The Meaning of Luke 19:38 Explained

Luke 19:38

KJV: Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

YLT: saying, 'blessed is he who is coming, a king in the name of the Lord; peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.'

Darby: saying, Blessed the King that comes in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

ASV: saying, Blessed is the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.

What is the context of Luke 19:38?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Saying,  Blessed  [be] the King  that cometh  in  the name  of the Lord:  peace  in  heaven,  and  glory  in  the highest. 

What does Luke 19:38 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Luke omitted "Hosanna" from the disciples" praise. His Greek readers probably would not have understood it. The repetition of Psalm 118:26 from Luke 13:35 points to one fulfillment of that messianic prophecy here. There will be another fulfillment at the Second Coming. Luke noted that the King rather than the kingdom ( Mark 11:10) was the focus of the disciples" praise. The kingdom was not yet to appear ( Luke 19:11), but the King was at hand.
The words "peace in heaven and glory in the highest" recall Luke 2:14 where the angels expressed similar words in praise to God for providing a Savior. However there they thanked Him for peace on earth, not peace in heaven. Probably the disciples were honoring God as the author of peace as He is the source of glory in the highest (i.e, in heaven).

Context Summary

Luke 19:28-40 - The Welcome Of The King
This humble triumph is a further revelation of our Lord's character. The lowliness of it, which exposed Him to the sneers and ridicule of scribe and Pharisee, greatly pleased the simple folk from Galilee, who recognized Him as their own, and were proud to identify themselves with Him. See Matthew 21:11. It is thus that Jesus pursues His way through the ages; the princes of this world know Him not, but His character is appreciated and His claims are recognized by babes, Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians 2:8. Are you in the Master's procession?
Jesus' royalty is not of this world. It is based on character. It is ignored by the proud, but welcomed by the poor. It is fairest to those whose eyes are anointed to penetrate the veil and discern the eternal realities, and of their enthusiasm, praise to God is the irresistible expression. Note that their song is an echo of Luke 2:14. Oh, to glorify God to the highest degree!
The Lord's need is the master-motive. We can hold nothing back from His request, whether child, or money, or life. Let these words ring in our hearts: The Lord hath need. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 19

1  Of Zacchaeus a tax collector
11  The ten minas
28  Jesus rides into Jerusalem with triumph;
41  weeps over it;
45  drives the buyers and sellers out of the temple;
47  Teaching daily in it The rulers seek to destroy him, but fear the people

Greek Commentary for Luke 19:38

The king cometh [ο ερχομενοσ ο βασιλευς]
The Messianic hopes of the people were now all ablaze with expectation of immediate realization. A year ago in Galilee he had frustrated their plans for a revolutionary movement “to take him by force to make him king” (John 6:15). The phrase “the coming king” like “the coming prophet” (John 6:14; Deuteronomy 18:15) expressed the hope of the long-looked-for Messiah. They are singing from the Hallel in their joy that Jesus at last is making public proclamation of his Messiahship. [source]
Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest [en ouranōi eirēnē kai doxa en hupsistois)]
This language reminds one strongly of the song of the angels at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14). Mark 11:10; Matthew 21:9 have “Hosannah in the highest.” [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 19:38

Matthew 11:3 He that cometh [ο ερχομενος]
This phrase refers to the Messiah (Mark 11:9; Luke 13:35; Luke 19:38; Hebrews 10:37; Psalm 118:26; Daniel 7:13). Some rabbis applied the phrase to some forerunner of the kingdom (McNeile). Was there to be “another” It was once clear enough to him, but his environment was depressing and Jesus had done nothing to get him out of Machaerus (see chapter IX in my John the Loyal). John longed for reassurance. [source]
John 12:13 Took [ελαβον]
Second aorist active indicative of λαμβανω — lambanō The branches of the palm trees Ποινιχ — Phoinix is an old word for palm tree (Revelation 7:9 for the branches) and in Acts 27:12 the name of a city. αιον — Baion is apparently a word of Egyptian origin, palm branches, here only in N.T., but in the papyri and 1Macc 13:51. Here we have “the palm branches of the palm trees.” The use in 1Macc 13:51 (cf. 2Macc 10:7) is in the account of Simon‘s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Bernard notes that to carry palms was a mark of triumphant homage to a victor or a king (Revelation 7:9). Palm trees grew on the Mount of Olives (Luke 19:38-4056) on the road from Bethany to Jerusalem. The crowds (one in front and one behind, Mark 11:9; Matthew 21:9; John 2:18) cut the branches as they came (Matthew 21:8). To meet him Literally, for a meeting It was a scene of growing excitement. And cried out Imperfect active of κραυγαζω — kraugazō old and rare verb (from κραυγη — kraugē) as in Matthew 12:19; John 19:15. Hosannah Transliteration of the Hebrew word meaning “Save now.” The lxx renders it by Σωσον δη — Sōson dē (Save now). Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord Perfect passive participle of ευλογεω — eulogeō Quotation from Psalm 118:25., written, some think, for the dedication of the second temple, or, as others think, for the feast of tabernacles after the return (Ezra 3:1.). It was sung in the processional recitation then as a welcome to the worshippers. Here the words are addressed to the Messiah as is made plain by the addition of the words, “even the king of Israel” Jesus is here hailed by the multitudes as the long-looked for Messiah of Jewish hope and he allows them so to greet him (1711727344_3), a thing that he prevented a year before in Galilee (John 6:14.). It is probable that “in the name of the Lord” should be taken with “blessed” as in Deuteronomy 21:5; 2 Samuel 6:18; 1 Kings 22:16; 2 Kings 2:24. The Messiah was recognized by Martha as the Coming One (John 11:27) and is so described by the Baptist (Matthew 11:3). Mark (Mark 11:10) adds “the kingdom that cometh” while Luke (John 19:38) has “the king that cometh.” “It was this public acclamation of Jesus as King of Israel or King of the Jews which was the foundation of the charge made against him before Pilate (John 18:33)” (Bernard). [source]
John 19:12 Sought [εζητει]
Imperfect active, “kept on seeking,” “made renewed efforts to release him.” He was afraid to act boldly against the will of the Jews. If thou release this man Condition of third class, a direct threat to Pilate. He knew all the time that the Sanhedrin might tell Caesar on him. Thou art not Caesar‘s friend Later to Vespasian this was an official title, here simply a daring threat to Pilate. Speaketh against Caesar Caesar brooks no rival. Jesus had allowed himself to be acclaimed king of Israel in the Triumphal Entry (John 12:13; Mark 11:10; Luke 19:38). The Sanhedrin have caught Pilate in their toils. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 19:38 mean?

saying Blessed is the coming - King in [the] name of [the] Lord heaven peace and glory [the] highest
λέγοντες Εὐλογημένος ἐρχόμενος Βασιλεὺς ἐν ὀνόματι Κυρίου οὐρανῷ εἰρήνη καὶ δόξα ὑψίστοις

λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Εὐλογημένος  Blessed  is 
Parse: Verb, Perfect Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: εὐλογέω 
Sense: to praise, celebrate with praises.
ἐρχόμενος  coming 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἔρχομαι  
Sense: to come.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Βασιλεὺς  King 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
ὀνόματι  [the]  name 
Parse: Noun, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: ὄνομα  
Sense: name: univ.
Κυρίου  of  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
οὐρανῷ  heaven 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.
εἰρήνη  peace 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: εἰρήνη  
Sense: a state of national tranquillity.
δόξα  glory 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Singular
Root: δόξα  
Sense: opinion, judgment, view.
ὑψίστοις  [the]  highest 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Plural, Superlative
Root: ὕψιστος  
Sense: highest, most high.