Luke 10:20
What does Luke 10:20 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 10:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 10:20 means
Jesus warns them not to take primary delight in the spirits’ submission but to rejoice that their names are written in heaven. He redirects joy from external power to eternal assurance of salvation and relationship with God. Being 'written in heaven' means belonging to God, secure in Christ. This priority keeps them humble and focused on eternal realities rather than signs. Jesus teaches that lasting joy comes from knowing one’s standing with God, not from temporary demonstrations of authority.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Nevertheless in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Do not be glad, however, because you have power over spirits, but because your names are recorded in heaven.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862but, in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice rather that your names were written in the heavens.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But yet rejoice not in this, that spirits are subject unto you: but rejoice in this, that your names are written in heaven.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Yet in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subjected to you, but rejoice that your names are written in the heavens.
Context
This verse follows the promise of authority and serves as Jesus’ corrective emphasis: miraculous success is secondary to eternal relationship. It transitions to a moment where Jesus rejoices in the Spirit and thanks the Father for revealing truth to the humble, deepening the themes of revelation, humility, and salvation that follow in verses 21–24.
v.19Behold, I have given you authority to tread upon serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall in any wise hurt you.
v.20This passage
v.21In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou didst hide these things from the wise and understanding, and didst reveal them unto babes: yea, Father; for so it was well-pleasing in thy sight.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Isaiah 4:3
And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem;
- Revelation 3:5
He that overcometh shall thus be arrayed in white garments; and I will in no wise blot his name out of the book of life, and I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
- Revelation 13:8
And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him, every one whose name hath not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb that hath been slain.
- Revelation 20:12
And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne; and books were opened: and another book was opened, which isthe bookof life: and the dead were judged out of the things which were written in the books, according to their works.
- Exodus 32:32
Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written.
- Psalms 69:28
Let them be blotted out of the book of life, And not be written with the righteous.
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