Luke 12:3
What does Luke 12:3 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:3 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:3 means
Jesus extends the point: whispered words and secret conversations will be brought into the open. What is said in darkness will meet the light; what is murmured in private will be proclaimed. The image of housetops suggests public proclamation across a community. His aim is not to frighten into silence, but to call for speech that can bear God’s scrutiny. This strengthens integrity and prepares disciples for a day when the gospel they now learn quietly will be announced widely. It warns against manipulative, double-tongued talking and encourages forthright, faithful communication that needs no cover.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Wherefore whatsoever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light; and what ye have spoken in the ear in the inner chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So, whatever you have said in the dark, will come to men's hearing in the light, and what you have said secretly inside the house, will be made public from the house-tops.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because whatever in the darkness ye said, in the light shall be heard: and what to the ear ye spake in the inner-chambers, shall be proclaimed upon the house-tops.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For whatsoever things you have spoken in darkness shall be published in the light: and that which you have spoken in the ear in the chambers shall be preached on the housetops.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890therefore whatever ye have said in the darkness shall be heard in the light, and what ye have spoken in the ear in chambers shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
Context
Having exposed the futility of hiding hypocrisy, Jesus addresses hidden speech. This naturally leads into the coming section on fear: if all is revealed, live honestly before God rather than fearing human reactions. The thought flow moves from the uncovering of secrets to the courage needed when witness provokes hostility. Next, He tells His “friends” not to fear those who can only kill the body, shifting from hiddenness to bold confession sustained by proper fear of God.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 12:36
And I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
- Jude 1:14
And to these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
- Matthew 10:27
What I tell you in the darkness, speak ye in the light; and what ye hear in the ear, proclaim upon the house-tops.
- Job 24:14
The murderer riseth with the light; He killeth the poor and needy; And in the night he is as a thief.
- Ecclesiastes 10:20
Revile not the king, no, not in thy thought; and revile not the rich in thy bedchamber: for a bird of the heavens shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell the matter.
- Ecclesiastes 10:12
The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.
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