Devine Scripture

Luke 11:50

What does Luke 11:50 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 11:50 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 11:50 means

This verse delivers a severe pronouncement: the shedding of the blood of "all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world," will be "required of this generation." This staggering statement indicates that the cumulative guilt for humanity's rejection and murder of God's messengers throughout history will culminate and be accounted for in Jesus' contemporary generation, due to their ultimate rejection of the Messiah Himself.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

that the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

So that punishment may come on this generation for the blood of all the prophets which was given from the earliest days;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

that the blood of all the prophets, that is being poured forth from the foundation of the world, may be required from this generation;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

That the blood of all the prophets which was shed from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

that the blood of all the prophets which has been poured out from the foundation of the world may be required of this generation,

Context

This verse presents a profound and sobering declaration, stemming from God's wisdom in sending prophets and apostles. It follows the explanation that this generation, through its actions, consents to the works of their fathers. This statement establishes the immense spiritual accountability that falls upon them, leading directly to the specific examples of martyred prophets in the subsequent verse.

v.49Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send unto them prophets and apostles; and some of them they shall kill and persecute;

v.50This passage

v.51from the blood of Abel unto the blood of Zachariah, who perished between the altar and the sanctuary: yea, I say unto you, it shall be required of this generation.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Genesis 9:5

    And surely your blood, the blood of your lives, will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it: and at the hand of man, even at the hand of every man’s brother, will I require the life of man.

  • Isaiah 26:21

    For, behold, Jehovah cometh forth out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity: the earth also shall disclose her blood, and shall no more cover her slain.

  • Jeremiah 51:56

    for the destroyer is come upon her, even upon Babylon, and her mighty men are taken, their bows are broken in pieces; for Jehovah is a God of recompenses, he will surely requite.

  • 2 Kings 24:4

    and also for the innocent blood that he shed; for he filled Jerusalem with innocent blood: and Jehovah would not pardon.

  • Psalms 9:12

    For he that maketh inquisition for blood remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the poor.

  • Jeremiah 7:29

    Cut off thy hair, O Jerusalem, and cast it away, and take up a lamentation on the bare heights; for Jehovah hath rejected and forsaken the generation of his wrath.

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