Luke 22:37 · Bible study
Luke 22:37 Commentary: Numbered with the Transgressors
Greek · 11 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Study page on Luke 22:37 exploring how Jesus's identification with sinners fulfills Isaiah 53:12 and completes his mission.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:12 to show that his crucifixion between criminals fulfills prophecy and completes his redemptive work.
- Key words: τελεσθῆναι (to be accomplished), ἀνόμων (lawless), ἐλογίσθη (he was reckoned), τέλος ἔχει (has an end).
- Main debate: Whether Jesus’s identification with sinners involves imputed sin or merely external association.
- Theological theme: Atonement through substitution, the innocent one counted with the guilty so the guilty can be counted righteous.
- Best use: Demonstrates Jesus’s fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and the heart of the gospel: the sinless one standing in the sinner’s place.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
For I tell you that this Scripture must be fulfilled in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For what is written about Me is reaching its fulfillment.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
For I tell you that this which is written must still be fulfilled in me: ‘He was counted with transgressors.’ For that which concerns me is being fulfilled.”
KJV King James Version 1769
For I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned among the transgressors: for the things concerning me have an end.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfilment.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
for I say to you, that yet this that hath been written it behoveth to be fulfilled in me: And with lawless ones he was reckoned, for also the things concerning me have an end.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
for I say unto you, that this that is written must yet be accomplished in me, And he was reckoned with [the] lawless: for also the things concerning me have an end.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
For I say to you that this that is written must yet be fulfilled in me. And with the wicked was he reckoned. For the things concerning me have an end.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Porque os digo, que es necesario que se cumpla todavía en mí aquello que está escrito: Y con los malos fué contado: porque lo que está escrito de mí, cumplimiento tiene.
Porque eu vos digo, que ainda é necessário que se cumpra em mim aquilo que está escrito: E ele foi contado com os malfeitores. Porque aquilo que é sobre mim tem que se cumprir.
Car, je vous le dis, il faut que cette parole qui est écrite s’ accomplisse en moi: Il a été mis au nombre des malfaiteurs. Et ce qui me concerne est sur le point d’ arriver.
Denn ich sage euch: Es muß noch das auch vollendet werden an mir, was geschrieben steht: “Er ist unter die Übeltäter gerechnet.” Denn was von mir geschrieben ist, das hat ein Ende.
Want Ik zeg u, dat nog dit, hetwelk geschreven is, in Mij moet volbracht worden, namelijk: En Hij is met de misdadigen gerekend. Want ook die dingen, die van Mij geschreven zijn, hebben een einde.
Poiché io vi dico che questo che è scritto deve esser adempito in me: Ed egli è stato annoverato tra i malfattori. Infatti, le cose che si riferiscono a me stanno per compiersi.
Albowiem powiadam wam, iż się jeszcze musi to, co napisano, wypełnić na mnie, mianowicie: I z złoczyńcami policzony jest; boć te rzeczy, które świadczą o mnie, koniec biorą.
ибо сказываю вам, что должно исполниться на Мне и сему написанному: и к злодеям причтен. Ибо то, что о Мне, приходит к концу.
我告訴 你們， 經上寫著說：『 他被列 在 罪犯之中。』這話 必 應驗 在 我身上；因為 那關係 我 的事 必然成就。」
For I say to you that these words will be put into effect in me, And he was numbered among the evil-doers: for what has been said in the Writings about me has an end.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 22:37
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that this verse directly quotes Isaiah 53:12 and applies it to Jesus's crucifixion. Barnes stresses that Jesus was 'reckoned among the transgressors' in the sense of being treated as a criminal, though he himself was innocent and undefiled (Hebrews 7:26). Calvin emphasizes that being ranked with the ungodly was essential for redemption, without this shame, he could not be the Redeemer. Gill pushes further into imputation: in the legal place of his people, Jesus was accounted not only a sinner but sin itself, and treated accordingly by divine justice. Vincent's Word Studies notes that the closing phrase 'have an end' (τέλος ἔχει) is synonymous with being accomplished or finally settled, the prophecies reach their goal. The shared conviction is clear: Isaiah's suffering servant finds his fulfillment in the historical crucifixion of Jesus between two criminals (Luke 23:32), and this identification is not incidental but central to his atoning work.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Jesus died in the company of criminals, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy about the suffering servant, and this identification with sinners is central to his atoning mission.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identification with transgressors | Jesus was literally crucified between criminals and publicly treated as a lawbreaker. | Catholics, Orthodox, and many Protestants hold that this is a real identification with sinners but do not all define 'imputation' identically. Some traditions (Reformed) stress that sin was legally imputed to Christ; others (e.g., Wesleyan) emphasize his solidarity with humanity rather than a forensic transfer. |
| Fulfillment of prophecy | All traditions affirm that Isaiah 53:12 is fulfilled in Jesus’s crucifixion. | The point of emphasis differs: some highlight the servant’s substitutionary suffering (penal substitution), while others stress the servant’s role as the ultimate intercessor or representative of Israel. |
| Meaning of 'have an end' (τέλος ἔχει) | The phrase indicates that the events concerning Jesus are reaching completion or fulfillment. | Whether the emphasis is on the termination of his earthly mission (the end of his life) or on the accomplishment of God’s purposes (fulfillment of the plan), most see both dimensions present. |
Historical & Cultural Context
These words are spoken during the Last Supper, after Jesus has predicted his betrayal (Luke 22:21-22) and Peter’s denial (22:34). The disciples have just been told to sell their cloaks and buy swords (22:36), a command they misunderstand, producing two swords and a claim that they are ready (22:38). Into this confusion Jesus quotes Isaiah 53:12, anchoring the coming events in Scripture.
Roman crucifixion was a punishment reserved for slaves, rebels, and the worst criminals. To die between two 'lawless ones' (ἀνόμων, G0459, those outside the law, whether Gentile or Jewish violators) was the ultimate social and religious disgrace. The prophecy from Isaiah originally described the suffering servant who would 'bear the sins of many and make intercession for the transgressors.' Luke’s surrounding context reinforces the theme: Jesus has earlier said that 'all things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed' (Luke 18:31). Now at the table, he declares that this final piece of the script is about to happen, his life is reaching its appointed end.
The disciples could not yet grasp that the servant’s path ran through utter identification with sinners, nor that the 'end' (τέλος) of these events was not mere termination but accomplishment. In the following hours, Jesus would be arrested as a criminal, tried before both Jewish and Roman authorities, and executed between two thieves. Luke 23:32 records: 'There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.' The verse was being fulfilled even as he spoke.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Luke 22:37. The Greek text is stable across the critical editions. Minor translation differences appear in the rendering of the final clause: some versions read 'have an end' (ASV, KJV) while others read 'is reaching its fulfillment' (BSB) or 'are being fulfilled' (WEB), but these reflect interpretive choice rather than manuscript variation.
Reception History
This verse has been treasured across Christian traditions as a direct link between Isaiah’s suffering servant and the historical Jesus. Early church fathers like Justin Martyr and Irenaeus cited the connection to defend the unity of Old and New Testaments. During the Reformation, commentators such as Calvin and Wesley emphasized the substitutionary logic, Jesus counted with sinners so sinners could be counted righteous. Modern scholarship continues to explore how this text shapes Gospel Christology, with particular attention to the Lukan theme of divine necessity (δεῖ). The verse also appears in hymns and prayers during Holy Week, especially in Passion narratives and Good Friday liturgies, where Christ's identification with the guilty is celebrated as the ground of hope.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Prophecy Must Be Fulfilled, Jesus insists that Scripture cannot fail. What God decreed through Isaiah stands, even when the route passes through shame and death.
- Numbered with the Lawless, He takes his place among criminals, not because of his own sin but because he carries the sins of others. This is the heart of substitution.
- The End Is Not Defeat, 'For that which concerns me is being fulfilled.' The cross is not an interruption; it is the finish line of a plan set in motion before creation.
Five-point outline
- The Scripture Is the Anchor, Jesus quotes Isaiah to explain what is about to happen. His suffering is not random but predicted.
- The cup of Identification, Being 'reckoned with transgressors' means more than proximity; it is a legal and relational stance. He takes the sinner’s place.
- The disciples’ confusion, They still think in terms of swords and kingdoms. Jesus redirects them to the actual shape of the kingdom: suffering service.
- ‘Must yet be accomplished’, The word δεῖ (it is necessary) shows divine necessity. No other path could save.
- ‘Have an end’, τέλος ἔχει: the prophecies and Christ’s work are reaching completion, not an end in the sense of extinction but a goal (Vincent). The cross is a terminus full of purpose.
Illustration hooks
- The innocent prisoner: A wrongly convicted person who bears the sentence meant for another, he walks through the same gate to execution, but for someone else’s crime.
- The doctor who contracts a disease: To cure, he enters the condition of the patient, not guilty, but willingly counted with the sick.
- A leader taking blame for a team: The manager who steps into the penalty that the team incurred, absorbing it so they can start again.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If Jesus was sinless, why did he die with criminals? Was God punishing him?
- Does being 'numbered with transgressors' mean Jesus became a sinner?
- How does this verse help me when I feel stained by my own failures?
Leading a Discussion
Jesus speaks these words on the night of his arrest. He pulls from Isaiah’s prophecy to explain that the cross is not a tragic accident but a planned fulfillment. The disciples are about to see their Master treated as a lawbreaker, and this verse helps them (and us) understand that this treatment is the center of his mission, not a contradiction of it.
Discussion questions
- Read Isaiah 53:12. What does it mean that the servant was 'counted with the transgressors'? How does Luke 22:37 connect that ancient prophecy to the events of Good Friday?
- Jesus says this Scripture 'must yet be accomplished' in him. Why does he use the word 'must'? What does that tell you about God’s plan for salvation?
- The Greek word for 'transgressors' (ἀνόμων) means 'lawless ones.' Jesus was innocent, so why would he choose to be placed among such people? What does this say about his love for the guilty?
- Vincent notes that τέλος ἔχει (have an end) means 'the prophecy is fulfilled; the things concerning me are finally settled.' How does knowing that Jesus completed his mission affect your confidence in your own salvation?
- In the surrounding passage, the disciples misunderstand Jesus’s talk about swords (Luke 22:38). How do we sometimes misinterpret what Jesus is doing in our lives because we expect a different kind of rescue?
- How does being 'numbered with transgressors' connect to the idea of substitution, Jesus taking our place? How might this shape the way you think about your own sin?
- If you felt looked down on or counted among the wrong crowd, what comfort can you draw from the fact that Jesus willingly entered that space?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Isaiah 53:12 | Therefore I will give him a portion with the great. He will divide the plunder with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was counted with the transgressors; yet he bore the sins of many and made intercession for the transgressors. |
| Matthew 26:54 | How then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that it must be so?” |
| Matthew 26:56 | But all this has happened that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples left him and fled. |
| Mark 15:27 | With him they crucified two robbers, one on his right hand, and one on his left. |
| Luke 18:31 | He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all the things that are written through the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be completed. |
| Luke 22:22 | The Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man through whom he is betrayed!” |
| Luke 23:32 | There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death. |
| Luke 24:44 | He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms concerning me must be fulfilled.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
10 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke highlights the contrast between Jesus, whose mission is nearly finished, and the disciples, whose work is just beginning. Since Christ is about to be crucified as a criminal, this is no time for the disciples to be arguing among themselves about status or precedence.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes draws a sharp line between Christ's actual innocence and his treatment: God never regarded him as a sinner, yet allowed him to be handled like one. The prophecies about his suffering among criminals, he adds, are not merely approaching but guaranteed to be fully carried out.
Calvin's Commentaries Reformed 1564
Calvin argues that Christ being counted among criminals was not a shameful accident but a necessary part of his office, fulfilling Isaiah's prophecy. This humiliating event should not shock believers; instead it confirms that Christ took humanity's guilt as the Redeemer. The fulfillment of prophecy strengthens faith rather than causing alarm.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools points out that the quotation from Isaiah proves the sword was not for Christ's defense, contradicting a careless assumption. It clarifies that "for" means "for indeed," and "have an end" refers to the approaching telos, fulfilled the next day when Jesus cried "Tetelestai."
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva note stresses that the prophecies written about Christ must be completely fulfilled, even to being counted among criminals. This necessity is not optional: everything written about him reaches its appointed end and accomplishment in his suffering and death.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill emphasizes that Jesus was counted among transgressors not only by association with criminals but by legal imputation, bearing the sins of his people and being treated as sin itself. Gill also stresses that all Old Testament prophecies, types, and God's eternal decrees concerning Christ's suffering were now reaching their complete and final fulfillment.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that "the things concerning me" refers specifically to what God had decreed and the prophets had written. He stresses that "have an end" means these events are not merely approaching but hastening rapidly toward their conclusion.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees the disciples' dispute about rank as a natural but misguided response to Jesus' impending departure. He emphasizes that Jesus establishes a genuine aristocracy in His kingdom, but one defined by humility and service rather than domination. The two swords episode shows the disciples still unable to grasp the spiritual nature of the coming conflict.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent highlights a double meaning in the Greek phrasing. The words point both to the prophecy being completed and to the matters concerning the speaker being finally settled, beyond any further controversy.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley explains that when the verse says these things "have an end," it does not mean they will cease but rather that they are now drawing to a close and are about to be fully accomplished. He connects this imminent fulfillment directly to the prediction in Isaiah 53:12.