Devine Scripture

Luke 12:18

What does Luke 12:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 12:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 12:18 means

The man resolves to demolish his barns and build larger ones to store all his grain and goods. The plan is ambitious, but entirely self-directed. He aims to consolidate and protect his assets, assuming the future is his to manage. The repeated emphasis on “my” and “all” exposes an illusion of control. He treats the harvest as a personal possession to be kept, not a trust to be used for God’s purposes and others’ good. Successful strategy, apart from submission to God, can be the smooth path to ruin. The issue is not planning itself, but planning without reference to the Lord.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And 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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my grain and my goods.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And he said, This I will do: I will take down my store-houses and make greater ones, and there I will put all my grain and my goods.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he said, This I will do, I will take down my storehouses, and greater ones I will build, and I will gather together there all my products and my good things,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he said: This will I do: I will pull down my barns and will build greater: and into them will I gather all things that are grown to me and my goods.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And he said, This will I do: I will take away my granaries and build greater, and there I will lay up all my produce and my good things;

Context

From inner question to concrete decision, the man’s course is set. He will enlarge capacity to contain his surplus, expecting this will secure his life. The next verse shows where this trajectory leads: a self-addressed benediction of ease and pleasure, revealing what he thinks abundance is for. God’s sudden intervention will then break in and judge this self-satisfied vision.

v.17and he reasoned within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have not where to bestow my fruits?

v.18This passage

v.19And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, be merry.

Cross references

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

  • James 4:15

    For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall both live, and do this or that.

  • Luke 12:21

    So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

  • Luke 18:4

    And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

  • James 3:15

    This wisdom is not a wisdom that cometh down from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.

  • Psalms 17:14

    From men by thy hand, O Jehovah, From men of the world, whose portion is inthislife, And whose belly thou fillest with thy treasure: They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

  • Luke 18:6

    And the Lord said, Hear what the unrighteous judge saith.

Related questions readers ask

Keep reading

Want to dig deeper? Explore Luke 12

Hand-picked devotionals, topical studies, and pastoral answers that draw on Luke 12.

Keep exploring

Follow this verse across Scripture

Topics, devotionals, original-language word studies, and figures connected to Luke 12:18.

Browse every hub

BibleTopicsBible answersDevotionalsFamous passagesWord studiesPeoplePlacesVerses for…Reading plansCommentary