Luke 14:7
Translations
King James Version (KJV)
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying to them.
American King James Version (AKJV)
And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying to them.
American Standard Version (ASV)
And he spake a parable unto those that were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,
Basic English Translation (BBE)
And he gave teaching in the form of a story to the guests who came to the feast, when he saw how they took the best seats; saying to them,
Webster's Revision
And he put forth a parable to those who were invited, when he marked how they chose out the chief rooms; saying to them,
World English Bible
He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them,
English Revised Version (ERV)
And he spake a parable unto those which were bidden, when he marked how they chose out the chief seats; saying unto them,
Definitions for Luke 14:7
Clarke's Luke 14:7 Bible Commentary
They chose out the chief rooms - When custom and law have regulated and settled places in public assemblies, a man who is obliged to attend may take the place which belongs to him, without injury to himself or to others: when nothing of this nature is settled, the law of humility, and the love of order, are the only judges of what is proper. To take the highest place when it is not our due is public vanity: obstinately to refuse it when offered is another instance of the same vice; though private and concealed. Humility takes as much care to avoid the ostentation of an affected refusal, as the open seeking of a superior place. See Quesnel. In this parable our Lord only repeats advices which the rabbins had given to their pupils, but were too proud to conform to themselves. Rabbi Akiba said, Go two or three seats lower than the place that belongs to thee, and sit there till they say unto thee, Go up higher; but do not take the uppermost seat, lest they say unto thee, Come down: for it is better that they should say unto thee, Go up, go up; than that they should say, Come down, come down. See Schoettgen.
Barnes's Luke 14:7 Bible Commentary
A parable - The word parable, here, means rather a "precept, an injunction." He gave a "rule or precept" about the proper manner of attending a feast, or about the humility which ought to be manifested on such occasions.
That were bidden - That were invited by the Pharisee. It seems that he had invited his friends to dine with him on that day.
When he marked - When he observed or saw.
Chief rooms - The word "rooms" here does not express the meaning of the original. It does not mean "apartments," but "the higher places" at the table; those which were nearest the head of the table and to him who had invited them. See the notes at Matthew 23:6. That this was the common character of the Pharisees appears from Matthew 23:6.
Wesley's Luke 14:7 Bible Commentary
14:7 He spake a parable - The ensuing discourse is so termed, because several parts are not to be understood literally. The general scope of it is, Not only at a marriage feast, but on every occasion, he that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.