Luke 12:51
What does Luke 12:51 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:51 means
Jesus asks if they think He came to give peace on earth and answers no, but division. He does not deny the ultimate peace He brings with God, but He exposes the near-term effect of His mission: it reveals hearts and separates allegiances. The gospel creates a line that even family ties cannot erase. This sobers expectations—following Christ is not a route to universal approval. Truth may disturb before it heals. Loyalty to Jesus may cost relational harmony, yet it is the dividing line of eternal significance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
KJV
King James Version · 1611Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Think ye that I am come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Is it your opinion that I have come to give peace on earth? I say to you, No, but division:
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Think ye that peace I came to give in the earth? no, I say to you, but rather division;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Think ye, that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, no; but separation.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Think ye that I have come to give peace in the earth? Nay, I say to you, but rather division:
Context
With His suffering ahead, Jesus clarifies that the immediate impact of His mission will not be social calm. The next verses will illustrate the division within households—five divided, three against two—making the cost concrete. After showing this inevitable split, Jesus will turn to the crowds and rebuke them for reading weather but missing the spiritual significance of His presence.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 24:7
For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; and there shall be famines and earthquakes in divers places.
- Zechariah 11:14
Then I cut asunder mine other staff, even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
- Zechariah 11:7
So I fed the flock of slaughter, verily the poor of the flock. And I took unto me two staves; the one I called Beauty, and the other I called Bands; and I fed the flock.
- Matthew 10:34
Think not that I came to send peace on the earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
- Luke 12:49
I came to cast fire upon the earth; and what do I desire, if it is already kindled?
- Zechariah 11:10
And I took my staff Beauty, and cut it asunder, that I might break my covenant which I had made with all the peoples.
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