Luke 12:53
What does Luke 12:53 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:53 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:53 means
Jesus lists the painful splits: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law. The repetition underscores mutual opposition within the closest relationships. The point is not to valorize conflict but to warn that following Him may provoke it. Love for Christ may be judged as betrayal by family members who reject Him. Knowing this helps disciples endure rejection without surprise, clinging to the greater family God forms.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.
KJV
King James Version · 1611The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901They shall be divided, father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against her mother; mother in law against her daughter in law, and daughter in law against her mother in law.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949They will be at war, the father against his son, and the son against his father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862a father shall be divided against a son, and a son against a father, a mother against a daughter, and a daughter against a mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752The father shall be divided against the son and the son against his father: the mother against the daughter and the daughter against her mother: the mother-in-law against the daughter-in-law and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890father against son, and son against father; mother against daughter, and daughter against mother; a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.
Context
This completes Jesus’ statement about division. Having prepared His disciples for relational fallout, He turns again to the multitudes with a rebuke: they can read weather signs but fail to interpret the present time—the decisive moment of God’s visitation in Jesus. The next verses will press this charge and urge right judgment now.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Micah 7:6
For the son dishonoreth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; a man’s enemies are the men of his own house.
- Matthew 24:10
And then shall many stumble, and shall deliver up one another, and shall hate one another.
- Zechariah 13:2
And it shall come to pass in that day, saith Jehovah of hosts, that I will cut off the names of the idols out of the land, and they shall no more be remembered; and also I will cause the prophets and the unclean spirit to pass out of the land.
- Matthew 10:21
And brother shall deliver up brother to death, and the father his child: and children shall rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
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.
Topics that quote it
Topic
Bible Verses About Covetousness
Covetousness is an excessive desire for possessions or power, often leading to other sins and hindering one's relationship with God.
Topic
Bible Verses About Doubt
The Bible acknowledges the reality of doubt, offering comfort, guidance, and encouragement to those who wrestle with uncertainty.
Topic
Bible Verses About Friendship
Explore how the Bible speaks about friendship, examining its importance, characteristics, and blessings in our lives.
What the Bible says about…
Verses for this moment
Verses for
Bible Verses for Anxiety Before a Job Interview
Quiet your nerves and walk in with steady steps — six verses to pray on the way.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When You Feel Forgotten by God
When the prayers feel one-sided — verses for the quiet seasons.
Verses for
Bible Verses for When Prayer Feels Empty
When the words won't come — scripture for the dry prayer life.