Luke 19:2

And there was a man named Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, who was very wealthy.

BSB

Parallel translations

4 additional translations

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KJV

And, behold, there was a man named Zaccheus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

ASV

And behold, a man called by name Zacchæus; and he was a chief publican, and he was rich.

YLT

and lo, a man, by name called Zaccheus, and he was a chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich,

DBT

And behold, [there was] a man by name called Zacchaeus, and he was chief tax-gatherer, and he was rich.

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On this verse

Zacchæus in the sycamore, the blind man by the way side: upon the one our Lord waits to show mercy, upon the other He confers the great glory of abiding in his house. The chief among the Publicans is here fitly introduced. For who will hereafter despair of himself, now that he attains to grace who gained his living by fraud. And he too moreover a rich man, that we may know that not all rich men are covetous.

Ambrose of Milan· Catena Aurea by Aquinas, 397patristic

Related commentary

And behold there was a man named Zacchaeus,.... Or זכאי, "Zaccai", a name in use among the Jews; see Ezr 2:9. We often read of רבי זכאי, "Rabbi Zaccai", or "Zacchaeus" (a), and very frequently of R. Jochanan ben Zaccai, a famous doctor that lived in the times of Christ, and even till after the destruction of Jerusalem. The Jews also make mention of one R. Zaccai, a prince of the seed of David the king, in later times (b).

John Gill· Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748)reformed

Zaccheus - It is not unlikely that this person was a Jew by birth, see Luk 19:9; but because he had engaged in a business so infamous, in the eyes of the Jews, he was considered as a mere heathen, Luk 19:7. Chief among the publicans - Either a farmer-general of the taxes, who had subordinate collectors under him: or else the most respectable and honorable man among that class at Jericho. He was rich - And therefore the more unlikely to pay attention to an impoverished Messiah, preaching a doctrine of universal mortification and self-denial.

Adam Clarke· Commentary on the Bible, 1832evangelical

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Rabbinic commentary

How the Hebraic tradition has read this verse — and Marcus Brown’s own reading of it.

Cross-references

7 linked verses

The verses this one reaches7

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, He saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Matthew got up and followed Him.
Luke 18:24–27
Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!
John 12:21
They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and requested of him, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.”
1 Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.
Matthew 5:46
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 18:17
If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, regard him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.
2 Chronicles 17:5–6
So the LORD established the kingdom in his hand, and all Judah brought him tribute, so that he had an abundance of riches and honor.