Luke 12:58
What does Luke 12:58 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 12:58 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 12:58 means
Jesus counsels settling with an adversary on the way to the magistrate. Diligence now may prevent harsher outcomes later: being dragged before the judge, delivered to the officer, and thrown into prison. The illustration underscores prudence, humility, and the urgency of reconciliation. Spiritually, it pictures the wisdom of responding to God’s call today, rather than risking the stricter justice of final judgment. The longer one delays, the fewer options remain. Acting decisively in the present can avert irreversible loss.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611When thou goest with thine adversary to the magistrate, as thou art in the way, give diligence that thou mayest be delivered from him; lest he hale thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For if anyone has a cause at law against you, and you are going with him before the ruler, make an attempt, on the way, to come to an agreement with him, for if you do not, he may take you before the judge and the judge will give you up to the police, and they will put you in prison.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for, as thou art going away with thy opponent to the ruler, in the way give diligence to be released from him, lest he may drag thee unto the judge, and the judge may deliver thee to the officer, and the officer may cast thee into prison;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when thou goest with thy adversary to the prince, whilst thou art in the way, endeavour to be delivered from him: lest perhaps he draw thee to he judge, and the judge deliver thee to the exacter, and the exacter cast thee into prison.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For as thou goest with thine adverse party before a magistrate, strive in the way to be reconciled with him, lest he drag thee away to the judge, and the judge shall deliver thee to the officer, and the officer cast thee into prison.
Context
This warning follows the call to judge rightly. By invoking a legal process, Jesus makes the stakes tangible: unresolved issues escalate under judicial scrutiny. The next and final verse completes the picture with a solemn declaration about not getting out until the last mite is paid, reinforcing the seriousness of delaying repentance and reconciliation.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Corinthians 6:2
(for he saith, At an acceptable time I hearkened unto thee, And in a day of salvation did I succor thee: behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation):
- Revelation 20:7
And when the thousand years are finished, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
- Luke 14:31
Or what king, as he goeth to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and take counsel whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
- Psalms 50:22
Now consider this, ye that forget God, Lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver:
- Psalms 32:6
For this let every one that is godly pray unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: Surely when the great waters overflow they shall not reach unto him.
- Matthew 18:30
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay that which was due.
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