Luke 14:34
What does Luke 14:34 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:34 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:34 means
Salt is good, but if even salt loses its savor, how will it be seasoned? Jesus uses the common image of salt’s preserving and flavoring power to describe disciples. They are meant to have a distinct, impactful quality—commitment, holiness, and witness. If that distinctiveness is lost, it is hard to recover. The warning ties back to half-hearted discipleship: without full surrender, the edge of discipleship dulls. The question is rhetorical, pressing urgency: do not let your devotion decay. Remain briny with grace and truth, so that your life flavors and preserves in a decaying world.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
KJV
King James Version · 1611Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For salt is good, but if the taste goes from it, of what use is it?
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`The salt <FI>is<Fi> good, but if the salt doth become tasteless, with what shall it be seasoned?
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Salt is good. But if the salt shall lose its savour, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Salt [then] [is] good, but if the salt also has become savourless, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
Context
This saying follows directly from the call to renounce all. It explains why such radical commitment matters: it preserves the very character of discipleship. The next verse will complete the warning by noting that tasteless salt is unfit for land or manure and is thrown out, and will end with the call, He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The connection underscores the seriousness of responding rightly to Jesus’ demands.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Hebrews 2:4
God also bearing witness with them, both by signs and wonders, and by manifold powers, and by gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to his own will.
- Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer each one.
- Matthew 5:13
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men.
- Mark 9:49
For every one shall be salted with fire.
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