Luke 12:57
What does Luke 12:57 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:57 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:57 means
Jesus challenges them: why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right? He appeals to their conscience and reason, urging a direct decision in light of the evidence before them. They should not wait passively for consensus; they must weigh truth and act. The issue is moral discernment, not mere curiosity. He invites them to step out of the crowd’s evasions and take responsibility to respond rightly to God’s revelation in Him.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And why are you, in your hearts, unable to be judges of what is right?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`And why, also, of yourselves, judge ye not what is righteous?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And why, even of yourselves, do you not judge that which is just?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?
Context
Following the rebuke about failing to read the times, Jesus presses for personal verdicts. This leads directly into a practical illustration: when on the way to court with an adversary, make every effort to settle before reaching the judge. The parable-like picture urges immediate reconciliation, reflecting the urgency of making things right with God and others before the day of reckoning.
v.56Ye hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?
v.57This passage
v.58For as thou art going with thine adversary before the magistrate, on the way give diligence to be quit of him; lest haply he drag thee unto the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer shall cast thee into prison.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 2:40
And with many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, Save yourselves from this crooked generation.
- 1 Corinthians 11:14
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a dishonor to him?
- Luke 21:30
when they now shoot forth, ye see it and know of your own selves that the summer is now nigh.
- Acts 13:26
Brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you that fear God, to us is the word of this salvation sent forth.
- Matthew 21:32
For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not; but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye saw it, did not even repent yourselves afterward, that ye might believe him.
- Deuteronomy 32:29
Oh that they were wise, that they understood this, That they would consider their latter end!
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