New Testament · Gospel

Luke 18:3

The Persistent Widow

And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ Luke 18:3 · Berean Standard Bible
What It Means

Luke 18:3, in plain English

A widow in that town kept going to the judge with one request: 'Give me justice against the person who wronged me.' She wouldn't take no for an answer.

Why it's here

In that culture, a widow had no power, no advocate, no leverage. All she had was persistence — and that turned out to be enough.

Who's speaking

The widow's repeated plea is the heart of the parable: she just keeps showing up and asking.

Where it sits in the story

She had no money, no connections, no power. But she had something the judge didn't expect: she would not quit.

A Closer Look

The scholarly reading

A widow — among the most vulnerable in ancient society — persistently appeals (ērcheto) for justice against her 'adversary' (antidikou). The imperfect tense indicates repeated, ongoing appeals.

Language and setting

Widows lacked male advocates and were frequent victims of exploitation (Isa 1:17, Jas 1:27). Her repeated coming embodies the persistent prayer Jesus commends.

Voice

The widow speaks her simple, persistent plea for justice, representing the believer who keeps coming to God without giving up.

Significance

A widow keeps coming to this corrupt judge with one request: 'Give me justice against my adversary.' She won't stop coming, and she won't stop asking.

In context

Luke 18:1–5

1Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart:

2“In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.

3And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

4For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

5yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’”

Read all of Luke 18 — A stubborn widow, a humble tax collector, and a rich ruler who can't let go. Jesus shows that the kingdom belongs to those who won't give up and won't pretend.

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