Luke 7:44

44 Then turning towards the woman He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you gave me no water for my feet; but she has made my feet wet with her tears, and then wiped the tears away with her hair.

Luke 7:44 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:44

And he turned to the woman
That stood behind him at his feet,

and said to Simon, seest thou this woman?
and what she has done? pointing to her, and comparing him, and her, and their actions together, whereby he might judge of the preceding parable, and how fitly it might be applied to the present case:

I entered into thine house;
not of his own accord, but by the invitation of Simon, and therefore might have expected the usual civilities:

thou gavest me no water for my feet:
to wash them with, no, not so much as water; a civility very common in those hot countries, where walking without stockings, and only with sandals, they needed often washing; and which was very refreshing, and was not only used to travellers and strangers, but to guests, and was usually done by the servants of the house; (See Gill on Luke 7:38).

but she hath washed my feet with tears.
The Persic version reads, "with the tears of her eyes"; which made a bath for his feet;

and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
The Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read only, "with her hair", which she used instead of a towel, when Simon neither gave him water to wash with, nor a towel to wipe with.

Luke 7:44 In-Context

42 But neither of them could pay anything; so he freely forgave them both. Tell me, then, which of them will love him most?"
43 "I suppose," replied Simon, "the one to whom he forgave most." "You have judged rightly," Jesus rejoined.
44 Then turning towards the woman He said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house: you gave me no water for my feet; but she has made my feet wet with her tears, and then wiped the tears away with her hair.
45 No kiss did you give me; but she from the moment I came in has not left off tenderly kissing my feet.
46 No oil did you pour even on my head; but she has poured perfume upon my feet.
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