Luke 14:10
What does Luke 14:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:10 means
Jesus now commends taking the lowest place. By choosing the humble seat, you leave room for the host to call you up higher, granting honor before all. The heart of the teaching is relational trust: let the host determine your place. Spiritually, God is the One who assigns honor in His time. This is not a technique to get praise, but a posture that relinquishes self-advancement. It cultivates contentment with obscurity and openness to God’s promotion. When honor comes from the host, it is fitting and without shame. The path upward in God’s kingdom runs through downward humility, a truth Jesus embodies throughout His ministry.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.
KJV
King James Version · 1611But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room; that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place; that when he that hath bidden thee cometh, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have glory in the presence of all that sit at meat with thee.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949But when you come, go and take the lowest seat, so that when the giver of the feast comes, he may say to you, Friend, come up higher; and then you will have honour in the eyes of all the others who are there.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`But, when thou mayest be called, having gone on, recline in the last place, that when he who called thee may come, he may say to thee, Friend, come up higher; then thou shalt have glory before those reclining with thee;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752But when thou art invited, go, sit down in the lowest place; that when he who invited thee cometh, he may say to thee: Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have glory before them that sit at table with thee.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890But when thou hast been invited, go and put thyself down in the last place, that when he who has invited thee comes, he may say to thee, Friend, go up higher: then shalt thou have honour before all that are lying at table with thee;
Context
This positive counterpart to verse 8 leads directly to the principle statement in verse 11. The movement from lowest seat to higher seat illustrates God’s reversal of pride and humility. Once this principle is stated, Jesus will pivot to address the host (verses 12–14), applying humility to the economics of hospitality. The connection matters: those who trust God for honor can also give generously without needing repayment, because their reward rests with God, particularly in the resurrection of the just.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Samuel 15:17
And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel;
- Proverbs 15:33
The fear of Jehovah is the instruction of wisdom; And before honorgoethhumility.
- Proverbs 25:6
Put not thyself forward in the presence of the king, And stand not in the place of great men:
- Revelation 3:9
Behold, I give of the synagogue of Satan, of them that say they are Jews, and they are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee.
- Isaiah 60:14
And the sons of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee The city of Jehovah, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
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