Luke 14:35
What does Luke 14:35 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 14:35 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 14:35 means
Tasteless salt is unfit for field or even for the dung heap; people throw it out. So, a disciple without distinctive, preserving commitment is useless to the kingdom’s purposes. Jesus ends with, He that has ears to hear, let him hear—an urgent call to pay attention, reflect, and obey. The warning is sober but gracious: there is still time to listen and choose the costly path. The chapter closes where it has led us all along—to humility, generous grace, whole-hearted allegiance, and the seriousness of responding to God’s invitation in Jesus without excuse or half measures.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
KJV
King James Version · 1611It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901It is fit neither for the land nor for the dunghill: men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949It is no good for the land or for the place of waste; no one has a use for it. He who has ears, let him give ear.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862neither for land nor for manure is it fit--they cast it without. He who is having ears to hear--let him hear.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752It is neither profitable for the land nor for the dunghill: but shall be cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890It is proper neither for land nor for dung; it is cast out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
Context
This final verse concludes the discipleship discourse with a vivid warning and a universal summons to heed. It ties back to the entire chapter’s themes: mercy on the Sabbath despite scrutiny, humility at the table, hospitality to the needy, responding to God’s banquet invitation, and counting the cost to follow Jesus. The closing call to hear invites readers to weigh everything they have seen and choose the path of humble, generous, persevering discipleship that befits the kingdom of God.
v.34Salt therefore is good: but if even the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?
v.35This passage
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Revelation 2:7
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. To him that overcometh, to him will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.
- Matthew 11:15
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
- Matthew 13:9
He that hath ears, let him hear.
- Luke 9:44
Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.
- Revelation 2:11
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
- Revelation 2:29
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
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