The Meaning of Luke 14:20 Explained

Luke 14:20

KJV: And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

YLT: and another said, A wife I married, and because of this I am not able to come.

Darby: And another said, I have married a wife, and on this account I cannot come.

ASV: And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  another  said,  I have married  a wife,  and  therefore  I cannot  come. 

What does Luke 14:20 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 14:15-24 - The Slighted Invitation
In this parable the Master anticipated that the Jewish magistrates and leaders would repudiate His invitations, and that they would therefore be extended to the less likely masses to be found in the streets and lanes of the city, and to the Gentiles in the out-lying world. What a prevision is here of the suitableness of the gospel to all the world, and of the ultimate inclusion of all mankind under one roof, John 14:1-2.
The excuses were obviously trumped up and invalid. Men see fields before buying them; try oxen before purchase; and can take their wives where they go themselves, if they wish to do so. They who are acute enough for this world are often slow and careless about the next, though that is the only world which really matters.
If thou art poor, maimed, blind or lame, there is room for thee at God's table; and for thee "a great spoil" shall be divided, Isaiah 33:23. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 14

1  Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath;
7  teaches humility;
12  to feast the poor;
15  under the parable of the great supper,
23  shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven
25  Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand,
31  lest with shame they revolt from him afterward;
34  and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor

Greek Commentary for Luke 14:20

I cannot come [ου δυναμαι ελτειν]
Less polite than the others but a more plausible pretence if he wanted to make it so. The law excused a newly married man from war (Deuteronomy 24:5), “but not from social courtesy” (Ragg). The new wife would probably have been glad to go with him to the feast if asked. But see 1 Corinthians 7:33. There is here as often a sharp difference between the excuses offered and the reasons behind them. [source]
I cannot []
A newly married man had special indulgence allowed him. See Deuteronomy 24:5. Herodotus relates how Croesus refused for his son an invitation to a hunt on this ground. “But Croesus answered, 'Say no more of my son going with you; that may not be in anywise. He is but just joined in wedlock, and is busy enough with that'” (i., 36). The man who had the most plausible excuse returned the surliest and most peremptory answer. Compare 1 Corinthians 7:33. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 14:20

Luke 14:26 Hateth not [ου μισει]
An old and very strong verb μισεω — miseō to hate, detest. The orientals use strong language where cooler spirits would speak of preference or indifference. But even so Jesus does not here mean that one must hate his father or mother of necessity or as such, for Matthew 15:4 proves the opposite. It is only where the element of choice comes in (cf. Matthew 6:24) as it sometimes does, when father or mother opposes Christ. Then one must not hesitate. The language here is more sharply put than in Matthew 10:37. The ου — ou here coalesces with the verb μισει — misei in this conditional clause of the first class determined as fulfilled. It is the language of exaggerated contrast, it is true, but it must not be watered down till the point is gone. In mentioning “and wife” Jesus has really made a comment on the excuse given in Luke 14:20 (I married a wife and so I am not able to come). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 14:20 mean?

And another said A wife I have married because of this not I am able to come
Καὶ ἕτερος εἶπεν Γυναῖκα ἔγημα διὰ τοῦτο οὐ δύναμαι ἐλθεῖν

ἕτερος  another 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀλλοιόω 
Sense: the other, another, other.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Γυναῖκα  A  wife 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: γυνή  
Sense: a woman of any age, whether a virgin, or married, or a widow.
ἔγημα  I  have  married 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: γαμέω  
Sense: to lead in marriage, take to wife.
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τοῦτο  this 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
δύναμαι  I  am  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
ἐλθεῖν  to  come 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.