Luke 17

Luke · Chapter 17

Luke 17:2

1Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.3Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.4And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.5And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.7But which of you, having a servant plowing or feeding cattle, will say unto him by and by, when he is come from the field, Go and sit down to meat?8And will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup, and gird thyself, and serve me, till I have eaten and drunken; and afterward thou shalt eat and drink?9Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.10So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.11And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.12And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:13And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.14And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.15And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,16And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.17And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?18There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.19And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.20And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:21Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.22And he said unto the disciples, The days will come, when ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man, and ye shall not see it.23And they shall say to you, See here; or, see there: go not after them, nor follow them.24For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.25But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.26And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.27They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.28Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;29But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.30Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.31In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.32Remember Lot’s wife.33Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.34I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.35Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.36Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.37And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

King James Version (1769)

Other translations

VerseKJVBSBASV
2It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.It were well for him if a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, rather than that he should cause one of these little ones to stumble.

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
It is betterλυσιτελεῖlusiteleiG3081
to profit

λυσιτελεῖ (lusitelei) λυσιτελέω, -ῶ (λυσιτελής, useful, prop., τὰ τέλη λύων), [in LXX: Tob.3:6, Sir.20:10, 14 29:11 * ;] 1. prop., to indemnify, pay expenses. 2. to be useful, to profit; usually impers., λυσιτελεῖ, it profits: with, dative of person(s), before εἰ . . . ἤ, Luk.17:2.† (AS)

for himαὐτῷautōG0846
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; …

ifεἰeiG1487G
if

εἰ (ei) εἰ, conjunctive particle, used in conditions and in indirect questions. I. Conditional, if; 1. with indic, expressing a general assumption; (a) pres.: before indic, pres., Mat.11:14, Rom.8:25, al.; before imperat., Mrk.4:23 9:22, Jhn.15:18, 1Co.7:9, al.; before fut. indic., Luk.16:31, Rom.8:11, al.; before pf. or aor., with negation in apodosis, Mat.12:26, Rom.4:14, al.; similarly, before impf., Luk.17:6, Jhn.8:39; before quæst., Mat.6:23, Jhn.5:47 7:23 8:46, 1Pe.2:20; (b) fut.: Mat.26:33, 1Pe.2:20; (with) pf.: Jhn.11:12, Rom.6:5, al.; …

a stoneλίθοςlithosG3037
stone

λίθος (lithos) λίθος, -ου, ὁ (and, in Att.., of precious stones, ἡ.) [in LXX for אֶבֶן, Gen.11:3, al.; λ. τίμιος, for פָּז, Psa.19:10 21:3, Pro.8:19, al. ;] a stone: Mat.4:6, al.; pl., Mat.3:9, al.; at the entrance of a tomb, Mat.27:60, 66 28:2, Mrk.15:46 16:3-4, Luk.24:2, Jhn.11:38, 32 11:41 20:1; λ. μυλικός, Luk.17:2, cf. Rev.18:21; of building stones, Mat.21:42, [44], Mat.24:2, Mrk.12:10 13:1-2, Luk.19:44 20:17-18 21:5-6 Act.4:11, 1Pe.2:7; metaphorically, of Christ, λ. ἀκρογωναῖος, ἐκλεκτός, ἔντιμος, 1Pe.2:6 (LXX); λ. ζῶν, 1Pe.2:4; προσκόμματος, 1Pe.2:8, Rom.9:33; of Christians, λ. ζῶντες, 1Pe.2:5; of pr …

of a millμυλικὸςmulikosG3457
millstone

μυλικός (mulikos) μυλικός, -ή, -όν (μύλη, a mill), of a mill: λίθος μ., Luk.17:2.† (AS)

is hungπερίκειταιperikeitaiG4029
to surround

περίκειμαι (perikeimai) περί-κειμαι [in LXX: Ep. Je 24, 58, 4Ma.12:3 * ;] 1. to lie round about: μύλος, λίθος (RV, were hanged about), Mrk.9:42, Luk.17:2; νεφος μαρτύρων, Heb.12:1. 2. to have around one, be clothed with: Act.28:20; figuratively, ἀσθένειαν, Heb.5:2.† (AS)

aroundπερὶperiG4012
about

περί (peri) περί, prep. with genitive, accusative (in cl. also with dative; cf. M, Pr., 105f.), with radical sense round about (as distinct from ἀμφί, on both sides). I. C. genitive, 1. of place, about (poët.). …

neckτράχηλονtrachēlonG5137
neck

τράχηλος (trachēlos) τράχηλος, -ου, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for צַוַּאר, also forעֹרֶף, etc. ;] the neck: Mat.18:6, Mrk.9:42, Luk.17:2; ἐπιπεσεῖν ἐπὶ τὸν τ., to embrace (Gen.46:29), Luk.15:20, Act.20:37. Metaphorical, ὑποθεῖναι τὸν ἑαυτοῦ τ. (for similar phrase in π., see Zorell, see word), Rom.16:4; ἐπιθεῖναι ζυγὸν ἐπὶ τὸν τ., Act.15:10.† (AS)

of himαὐτοῦautouG0846
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; …

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. …

he has been thrownἔρριπταιerriptaiG4496
to throw off

ῥιπτέω (rhipteō) ῥιπτέω, see: ῥίπτω. ῥίπτω and (Act.22:23) ῥιπτέω (strengthened form; see Veitch, see word ῥίπτω, fin.), [in LXX chiefly for שָׁלַךְ hi. ;] 1. to throw, cast, hurl: with accusative of thing(s), Mat.27:5, Act.27:19, 29; with accusative of person(s), Mat.15:30, Luk.4:35; pass., Luk.17:2; ptcp., ἐριμμένοι, cast down, prostrate (Polyb., al.): Mat.9:36; of garments, to throw off (for flight, Eur., Xen., al.; ὅπλα, 1Ma.5:43; so EV in Act.22:23, but see infr.). 2. = ῥιπτάζω, to shake, toss, throw about: τ. ἱμάτια, Act.22:23 (EGT, Page, Rackham, in l; Field, Notes, 136; but see supr.).† (AS)

intoεἰςeisG1519
toward

εἰς (eis) εἰς, prep. with accusative, expressing entrance, direction, limit, into, unto, to, upon, towards, for, among (Lat. in, with accusative). I. Of place. 1. After verbs of motion; (a) of entrance into: Mat.8:23, 9:7, Mrk.1:45, Luk.2:15, 8:31, al.; (b) of approach, to or towards: Mrk.11:1, Luk.6:8, 19:28, Jhn.11:31, 21:6, al.; (with) before pl. and collective nouns, among: Mrk.4:7, 8:19, 20, Luk.11:49, Jhn.21:23, al.; …

seaθάλασσανthalassanG2281
sea

θάλασσα (thalassa) θάλασσα, -ης, ἡ [in LXX chiefly for יָם ;] the sea: Mat.23:15, Mrk.11:23, Luk.21:25, Rom.9:27, Heb.11:12, Jas.1:6, Ju 13, Rev.7:1, al.; τὸ πέλαγος τῆς θ. (see Tr., ut infr.), Mat.18:6; ὁ οὐρανὸς κ. ἡ γῆ κ. ἡ θ., of the whole world, Act.4:24, al. (Hag.2:7); θ. ὑαλίνη, Rev.4:6 15:2; of the Mediterranean, Act.10:6, 32 17:14; of the Red Sea, ἐρυθρὰ θ., Act.7:36, 1Co.10:1-2, Heb.11:20; of an inland lake (as Heb. יָם), θ. τ. Γαλιλαίας, Mat.4:18 15:29, Mrk.1:16 7:31; τ. Τιβεριάδος, Jhn.21:1; τ. Γ. τ. T., Jhn.6:1; of the same, simply ἡ θ., Mat.4:15, Mrk.2:13, al …

thanἢēG2228
or

ἤ (ē) ἤ, disjunctive and comparative particle (Bl., §36, 12; 77, 11); 1. disjunctive, or; (a) between single words: Mat.5:17 Mrk.6:56, Luk.2:24, Jhn.6:19, Rom.1:21, al.; (b) before a sentence expressing a variation, denial or refutation of a previous statement, frequently in interrog. form: Mat.7:4, 9 Mrk.12:14, Luk.13:4, Rom.3:29 6:3 9:21, 1Co.6:9, 16 9:6, 2Co.11:7; ἤ . . . ἤ, either . . . or, Mat.6:24, Luk.16:13, 1Co.14:6; …

thatἵναinaG2443
in order that/to

ἵνα (hina) ἵνα, I. adverb (poët., Hom., al.), 1. of place, where, whither. 2. of circumstance, when. II. Conjunction, 1. prop., final, denoting purpose or end (cl.), that, in order that, usually the first word in the clause, but sometimes (cl. also) preceded by an emphatic word (Act.19:4, Rom.11:31 (?), Gal.2:10, al.); (a) with optative (so in cl. after historic tenses): after a pres., Eph.1:17 (but WH, mg., subjc.; see Burton, §225, Rem., 2); …

he may cause to stumbleσκανδαλίσῃskandalisēG4624
to cause to stumble

σκανδαλίζω (skandalizō) σκανδαλίζω (σκάνδαλον), [in LXX: Dan LXX 11:41 (כָּשַׁל ni.), Sir.9:5 (Sir.35:15 32:15) (יָקֹשׁ ho.) Sir.23:8 (also in Aq., Sm., Th., and in Psa Sol Psa.16:7; not elsewhere, except NT and eccl.)* ;] prop., to put a snare or stumbling-block in the way; in NT always metaphorically of that which hinders right conduct or thought, to cause to stumble: with accusative of person(s), Mat.5:29-30 17:27 18:6, 8-9 Mrk.9:42-43, 45 9:47 Luk.17:2, Jhn.6:61, 1Co.8:13. Pass., to be made to stumble, to stumble: Mat.11:6 13:21, 57 15:12 24:10 26:31, 33, Mrk.4:17 6:3 14:27, 29, Luk.7:23, Jhn.16:1, Rom.14:21 (WH …

little [ones]μικρῶνmikrōnG3398
little

μικρόν (mikron) little, small, short, lesser little, small, in size quantity, etc. Mt. 13:32; Lk. 12:32; Rev. 3:8; small, little in age, young, not adult, Mk. 15:40; little, short in time, Jn. 7:33; μικρόν, i.e. χρόνον, a little while, a short time, Jn. 13:33; μετὰ μικρόν, after a little while, a little while afterwards, Mt. 26:73; little in number, Lk. 12:32; small, little in dignity, low, humble, Mt. 10:42; 11:11; μικρόν, as an adverb, little, a little, Mt. 26:39

of theseτούτωνtoutōnG3778
this/he/she/it

οὗτος (ohutos) οὗτος, αὕτη, τοῦτο, genitive, τούτου, ταύτης, τούτου, [in LXX chiefly for זֹאת ,זֶה ;] demonstr. pron. (related to ἐκεῖνος as hic to ille), this; 1. as subst., this one, he; (a) absol.: Mat.3:17, Mrk.9:7, Luk.7:44, 45, Jhn.1:15, Act.2:15, al.; expressing contempt (cl.), Mat.13:55, 56, Mrk.6:2, 3, Jhn.6:42, al.; εἰς τοῦτο, Mrk.1:38, Rom.14:9; μετὰ τοῦτο (ταῦτα; V. Westc. on Jhn.5:1), Jhn.2:12 11:7, al.; (b) epanaleptic (referring to what precedes): Mat.5:19, Mrk.3:35, Luk.9:48, Jhn.6:46, Rom.7:10, al.; …

one.ἕνα.henaG1520
one

εἷς (ehis) εἷς ιά, ἕν, genitive ἑνός, μιᾶς, ἑνός, cardinal numeral, one; 1. one, as opposite to many: Mat.25:15, Rom.5:12, 1Co.10:8, al.; as subst., Rom.5:15, Eph.2:14; id. with genitive partit., Mat.5:19, al.; before ἐκ (ἐξ), Mrk.14:18, Jhn.6:8, al.; metaphorically, of union and concord, Jhn.10:30 17:11, Rom.12:4-5, Php.1:27; ἀπὸ μιᾶς (B1., § 44, 1), Luk.14:18; with neg., εἷς. . . οὐ (μή), more emphatic than οὐδείς, no one, none (cl.), Mat.5:18 10:29, Luk.11:46 12:6. 2. Emphatically, to the exclusion of others; …

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