Luke 19:3

3 And he made meanes to se Iesus what he shuld be: and coulde not for the preace because he was of a lowe stature.

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 entred in and went thorow Hierico.

2 And beholde ther was a ma named Zacheus which was a ruler amoge the Publicans and was riche also.

3 And he made meanes to se Iesus what he shuld be: and coulde not for the preace because he was of a lowe stature.

4 Wherfore he ran before and asceded vp into a wilde fygge tree to se him: for he shulde come that same waye.

5 And when Iesus cam to the place he loked vp and sawe him and sayd vnto him: zache attonce come doune for to daye I must abyde at thy housse.