Devine Scripture

Luke 11:7

What does Luke 11:7 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 11:7 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 11:7 means

The friend inside, disturbed from sleep, gives a curt refusal. His justification centers on the established order of his household: the door is shut, and his children are already in bed with him. This portrays a reasonable reluctance to be inconvenienced, emphasizing the social awkwardness and difficulty of the situation, making the eventual granting of the request all the more impactful.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he, from inside the house, would say in answer, Do not be a trouble to me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; it is not possible for me to get up and give to you?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he from within answering may say, Do not give me trouble, already the door hath been shut, and my children with me are in the bed, I am not able, having risen, to give to thee.

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he from within should answer and say: Trouble me not; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot rise and give thee.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and he within answering should say, Do not disturb me; the door is already shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise up to give [it] thee?

Context

This verse illustrates the initial resistance encountered by the persistent petitioner in Jesus' parable. It follows the urgent request for bread and precedes the explanation of why the initial refusal will eventually be overcome. This serves to heighten the contrast, highlighting that even human reluctance can be overcome by persistence, foreshadowing God's greater willingness to answer prayer.

v.6for a friend of mine is come to me from a journey, and I have nothing to set before him;

v.7This passage

v.8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 13:25

    When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, open to us; and he shall answer and say to you, I know you not whence ye are;

  • Luke 7:6

    And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:

  • Matthew 25:10

    And while they went away to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage feast: and the door was shut.

  • Galatians 6:17

    Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus.

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