Luke 7:4

4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,

Luke 7:4 in Other Translations

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy to have you do this for him,

4 So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said,

4 They came to Jesus and urged him to do it, saying, "He deserves this.

4 When they reached Jesus, they pleaded with Him earnestly, saying, "He is worthy for You to grant this,

Luke 7:4 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 7:4

And when they came to Jesus
To that part of the city where he was; either at Peter's house, where he used to be when in this place; or rather it might be as he was passing along the streets, that they came up to him

they besought him instantly;
or with great vehemence and importunity; very studiously and carefully they urged the case, and pressed him much to it:

saying, he was worthy for whom he should do this;
or, "for whom thou shouldst do this", as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read, and some copies; and which reading connects the words best. This speech of theirs savours of their "pharisaic" tenet and notion of merit, and is very different from the sense the poor centurion had of himself.

Luke 7:4 In-Context

2 There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die.

3 The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant.

4 When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this,

5 because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

6 So Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.