Luke 12:24
What does Luke 12:24 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:24 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:24 means
Jesus invites them to consider the ravens. They neither sow nor reap, have no storerooms or barns, yet God feeds them. If He sustains birds, how much more valuable are people made in His image and called His own? The comparison is not a call to passivity but to confidence. Ravens live within God’s providence; disciples can labor without anxiety because the same providence undergirds them. The lesson shifts trust from human control to divine care, loosening the grip of worry and reminding them that their worth to God far exceeds that of the creatures He faithfully maintains.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!
KJV
King James Version · 1611Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Consider the ravens, that they sow not, neither reap; which have no store-chamber nor barn; and God feedeth them: of how much more value are ye than the birds!
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Give thought to the ravens; they do not put seeds into the earth, or get together grain; they have no store-houses or buildings; and God gives them their food: of how much greater value are you than the birds!
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Consider the ravens, that they sow not, nor reap, to which there is no barn nor storehouse, and God doth nourish them; how much better are ye than the fowls?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Consider the ravens, for they sow not, neither do they reap, neither have they storehouse nor barn, and God feedeth them. How much are you more valuable than they?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Consider the ravens, that they sow not nor reap; which have neither storehouse nor granary; andGod feeds them. How much better are ye than the birds?
Context
This concrete example advances Jesus’ case against worry. Having affirmed that life surpasses its supplies, He shows how God’s creation testifies to His regular care. The reference to barns connects back to the rich fool, implicitly contrasting anxious hoarding with trusting dependence. Next, Jesus will expose the utter futility of anxiety by showing it cannot add to a person’s lifespan.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 12:7
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
- Job 35:11
Who teacheth us more than the beasts of the earth, And maketh us wiser than the birds of the heavens?
- Luke 12:30
For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: but your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
- 1 Kings 17:1
And Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the sojourners of Gilead, said unto Ahab, As Jehovah, the God of Israel, liveth, before whom I stand, there shall not be dew nor rain these years, but according to my word.
- Job 38:41
Who provideth for the raven his prey, When his young ones cry unto God, Andwander for lack of food?
- Psalms 145:15
The eyes of all wait for thee; And thou givest them their food in due season.
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