^13:1Now¹ there were some present on that occasion who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.²^13:2He³ answered them, “Do you think these Galileans were worse sinners⁴ than all the other Galileans, because they suffered these things? ^13:3No, I tell you! But unless you repent,⁵ you will all perish as well!⁶^13:4Or those eighteen who were killed⁷ when the tower in Siloam fell on them,⁸ do you think they were worse offenders than all the others who live in Jerusalem?⁹^13:5No, I tell you! But unless you repent¹⁰ you will all perish as well!”¹¹

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Footnotes

1 Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
2 This is an event that otherwise is unattested, though several events similar to it are noted in Josephus ( 2.9.2–4 [2.169–177]; 13.13.5 [13.372–73], 18.3.1–2 [18.55–62]; 18.4.1 [18.85–87]). It would have caused a major furor.
3 Grk “And he.” Here καί (kai) has been translated as “now” to indicate the transition to a new topic.
4 Jesus did not want his hearers to think that tragedy was necessarily a judgment on these people because they were worse sinners.
5 Jesus was stressing that all stand at risk of death, if they do not repent and receive life.
6 Or “you will all likewise perish,” but this could be misunderstood to mean that they would perish by the same means as the Galileans. Jesus’ point is that apart from repentance all will perish.
7 Grk “on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them.” This relative clause embedded in a prepositional phrase is complex in English and has been simplified to an adjectival and a temporal clause in the translation.
8 Unlike the previous event, when the tower in Siloam fell on them, it was an accident of fate. It raised the question, however, “Was this a judgment?”
9 For location see ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; .
10 Jesus’ point repeats v. 3. The circumstances make no difference. All must deal with the reality of what death means.
11 Grk “similarly.”

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

There were some present at that very time who told him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And he answered them, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered in this way? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish. Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”

NIVNew International Version (2011)

Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

CSBChristian Standard Bible

At that time, some people came and reported to him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And he responded to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were more sinful than all the other Galileans because they suffered these things? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well. Or those eighteen that the tower in Siloam fell on and killed—do you think they were more sinful than all the other people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all perish as well.”

NLTNew Living Translation

About this time Jesus was informed that Pilate had murdered some people from Galilee as they were offering sacrifices at the Temple. “Do you think those Galileans were worse sinners than all the other people from Galilee?” Jesus asked. “Is that why they suffered? Not at all! And you will perish, too, unless you repent of your sins and turn to God. And what about the eighteen people who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them? Were they the worst sinners in Jerusalem? No, and I tell you again that unless you repent, you will perish, too.”

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

Now at the same time some had come to tell him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And he answered and said to them, “Do you think that these Galileans were sinners worse than all the Galileans, because they suffered these things? No, I tell you, but unless you repent you will all perish as well! Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them—do you think that they were sinners worse than all the people who live in Jerusalem? No, I tell you, but unless you repent, you will all perish as well!”

KJV 1900King James Version

There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.

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