Luke 12:26
What does Luke 12:26 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:26 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:26 means
Jesus concludes that if anxious striving cannot do even the least—adding a moment to life—then it is irrational to worry about the rest. The point is not to belittle needs but to expose worry’s powerlessness. Relinquishing the illusion of control makes room for trust in God’s sovereign care. This frees disciples to engage daily responsibilities with calm hearts, knowing outcomes are in wiser hands. It is an invitation to dependence, not to indifference, redirecting attention from imagined futures to faithful living under the Father’s watchful eye.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?
KJV
King James Version · 1611If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901If then ye are not able to do even that which is least, why are ye anxious concerning the rest?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949If, then, you are not able to do even that which is least, why are you troubled about the rest?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862If, then, ye are not able for the least--why for the rest are ye anxious?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752If then ye be not able to do so much as the least thing, why are you solicitous for the rest?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890If therefore ye cannot [do] even what is least, why are ye careful about the rest?
Context
The reasoning reaches a pivot: human inability makes anxiety unreasonable. Having dismantled worry’s claim, Jesus turns to the beauty of lilies as a positive display of God’s lavish provision. The next verses deepen assurance by contrasting God’s clothing of transient grass with His commitment to clothe His children, gently rebuking little faith and moving toward the call to seek the kingdom.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 7:13
Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
- 1 Peter 5:7
casting all your anxiety upon him, because he careth for you.
- Psalms 39:6
Surely every man walketh in a vain show; Surely they are disquieted in vain: He heapeth up riches, and knoweth not who shall gather them.
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