Luke 19:3

3 Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.

Luke 19:3 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 19:3

And he sought to see Jesus who he was
What sort of a person he was for complexion, stature, and age: having heard much of him, he was very desirous of indulging his curiosity with a sight of him; having, as yet, nothing else that induced him to desire to see him: his desire to see Jesus was not of the same kind with the kings and prophets, ( Matthew 13:16 ) but rather like that of Herod, ( Luke 23:8 )

and could not for the press;
the multitude of people that were flocking to meet Jesus, or who came before him, or were about him; for one part of the multitude went before him, and the other followed after him; so that he was in the crowd, and therefore could not easily be seen;

because he was little of stature.
The Syriac and Persic versions read, "because Zacchaeus was little of stature", lest it should be thought that this is said of Jesus; for the reason why Zacchaeus could not see him for the crowd, was not because Christ was little of stature, and was hid among them, but because Zacchaeus was little of stature, and could not see over their heads.

Luke 19:3 In-Context

1 And he went into Jericho, and when he was going through it,

2 A man, named Zacchaeus, who was the chief tax-farmer, and a man of wealth,

3 Made an attempt to get a view of Jesus, and was not able to do so, because of the people, for he was a small man.

4 And he went quickly in front of them and got up into a tree to see him, for he was going that way.

5 And when Jesus came to the place, looking up, he said to him, Zacchaeus, be quick and come down, for I am coming to your house today.