Devine Scripture

Luke 12:9

What does Luke 12:9 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 12:9 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 12:9 means

Jesus balances the promise with a sober warning: those who deny Him before people will be denied before the angels of God. Persistent, willful refusal to be identified with Christ reveals a heart alien to Him. The gravity lies not in one moment of weakness but in settled repudiation. The scene echoes a final judgment where Christ’s verdict is decisive. This calls hearers to examine their loyalties and to seek grace for bold, consistent witness. The heavenly perspective makes clear that the world’s approval is a poor trade for Christ’s acknowledgment in the presence of God’s angels.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

but he that denieth me in the presence of men shall be denied in the presence of the angels of God.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

But if anyone says before men that he has no knowledge of me, I will say that I have no knowledge of him before the angels of God.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he who hath denied me before men, shall be denied before the messengers of God,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But he that shall deny me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

but he that shall have denied me before men shall be denied before the angels ofGod;

Context

This warning completes the courtroom pair from the previous verse. It explains why Jesus has been urging fear of God, not of people: the eternal consequences of allegiance or denial are far weightier than any earthly fallout. Immediately He adds a word about forgiveness and the unique seriousness of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, clarifying that not all failures are the same and that God’s mercy is real, yet not to be presumed upon.

v.8And I say unto you, Every one who shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:

v.9This passage

v.10And every one who shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Spirit it shall not be forgiven.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Matthew 25:31

    But when the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the angels with him, then shall he sit on the throne of his glory:

  • 2 Timothy 2:12

    if we endure, we shall also reign with him: if we shall deny him, he also will deny us:

  • Matthew 10:33

    But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father who is in heaven.

  • Luke 13:26

    then shall ye begin to say, We did eat and drink in thy presence, and thou didst teach in our streets;

  • Acts 3:13

    The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Servant Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied before the face of Pilate, when he had determined to release him.

  • Revelation 3:8

    I know thy works (behold, I have set before thee a door opened, which none can shut), that thou hast a little power, and didst keep my word, and didst not deny my name.

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