Luke 12

Luke · Chapter 12

Luke 12:24

1In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.3Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.4And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.5But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.6Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?7But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.8Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:9But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.10And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.11And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:12For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.13And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.14And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?15And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.16And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:17And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?18And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.20But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?21So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.22And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.23The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?25And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?26If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?27Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.28If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?29And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.31But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.32Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.33Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.34For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.35Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;36And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.37Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.38And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.39And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.41Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?42And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season?43Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.44Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath.45But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken;46The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.47And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.48But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.49I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?50But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!51Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:52For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.53The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.54And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.55And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.56Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?57Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?58When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.59I tell thee, thou shalt not depart thence, till thou hast paid the very last mite.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
24Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!

In context

Who is speaking and to whom, what is happening, when and where, and why it matters, each with its sources. Coming with the context cards.

Original Greek words

EnglishGreekSay itStrong'sMeaning
do considerκατανοήσατεkatanoēsateG2657
to observe

κατανοέω (katanoeō) κατα-νοέω, -ῶ [in LXX for נָבַט hi., רָאָה, etc. ;] to take note of, perceive, consider carefully: Act.7:31-32; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.7:3, Luk.6:41 12:24, 27 20:23, Act.11:6 27:39, Rom.4:19; with accusative of person(s), Heb.3:1 10:24, Jas.1:23-24 (on the distinction bet. κ. and νοέω simplex, see M, Pr., 117).† (AS)

ravensκόρακαςkorakasG2876
raven

κόραξ (korax) κόραξ, -ακος, ὁ [in LXX for עֹרֵב ;] a raven: Luk.12:24.† (AS)

thatὅτιhotiG3754G
that/since: that

ὅτι (hoti) ὅτι, conjc. (prop. neut. of ὅστις). I. As conjc, introducing an objective clause, that; 1. after verbs of seeing, knowing, thinking, saying, feeling: Mat.3:9 6:32 11:25, Mrk.3:28, Luk.2:49, Jhn.2:22, Act.4:13, Rom.1:13 8:38 10:9, Php.4:15, Jas.2:24, al.; elliptically, Jhn.6:46, Php.3:12, al. 2. After εἶναι (γίνεσθαι): defining a demonstr. or of person(s) pron., Jhn.3:19 16:19, Rom.9:6, 1Jn.3:16 al.; with pron. interrog., Mat.8:27, Mrk.4:41, Luk.4:36, Jhn.4:22 al.; id. elliptically, Luk.2:49, Act.5:4, 9, al.; …

notοὐouG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

they sowσπείρουσινspeirousinG4687
to sow

σπείρω (speirō) σπείρω [in LXX chiefly for זָרַע ;] to sow (seed): absol., Mat.6:26 13:3-4, 18 25:24, 26, Mrk.4:3-4, Luk.8:5 12:24, Jhn.4:36, 2Co.9:10; with accusative of thing(s), Mat.13:24, 27 13:37, 39, Mrk.4:32, Luk.8:5, 1Co.15:36-37; before εἰς, Mat.13:22, Mrk.4:18; ἐν, Mat.13:24, 31; ἐπί, with genitive, Mrk.4:31; ἐπί, with accusative, Mat.13:20, 23, Mrk.4:16, 20; παρά, with accusative, Mat.13:19. Metaphorical: 1Co.9:11 15:42-44, Gal.6:7-8, Jas.3:18; in proverbial sayings, Mat.25:24, 26, Luk.19:21-22, Jhn.4:37, 2Co.9:6, Gal.6:7; in interpretation of parables, Mat.13:19-23 Mrk.4:14-20 † (AS)

norοὐδὲoudeG3761
nor

οὐδέ (oude) οὐδέ, negative particle, related to μηδέ as οὐ to μή. I. As conjc., and not, also not, neither, nor: Mat.6:15, Luk.16:31, Rom.4:15, al.; οὐ . . . οὐδέ, Mat.5:15 10:24, Mrk.4:22, Luk.6:43, 44, Jhn.6:24, Act.2:27, Rom.2:28, al. (see Bl., §77, 10). II. As adv., not even: Mat.6:29, Mrk.6:31, Luk.7:9, 1Co.5:1; οὐδὲ εἷς, Act.4:32, Rom.3:10" (LXX) . (AS)

they reapθερίζουσινtherizousinG2325
to reap

θερίζω (therizō) θερίζω (θέρος), [in LXX chiefly for קָצַר ;] to reap: Mat.6:26, Luk.12:24, Jas.5:4; figuratively, Mat.25:24, 26, Luk.19:21-22, Jhn.4:36-38, 2Co.9:6, Gal.6:7, 9, Rev.14:15; with accusative, τ. σαρκικά, 1Co.9:11; φθοράν, ζωὴν αἰώνιον, Gal.6:8; τ. γῆν, Rev.14:16.† (AS)

to themοἷςhoisG3739
which

ὅς (hos, hē) ὅς, ἥ, ὅ, the postpositive article (ἄρθρον ὑποτακτικόν). I. As demonstr. pron. = οὗτος, ὅδε, this, that, also for αὐτός, chiefly in nom.: ὅς δέ, but he (cf. ἦ δὲ ὅς, frequently in Plat.), Mrk.15:23, Jhn.5:11; ὃς μὲν . . . ὃς δέ, the one . . . the other, Mat.21:35, 22:5, 25:15, Luk.23:33, Act.27:14, Rom.14:5, 1Co.11:21, 2Co.2:18, Ju 22; neut., ὃ μὲν . . . ὃ δέ, the one . . . the other, some . . . some, Mat.13:8, 23, Rom.9:21; ὃς (ὃ) μὲν . . . (ἄλλος (ἄλλο)) . . . ἕτερος, Mrk.4:4, Luk.8:5, 1Co.12:8-10; οὓς μέν, absol., 1Co.12:28; ὃς μὲν . . . ὁ δέ, Rom.14:2. …

notοὐκoukG3756
no

οὐ (ou) οὐ, before a vowel with smooth breathing οὐκ, before one with rough breathing οὐχ (but improperly οὐχ ἰδού, Act.2:7, WH, mg.; cf. WH, Intr., §409; M, Pr., 44, 244), [in LXX for אֵין ,אַיִן ,לֹא ;] neg. particle, not, no, used generally with indic, and for a denial of fact (cf . μή); 1. absol. (accented), οὔ, no: Mat.13:29 Jhn.1:21 21:5; οὒ οὕ, Mat.5:37 Jas.5:12. …

there isἔστινestinG1510
you are

εἶ (ei) εἰμί, with various uses and significations, like the English verb to be. I. As substantive verb. 1. Of persons and things, to be, exist: Act.17:28, Jhn.1:1, 8:58, 17:5, al; ὁ ὢν καὶ ὁ ἦν (for past ptcp.), Rev.1:4, 8, 4:8, 11:17, 16:5 (see Swete, Ap., 5; M, Pr., 228); τὰ (μὴ) ὄντα, Rom.4:17, 1Co.1:28. 2. Of times, events, etc., to be, happen, take place: Mat.24:3, Mrk.14:2, 15:42, Luk.21:23, Jhn.4:6, 23, 5:10, al. …

a storehouseταμεῖονtameionG5009
inner room

ταμεῖον (tameion) ταμεῖον (late syncopated form of cl. ταμιεῖον; see M, Pr., 44 f.; Bl., § 6, 5; Thackeray, Gr., 63 ff.; Deiss., BS, 182 f.), -ον, τό, [in LXX chiefly for חֶדֶר ;] 1. a treasury (Thuc., al). 2. a store-chamber (Arist., Xen.; Deu.28:8): Luk.12:24. 3. an inner chamber (Xen., Hell., v, 4, 5 Isa.26:20, al.): Mat.6:6 24:26, Luk.12:3.† (AS)

nor [is]οὐδὲoudeG3761
nor

οὐδέ (oude) οὐδέ, negative particle, related to μηδέ as οὐ to μή. I. As conjc., and not, also not, neither, nor: Mat.6:15, Luk.16:31, Rom.4:15, al.; οὐ . . . οὐδέ, Mat.5:15 10:24, Mrk.4:22, Luk.6:43, 44, Jhn.6:24, Act.2:27, Rom.2:28, al. (see Bl., §77, 10). II. As adv., not even: Mat.6:29, Mrk.6:31, Luk.7:9, 1Co.5:1; οὐδὲ εἷς, Act.4:32, Rom.3:10" (LXX) . (AS)

barn —ἀποθήκη,apothēkēG0596
storehouse

ἀποθήκη (apothēkē) ἀπο-θήκη, -ης, ἡ (ἀποτίθημι), [in LXX for אוֹצָר, טֶנֶא, etc. ;] a storehouse, granary: Mat.3:12 6:26 13:30, Luk.3:17 12:18, 24.† (AS)

andκαὶkaiG2532
and

καί (kai) καί, conj., and I. Copulative. 1. Connecting single words; (a) in general: Mat.2:18, 16:1, Mrk.2:15, Luk.8:15, Heb.1:1, al. mult.; repeated before each of the terms in a series, Mat.23:23, Luk.14:21, Rom.7:12, 9:4, al. (b) connecting numerals (WM, §37, 4): Jhn.2:20, Act.13:20; (with) joining terms which are not mutually exclusive, as the part with the whole: Mat.8:33, 26:59, Mrk.16:17, Act.5:29, al. 2. Connecting clauses and sentences: Mat.3:12, Act.5:21, al. mult.; esp. …

GodθεὸςtheosG2316
God

θεός (theos) θεός, -οῦ, ὁ, ἡ (Act.19:37 only; see M, Pr., 60, 244), late voc., θεέ (Mat.27:46; cf. Deu.3:24, al.), [in LXX chiefly for אֱלֹהִים, also for אֵל and other cognate forms, יהוה, etc. ;] a god or deity, God. 1. In polytheistic sense, a god or deity: Act.28:6, 1Co.8:4, 2Th.2:4, al.; pl., Ac. 14:11 19:26, Gal.4:8, al. 2. Of the one true God; …

feedsτρέφειtrepheiG5142
to feed

τρέφω (trephō) τρέφω [in LXX for חָיָה hi., גָּדַל pi., אָכַל hi., etc. ;] 1. to make to grow, bring up, rear (cl.; 1Ma.3:33 1Mac 11:39): Luk.4:16 (T, WH, mg., ἀνατ-) 2. to nourish, feed: Mat.6:26 25:37, Luk.12:24, Act.12:20, Rev.12:6, 14; of a mother, to give suck, Luk.23:29; of animals, to fatten (Jer.26:21 (Jer.46:21), figuratively, Jas.5:5 (cf. ἀνα-, ἐκ-, ἐν-τρέφω).† (AS)

them;αὐτούς·autousG0846
it/s/he

αὐτός (autos) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

How muchπόσῳposōG4214
how much/many?

πόσος (posos) πόσος, -η, -ον adj. of number, magnitude, degree, etc., how much, how great, how many: Mat.6:23, 2Co.7:11; of time, Mrk.9:21; neut., absol., Luk.16:5, 7; dative, πόσῳ, adverbially, how much, Mat.12:12; id. before μᾶλλον, Mat.7:11 10:25, Luk.11:13 12:24, 28, Rom.11:12, 24, Phm 16, Heb.9:14; π. χείρονος τιμωρίας, Heb.10:29; pl., Mat.15:34 16:9-10 27:13, Mrk.6:38 8:5, 19-20 15:4, Luk.15:17, Act.21:20.† (AS)

moreμᾶλλονmallonG3123G
more

μᾶλλον (mallon) μάλα adv., [in LXX for אֲבָל, 3Ki.1:43, Dan LXX 10:21, al.; compar. for מ, Num.13:32 (31), al.; μᾶλλον ἠ (מ), Gen.19:9, al.; superlat., 2Ma.8:7, 4Ma.4:22 12:9 15:4 ;] I. Pos., very, very much, exceedingly (cl.; LXX ut supr.; in NT its place is taken by λίαν, σφόδρα, etc.). II. Compar., μᾶλλον. 1. Of increase, more; with qualifying words: πολλῷ, Mrk.10:48, Luk.18:39, Rom.5:15, 17, Php.2:12, al.; πόσῳ, Luk.12:24, Rom.11:12, al.; τοσούτῳ . . . ὅσῳ, Heb.10:25. …

you yourselvesὑμεῖςhumeisG4771
you

σέ (se) αὐτός, -ή, -ό, determinative pron., in late Gk. much more frequently than in cl. (WM, 178f.; Jannaris, HGG, §1399). 1. Emphatic (so always in nom. exc. when preceded by the art., see infr., iii); (1) self (ipse), expressing opposition, distinction, exclusion, etc., αὐ. ἐκχυθήσεται, Luk.5:37; αὐ. ἐγινώσκεν, Jhn.2:25; αὐ.ὑμεῖς, Jhn.3:28; καὶ αὐ. ἐγώ, Rom.15:14; αὐ. Ἰησοῦς, Jhn.2:24; αὐ. καὶ οἱ μετ᾽ αὐτοῦ, Mrk.2:25; ὑμεῖς αὐ., Mrk.6:31; esp. (as freq in cl.) αὐ. ὁ, Mat.3:4, Mrk.6:17, Jhn.16:27, 1Th.3:11, al.; in late Gk., sometimes weakened, ἐν αὐτῇ τ. ὥρᾳ, in that hour, Luk.10:21 (M, Pr., 91; …

are valuableδιαφέρετεdiaphereteG1308
to spread/surpass

διαφέρω (diapherō) δια-φέρω [in LXX for שְׁנָא (שְׁנָא (Dan.7:1-28 only); 1Ki.17:39, Est.3:13, al. ;] 1. trans., (a) to carry through: before διά, Mrk.11:16; (b) to carry about, spread abroad: pass., Act.13:49 27:27. 2. Intrans., (a) to differ: τὰ διαφέροντα, Rom.2:18, Php.1:10 (R, mg., but see infr.); impers., διαφέρει, it makes a difference, it matters: Gal.2:6; (b) to excel: with genitive Mat.6:26 10:31 12:12, Luk.12:7, 24, 1Co.15:41, Gal.4:1; τὰ διαφέροντα, Rom.2:18, Php.1:10 (R, txt.; for discussion and reff. see ICC on Ro, Phi, ll. with).† (AS)

birds?πετεινῶν;peteinōnG4071
bird

πετεινός (peteinos) πετεινός, -ή, -όν (πέτομαι), [in LXX chiefly for עוֹף ;] in trag., Ion. and late writers, winged, flying; as subst., τὸ π., a winged fowl, a bird: pl., Mat.6:26 8:20 13:4, 32, Mrk.4:4, 32, Luk.8:5 9:58 12:24 13:19, Act.10:12 11:6, Rom.1:23, Jas.3:7.† (AS)

Words and meanings from STEPBible data (Tyndale House, Cambridge, CC BY 4.0). The capitalized syllable is the stressed one.