Luke 3:20added this also to them all, that he shut up John in prison.
The setting
Machaerus fortress, Jordan, ~29 AD. John the Baptist is chained in Herod's dungeon, a hilltop prison overlooking the Dead Sea...
The emotion here: heartbroken at injustice but recording God's unfolding plan
The original word
prosetheto (προσέθετο) — he added this on top, piled this crime upon all his others
Why it matters
Machaerus fortress still exists in Jordan — archaeologists have found the probable location of John's cell
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 3:20
Luke emphasizes this imprisonment was just one MORE evil deed in Herod's long list — John wasn't his only victim
Common misconceptionPeople think good people shouldn't suffer consequences, but John's imprisonment shows that doing right often costs everything — and that's exactly what God expects.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 3:20
Bible Genome reading
Luke 3:20 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 3:20 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is grieving, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include persecution, injustice. Notable phrases: shut up John in prison; added this also.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same grieving
“By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you…”
— Genesis 3:19
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from helping me, and from the words of my groaning?”
— Psalms 22:1
“They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing.”
— Psalms 22:18
“for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;”
— Romans 3:23
Your reflection
What does Luke 3:20 mean to you, today?
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