Every verse below is quoted word for word from the King James Version, beginning with the father forgive them bible verse itself.
Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Luke 23:34 (KJV)
This is the father forgive them bible verse at its source. Spoken while nails held him to the wood, it shows that forgiveness was Jesus’ first response to cruelty, not a reluctant last one. Read it slowly and let its calm surprise you.
And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 7:60 (KJV)
Stephen echoes his Lord with his final breath. The father forgive them bible verse did not stay a one-time event; it became a pattern for the first martyrs and a model for anyone who suffers for doing right.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
Matthew 6:12 (KJV)
In the Lord’s Prayer, receiving forgiveness and giving it are joined in a single line. The father forgive them bible verse on the cross shows what that looks like when the debt is as heavy as it can be.
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
Matthew 6:14 (KJV)
Jesus teaches the same pattern he later lives. A heart that releases others is a heart open to receive mercy, which is why this teaching sits so close to the father forgive them bible verse.
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
Matthew 6:15 (KJV)
This is a sober warning, not a threat to the weary. Holding on to bitterness blocks the very grace we need, and Luke 23:34 is the example of letting go in the hardest moment.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
Ephesians 4:32 (KJV)
Paul gives the reason we can forgive: we have been forgiven first. Anyone who studies the father forgive them bible verse will notice that Christ’s cross is both the example and the source of that mercy.
Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
Colossians 3:13 (KJV)
The standard here is Christ himself. If the father forgive them bible verse means anything for daily life, it means we do not wait for an apology before choosing to forgive a quarrel.
But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.
Luke 6:27-28 (KJV)
Before Calvary, Jesus taught that we should pray for those who mistreat us. At the cross he did exactly that, which is why the father forgive them bible verse is often called his teaching in action.
Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
1 Peter 2:23 (KJV)
Peter describes the calm behind the father forgive them bible verse. Jesus did not retaliate because he trusted the Father to judge fairly, and that trust frees us from the need to settle every score.
Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:12 (KJV)
Written centuries earlier, this verse says the suffering servant would make intercession for transgressors. Many readers see the father forgive them bible verse as that intercession spoken aloud.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:9 (KJV)
The prayer on the cross opens the door; confession walks through it. This verse reassures anyone drawn to the father forgive them bible verse that God’s forgiveness is reliable, not grudging.
As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psalms 103:12 (KJV)
No distance is greater than east from west, and that is how far God sets our wrongs from us. It is the comfort behind every father forgive them bible verse study.
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mark 11:25 (KJV)
Prayer and forgiveness belong together. When you pray the father forgive them bible verse for someone who hurt you, you are doing exactly what this verse describes.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Romans 5:8 (KJV)
The forgiveness of the cross was offered while we were still sinners, not after we cleaned ourselves up. That timing is the quiet heart of the father forgive them bible verse.
And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.
Luke 23:43 (KJV)
Within the same hour as the father forgive them bible verse, Jesus forgives a dying man beside him. Mercy was not a single gesture but the atmosphere of the whole scene.
And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Acts 3:17 (KJV)
Peter, speaking to the crowd, recognizes the ignorance Jesus named on the cross. It shows how the father forgive them bible verse shaped the earliest preaching of the gospel.
The father forgive them bible verse is Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. It is only a sentence, yet it carries more weight than most sermons. Jesus is being executed, soldiers are dividing his clothes, and the first words recorded from the cross are not a complaint or a curse but a request for mercy on behalf of the very people causing his pain.
Notice the shape of the prayer. He speaks to the Father, he asks for forgiveness rather than punishment, and he gives a reason, that they know not what they do. Each part is worth pausing over, and later sections of this study take them one at a time. For now, simply hear how plain and direct the father forgive them bible verse is.
To feel the father forgive them bible verse, picture the setting. Luke tells us that a great crowd followed Jesus to a place called Calvary, where he was crucified between two criminals. Soldiers, rulers and onlookers were all present, some mocking, some weeping, some simply doing their job. Into that noise Jesus speaks a prayer, and the people closest to him hear every word.
Crucifixion was designed to humiliate and to silence. A man on a cross was expected to scream, to blame, or to fall quiet in despair. Instead Jesus uses his strained breath to pray for his tormentors. When people ask why the father forgive them bible verse is so often quoted, the answer begins with this contrast between what the moment demanded and what Jesus chose.
Readers often ask who the word them includes. In the immediate scene it points to the soldiers carrying out the crucifixion, but the surrounding verses show a wider circle: rulers who scoffed, a crowd who watched, and leaders who had pushed for the execution. The father forgive them bible verse does not name a single group, which leaves room for every kind of involvement.
Some thoughtful readers go further and say that, in the larger story, all of humanity is included, since the cross was for sinners. Romans 5:8 supports that view. You do not need to settle the question to benefit from the prayer, but it is worth knowing that the father forgive them bible verse has been read in both narrow and wide ways for centuries.
The reason Jesus gives is easy to misread. He is not saying the soldiers were innocent or that cruelty does not matter. He is naming a real gap in their understanding: they did not grasp who was on the cross. The father forgive them bible verse acknowledges that gap and asks the Father to treat it with mercy rather than with swift justice.
Peter later uses similar language in Acts 3:17, telling the crowd that they acted in ignorance, and then he calls them to repent. That sequence matters. Ignorance is the ground for mercy, but it is not a permanent excuse. The father forgive them bible verse opens the door, and the gospel invites people to walk through it into real change.
We live in a world where public anger is easy and private grudges are common. Against that backdrop, the father forgive them bible verse offers a rare alternative. It shows that a person can be wronged in the worst way and still pray for the one who did it. That is not weakness; it is a different kind of strength, and many believers find it quietly challenging.
The verse matters for another reason too. It tells wounded people that forgiveness is part of the character of God, not a rule invented to burden them. When you read the father forgive them bible verse, you are seeing what God is like, and that picture is the best argument for trying to be like him.
One of the most striking features of the father forgive them bible verse is its timing. Nobody had apologized. The soldiers were still gambling for clothes, and the crowd was still jeering. Jesus asked for mercy before any sign of sorrow appeared. This does not mean that forgiveness removes the need for repentance, but it does show that grace goes first.
For a modern reader this can be both comforting and disturbing. Comforting, because God’s mercy toward us did not wait for our best behavior. Disturbing, because it suggests we may be asked to release others before they ever say sorry. A good companion to this thought is our page on Bible verses about forgiveness.
Only a few chapters earlier in Matthew, Jesus teaches his followers to pray, Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. The father forgive them bible verse is that line put into practice. The teacher does not ask anything from his disciples that he is not willing to do himself, and he does it in the most painful circumstances imaginable.
This link helps ordinary believers. If the Lord’s Prayer ever feels like a pleasant formula, the cross reminds us what the words can cost. Reading the father forgive them bible verse alongside Matthew 6:12-15 turns a familiar prayer into a practical commitment, one that shapes how we respond to a harsh word at work or a betrayal in the family.
In Luke 6, Jesus tells his listeners to love their enemies, bless those who curse them and pray for those who treat them badly. Those commands can sound impossible until we see him obey them. The father forgive them bible verse is the clearest example of loving an enemy, because it happens in real time, under real pain, with real opponents in front of him.
If you are struggling with someone who has hurt you, try a small step. Pray the words of Luke 23:34 for that person, even if you can only mean them a little. You can find more guidance in our collection of Bible verses about loving your enemies, which pairs well with the father forgive them bible verse.
It is important to say clearly what the father forgive them bible verse does not teach. It does not tell victims to pretend nothing happened, to return to an unsafe situation, or to avoid seeking justice where wrongdoing is a crime. Jesus himself was honest about the evil being done to him; he simply refused to answer it with hatred.
Forgiveness in the Bible is mainly about releasing a debt, giving up the right to pay back harm for harm. Trust, however, is rebuilt slowly and only when safety is real. Anyone who has suffered abuse or serious betrayal should feel free to take time, seek wise counsel and treat the father forgive them bible verse as a direction to grow toward, not a demand to hurry.
The verse ends with a small, almost easy-to-skip detail: they parted his raiment, and cast lots. While Jesus prays, the soldiers carry on with business as usual. The father forgive them bible verse is spoken in a setting of ordinary callousness, and the details remind us that forgiveness is offered inside real life, not in a quiet sanctuary.
There is also a quiet fulfillment here. Psalm 22 describes people dividing garments and casting lots, written long before the crucifixion. By placing the father forgive them bible verse next to this detail, Luke invites us to see that Jesus’ mercy and the fulfillment of Scripture happen side by side, and that nothing about that day was out of God’s hands.
Acts 7 records the death of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. As the stones struck him, he prayed, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. The echo of the father forgive them bible verse is unmistakable, and Luke likely wrote the two scenes to be read together. A follower of Jesus had learned to pray as his Lord prayed.
This is encouraging, because it shows the prayer can be learned. Stephen was not a divine figure; he was an ordinary servant filled with the Spirit. When we study the father forgive them bible verse, we should remember that the same Spirit helps believers today to forgive in situations that feel far beyond their own strength.
The prayer from the cross is not only an example but also the ground of our own pardon. Paul writes that God commended his love toward us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. The father forgive them bible verse is spoken from the very place where that love was being poured out, which gives the words extra depth.
For anyone who feels too far gone, this is good news. If Jesus could pray for those who drove the nails, the invitation to receive mercy is not narrow. You may want to read about the cross in Scripture and how it shapes the way Christians understand forgiveness, starting with the father forgive them bible verse.
Some hurts are so deep that the father forgive them bible verse can feel like a door that will not open. If that is you, you are not alone, and you are not failing. Many people begin by simply asking God to make them willing to be willing. That honest prayer is a real start, and God does not mock small beginnings.
Pray in short, plain sentences. Name what happened. Tell God how angry or sad you are. Then, when you are ready, say the words of Luke 23:34 over the person who hurt you. It may take weeks or months, and that is acceptable. The father forgive them bible verse is a path, and every honest step along it counts.
The hardest forgiveness is often close to home. A parent’s harsh words, a sibling’s betrayal or a friend’s broken promise can sting more than a stranger’s cruelty. The father forgive them bible verse reminds us that Jesus forgave people who had no relationship with him, so extending grace to people we know and love is surely within reach, even when it is difficult.
Try making forgiveness a habit before the large wounds come. Letting small offenses go each day strengthens the muscle you will need later. Our study of Bible verses about forgiveness and love offers more help, and the father forgive them bible verse gives the quiet pattern behind all of it.
Some readers come to the father forgive them bible verse not because someone hurt them, but because they hurt others and cannot forgive themselves. The prayer speaks to that need as well. If Jesus asked the Father to forgive those who were actively wronging him, how much more will God forgive a person who is sorry and honest about what they did.
First John 1:9 promises that God is faithful and just to forgive when we confess. Accepting that promise is an act of faith, not pride. Take your regret to God, make amends where you can, and let the father forgive them bible verse remind you that the cross was big enough for exactly the thing that is weighing on you.
One simple way to use the father forgive them bible verse is to turn it into a daily prayer. Begin by naming a person or situation, then pray, Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do, and add whatever else is in your heart. You can pray it for those who wronged you, and you can pray it for those who are far from God.
Some people keep a short list on a card and pray through it each morning. Others use the father forgive them bible verse as a breath prayer when a painful memory returns. However you use it, keep it honest. God is not asking for a perfect feeling, only a sincere willingness to hand the matter over to him.
Children understand unfairness very early, so they are ready to hear about forgiveness. Telling the story of Luke 23:34 in simple words, that Jesus asked God to forgive the people who hurt him, gives them a model for the playground and the home. The father forgive them bible verse is short enough to memorize.
Parents can add a gentle question: who do you want to forgive today? Let the child answer honestly without pressure. Over time, the father forgive them bible verse becomes a family phrase that makes apologies and reconciliations easier. It is also a good reminder for adults, who need the same lesson more often than they admit.
Scholars have noted that a few ancient manuscripts leave out this sentence in Luke, which leads some readers to wonder about its place. Most English Bibles, including the King James Version, keep it, and the theme fits well with Stephen’s prayer in Acts and with Jesus’ teaching elsewhere. Anyone studying the father forgive them bible verse can compare notes on Blue Letter Bible for the textual details.
Another common question is whether the prayer was answered. Many Christians point to the conversion of a centurion at the cross and to the thousands who believed after Pentecost, as signs that the father forgive them bible verse was heard. You do not need to resolve every question to take the prayer to heart and to practice it.
Luke places the father forgive them bible verse just before the exchange with the two criminals crucified beside Jesus. One joins the crowd in mocking him; the other admits his guilt and asks to be remembered. Jesus answers the second man with a promise of paradise. The same mercy that covered the soldiers is now offered to a dying thief, and it is accepted.
This matters because it shows how forgiveness works in practice. Mercy is offered widely, yet it must be received. The father forgive them bible verse sets the tone of the whole scene, and the thief’s request shows what receiving looks like: honesty, humility and trust. Anyone who feels unworthy can learn a great deal from this short conversation.
A common worry is that forgiveness cancels justice. The Bible does not present them as enemies. Peter writes that Jesus committed himself to him that judgeth righteously, which means he trusted God to handle what he would not take into his own hands. The father forgive them bible verse fits that picture: mercy is requested, and fairness is left with the Father.
For modern readers, this means we can forgive and still support courts, boundaries and consequences where they are right. We are simply freed from revenge. Reflecting on the father forgive them bible verse helps us separate the desire for safety and fairness, which is good, from the desire to see someone suffer, which poisons the one who carries it.
Christians through the centuries have turned to the father forgive them bible verse in their darkest hours. Believers facing persecution have prayed it for their accusers, and ordinary families have prayed it after betrayals and losses. It has a long record of being usable, not merely admirable, and that history can encourage anyone who thinks the prayer is too hard.
You do not have to feel brave to pray it. The earliest Christians learned from Stephen, and each generation has learned from those before. Taking your place in that line, even with a trembling voice, joins you to a very old and very hopeful tradition built on the father forgive them bible verse.
Forgiveness is not always a single event. After you pray the father forgive them bible verse, feelings of anger may return, sometimes months later. That does not mean the first act was false. It often means that healing is still moving through layers. Return to the prayer, and be patient with the pace of your own heart.
Many people find that a few supports help: talking with a pastor or counselor, writing honestly in a journal, and spending time in Scripture. You may also like our page on Bible verses about forgiveness and healing, which fits closely with the father forgive them bible verse and the slow work of recovery.
The cross scene in Luke is surprisingly full of speech. Jesus speaks to the Father, to the thief beside him, and later to his own spirit, saying, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. Taken together, the sayings reveal a person who stayed relational to the end, and the father forgive them bible verse is the first and most generous of them.
It is worth reading all of these words in one sitting. Each one shows a different side of the same character: mercy for enemies, hope for the repentant, and trust in the Father. When you read them together, the father forgive them bible verse stops being an isolated line and becomes part of a portrait that is steady, humble and astonishingly kind.
If you read the Gospel accounts slowly, you may also notice what is missing. There is no curse, no threat and no demand for revenge. The silence around those things is as striking as the words themselves. The father forgive them bible verse stands out all the more because of the restraint that surrounds it.
Study turns into life when it changes habits. After reading the father forgive them bible verse, choose one concrete action: write a note to someone you need to forgive, pray for a difficult colleague, or let go of an old resentment you have carried too long. Small obedience grows faster than big resolutions.
Finally, give thanks. The prayer from the cross was for you as well, and the forgiveness it opened is available today. To keep exploring, visit Bible verses about God’s mercy and let the father forgive them bible verse lead you into a life marked by grace toward others.
If the father forgive them bible verse spoke to you, these related collections are a natural next step: Bible verses about forgiveness, Bible verses about grace and forgiveness, Bible verses about loving your enemies, Bible verse about Jesus crucified, Bible verses about the cross, Bible verses about God’s mercy, Bible verses about forgiveness and healing, Bible verses about the prayer of confession, Bible verses about compassion, Bible verses about the blood of Jesus.
To study these verses in more depth, try Bible Gateway, Bible Hub, Bible Study Tools, Blue Letter Bible.
The father forgive them bible verse is found in Luke 23:34, during the crucifixion of Jesus. It reads, Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. It is one of the seven sayings of Jesus from the cross and is unique to the Gospel of Luke.
In the scene, them points first to the soldiers carrying out the crucifixion and to the people who mocked him. Many Christians also read the father forgive them bible verse as extending to everyone whose sin made the cross necessary. Either way, the prayer is about mercy for those who wronged him.
The father forgive them bible verse is a prayer, not a declaration that no repentance is needed. Peter’s sermons in Acts show that people were still called to turn to God. The prayer opens the door to mercy, and the gospel invites everyone to receive it by faith.
Begin with honesty: tell God what happened and how it hurt. Then pray the words of Luke 23:34 for the person, even if you only mean them partly. The father forgive them bible verse is a direction to grow in. Seek safety, counsel and time where the wrong was serious.
Yes. In Acts 7:60, Stephen prayed, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge, as he was being stoned. The wording is different, but the spirit matches the father forgive them bible verse, showing that followers of Jesus can learn to forgive even in the face of violence.
Most translations include Luke 23:34, though some place it in brackets or footnotes because a few early manuscripts omit it. The King James Version includes it in full. Readers who want to explore the textual history can consult a study site such as Blue Letter Bible alongside the father forgive them bible verse.
