Lukas 19:3

3 Und er suchte Jesum zu sehen, wer er wäre; und er vermochte es nicht vor der Volksmenge, denn er war klein von Gestalt.

Lukas 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.

Lukas 19:3 In-Context

1 Und er ging hinein und zog durch Jericho.

2 Und siehe, da war ein Mann, mit Namen Zachäus, und selbiger war ein Oberzöllner, und er war reich.

3 Und er suchte Jesum zu sehen, wer er wäre; und er vermochte es nicht vor der Volksmenge, denn er war klein von Gestalt.

4 Und er lief voraus und stieg auf einen Maulbeerfeigenbaum, auf daß er ihn sähe; denn er sollte daselbst durchkommen.

5 Und als er an den Ort kam, sah Jesus auf und erblickte ihn und sprach zu ihm: Zachäus, steige eilends hernieder, denn heute muß ich in deinem Hause bleiben.