Devine Scripture

Luke 17:28

What does Luke 17:28 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 17:28 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 17:28 means

Jesus adds the example of Lot’s day: people were engaged in buying, selling, planting, and building. Again, it is not the activities themselves that are condemned but the spiritual indifference they can foster. Life bustled along with economic growth and development, yet hearts were unmoved by the moral rot around them and the warnings of judgment. The picture is of a culture absorbed in its own projects, blind to God’s approaching action. The Lord’s point is to expose the illusion of security in prosperity and busyness. Without repentance and alertness, ordinary life can become the backdrop for sudden ruin.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

Likewise even as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

In the same way, in the days of Lot; they were feasting and trading, they were planting and building;

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

in like manner also, as it came to pass in the days of Lot; they were eating, they were drinking, they were buying, they were selling, they were planting, they were building;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Likewise as it came to pass in the days of Lot. They did eat and drink, they bought and sold, they planted and built.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and in like manner as took place in the days of Lot: they ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Context

This verse parallels the description of Noah’s days (verses 26–27) and prepares for the abrupt intervention in Lot’s story (verse 29). The culmination comes in verse 30, where Jesus applies these historical patterns to the day when the Son of man is revealed. From there, He gives practical instruction for that day—do not turn back for possessions (verse 31), and consider the fate of Lot’s wife as a cautionary tale (verse 32).

v.27They ate, they drank, they married, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

v.28This passage

v.29but in the day that Lot went out from Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all:

Cross references

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

  • James 5:1

    Come now, ye rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you.

  • Ezekiel 16:49

    Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and prosperous ease was in her and in her daughters; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.

  • Genesis 19:1

    And the two angels came to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot saw them, and rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face to the earth;

  • Genesis 18:20

    And Jehovah said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

  • Genesis 13:13

    Now the men of Sodom were wicked and sinners against Jehovah exceedingly.

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