Luke 5:23 kjv — Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

King James Version

"Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?"

— Luke 5:23, King James Version

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5 of 21 translations

Luke 5:23 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

Luke 5 — Context

20

And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.

21

And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?

22

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.

Luke 5:23 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does Luke 5:23 say?
Luke 5:23 in the King James Version reads: “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?”
Where is Luke 5:23 in the Bible?
Luke 5:23 is found in the New Testament, in the book of Luke, chapter 5, verse 23.
Who wrote Luke?
Luke is traditionally attributed to Luke the physician, companion of Paul. It was written c. AD 60–62.
What is the book of Luke about?
Luke writes "an orderly account" of Jesus' life from a careful historian's pen, with special attention to the poor, the outsider, women, prayer, and the Holy Spirit. From the angelic announcements at the beginning to the Emmaus road at the end, Luke shows Jesus as the Savior of the world.
What are the major themes of Luke?
Luke explores themes including Salvation for All, Holy Spirit, Prayer, Compassion, Joy. These themes shape the meaning and context of Luke 5:23.
What translation should I read Luke 5:23 in?
Luke 5:23 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize Luke 5:23?
Luke 5:23 reads (KJV): “Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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