. "Master," the man replied, "allow me first to go and bury my father."

World English Bible
He said to another, “Follow me!” But he said, “Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He said to another, “Follow Me”; and he said, “Lord, permit me, having gone away, to first bury my father”;

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, allow me first, having gone away, to bury my father."

Young's Literal Translation
And he said unto another, 'Be following me;' and he said, 'Sir, permit me, having gone away, first to bury my father;'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, permit me having gone, first to inter my father.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then he said to another, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.”

New American Bible
And to another he said, “Follow me.” But he replied, “[Lord,] let me go first and bury my father.”

New Revised Standard Version
To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
He said to another, Follow me; but he said to him, My Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to another, “Come after me.” But he said to him, “My lord, permit me first to go bury my Father.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he said to another: Follow me. But he replied: Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.

Godbey New Testament
And He said to another, Follow thou me. And he said, Lord, permit me first having gone away to bury my father.

Haweis New Testament
And he said to another, Follow me. And he said, Lord, permit me first to return home, and put my father in his grave.

Mace New Testament
Then he said to another, follow me: but he replied, Lord, let me stay first, till I bury my father.

Weymouth New Testament
"Follow me," He said to another. "Master," the man replied, "allow me first to go and bury my father."

Worrell New Testament
And He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, permit me, going away, first to bury my father."

Worsley New Testament
And He said to another, Follow me: but he said, Lord, permit me to go first and bury my father:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Cost of Discipleship
58Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.” 59Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.” The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 60But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”…

Cross References
Matthew 8:21-22
Another of His disciples requested, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” / But Jesus told him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”

Matthew 4:19-22
“Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him. / Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets. Jesus called them, ...

Matthew 10:37-39
Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; / and anyone who does not take up his cross and follow Me is not worthy of Me. / Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

Matthew 19:21-22
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.” / When the young man heard this, he went away in sorrow, because he had great wealth.

John 1:43
The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

John 21:19-22
Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And after He had said this, He told him, “Follow Me.” / Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. He was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper to ask, “Lord, who is going to betray You?” / When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” ...

Mark 1:16-20
As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. / “Come, follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” / And at once they left their nets and followed Him. ...

Mark 10:21
Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, “There is one thing you lack: Go, sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

Luke 14:26-27
“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. / And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

Luke 18:22
On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

1 Kings 19:19-21
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

Genesis 12:1
Then the LORD said to Abram, “Leave your country, your kindred, and your father’s household, and go to the land I will show you.

Genesis 22:1-3
Some time later God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he answered. / “Take your son,” God said, “your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah. Offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.” / So Abraham got up early the next morning, saddled his donkey, and took along two of his servants and his son Isaac. He split the wood for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had designated.

Exodus 3:10-12
Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” / But Moses asked God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?” / “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”

Deuteronomy 13:4
You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

Follow me.

Matthew 4:19-22
And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men…

Matthew 9:9
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.

Matthew 16:24
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

suffer.

1 Kings 19:20
And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?

Haggai 1:2
Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts, saying, This people say, The time is not come, the time that the LORD'S house should be built.

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

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Luke 9
1. Jesus sends his apostles to work miracles, and to preach.
7. Herod desires to see Jesus.
10. The apostles return.
12. Jesus feeds five thousand;
18. inquires what opinion the world had of him; foretells his passion;
23. proposes to all the pattern of his patience.
28. The transfiguration.
37. He heals the lunatic;
43. again forewarns his disciples of his passion;
46. commends humility;
51. bids them to show mildness toward all, without desire of revenge.
57. Many would follow him, but upon conditions.














He said to another man
In this passage, Jesus is the one speaking, and His words are directed to an individual He encounters. The Greek word for "said" is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is a common term used in the New Testament to denote speaking or declaring. This highlights the authoritative and intentional nature of Jesus' call. The phrase "another man" indicates that Jesus' call to discipleship is personal and specific, yet it is also universal, as it applies to all who would follow Him. Historically, Jesus' ministry involved direct interactions with individuals, emphasizing the personal relationship He seeks with each believer.

Follow Me
The command "Follow Me" is central to the call of discipleship. The Greek word for "follow" is "ἀκολούθει" (akolouthei), which implies not just physical following but also a commitment to adhere to Jesus' teachings and way of life. This call is radical, requiring the individual to prioritize Jesus above all else. In the historical context of first-century Judea, following a rabbi meant leaving behind one's previous life and fully dedicating oneself to the rabbi's teachings. Jesus' call is even more profound, as it demands a complete transformation and alignment with His mission.

But he replied
The response of the man is introduced with "But he replied," indicating a hesitation or condition to the call. The Greek word "εἶπεν" (eipen) is used again here, showing the man's verbal response to Jesus' command. This sets the stage for a common human reaction to divine calling—hesitation or the desire to negotiate terms. It reflects the struggle between earthly responsibilities and the call to follow Christ wholeheartedly.

Lord, first let me go and bury my father
The man's request, "first let me go and bury my father," reveals a cultural and familial obligation that was significant in Jewish society. The act of burying one's father was a sacred duty, rooted in the commandment to honor one's parents (Exodus 20:12). The Greek word for "bury" is "θάψαι" (thapsai), which underscores the importance of this duty. However, Jesus' call to follow Him supersedes even the most sacred of earthly obligations. This highlights the radical nature of discipleship, where allegiance to Christ must take precedence over all other commitments. Historically, this would have been a challenging teaching, as family ties and duties were deeply ingrained in the social fabric of the time. Jesus' response, which follows in the subsequent verses, emphasizes the urgency and priority of the Kingdom of God over traditional customs and personal obligations.

Verses 59, 60. - And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God. In this case the Master was the Summoner. Something he read in this man's heart, or words he had heard him speak, moved the Redeemer's great love, so he gave him a special call. This was a very different character from the last. Whereas that seeker for work from Jesus was impulsive, and even thoughtless in his enthusiasm, one who would begin to act without counting the cost, this one was overcautious, cold and calculating to an ungenerous excess; yet there was evidently sterling stuff in the character, for Jesus argues and remonstrates with him; there was, too, much gold mingled with the earth of that man's disposition, for the Lord lightly to let it go. It is thus that the Spirit pleads still with the selfishness which disfigures many a noble and devoted servant of high God. He seems to say, "My call is too imperative to yield to any home duties, however orderly and respectable." During the official days of mourning (in the case of a funeral, these were seven) the impression now made by his summoning words would have worn off. It is noticeable that the home duties, which Jesus suggested should give place to other and more imperative claims, were in connection with the dead. It was not the living father who was to be left to hirelings, only the inanimate corpse. It was rather a society call than a home or family duty which was to give place to work for the Master. St. Chrysostom makes some quaint, but strikingly practical, remarks here. "He might need, if he went to the funeral, to proceed, after the burial, to make inquiry about the will, and then about the distribution of the inheritance, and all the other things that followed thereupon; and thus waves after waves of things coming in upon him in succession might bear him very far away from the harbour of truth. For this cause, doubtless, the Saviour draws him, and fastens him to himself."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

He said
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

another [man],
ἕτερον (heteron)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2087: (a) of two: another, a second, (b) other, different, (c) one's neighbor. Of uncertain affinity; other or different.

“Follow
Ἀκολούθει (Akolouthei)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 190: To accompany, attend, follow. Properly, to be in the same way with, i.e. To accompany.

Me.”
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

“Lord,”
Κύριε (Kyrie)
Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

[the man] replied,
εἶπεν (eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

“first
πρῶτον (prōton)
Adverb - Superlative
Strong's 4412: First, in the first place, before, formerly. Neuter of protos as adverb; firstly.

let
Ἐπίτρεψόν (Epitrepson)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2010: To turn to, commit, entrust; I allow, yield, permit. From epi and the base of trope; to turn over, i.e. Allow.

me
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

go
ἀπελθόντι (apelthonti)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Singular
Strong's 565: From apo and erchomai; to go off, aside or behind, literally or figuratively.

[and] bury
θάψαι (thapsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2290: To bury. A primary verb; to celebrate funeral rites, i.e. Inter.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

father.”
πατέρα (patera)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a 'father'.


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Luke 9:58
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