Luke 17:5
What does Luke 17:5 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:5 means
Confronted with Jesus’ demanding vision of community life, the apostles sense their inadequacy and appeal to Him for more faith. This request recognizes that mere willpower cannot sustain the kind of vigilance, forgiveness, and love Jesus requires. It is a humble prayer that admits weakness and seeks divine supply. Asking the Lord to enlarge faith is fitting; faith is not self-generated bravado but God’s gift strengthened by His word and presence. The disciples’ response models spiritual realism: when Christ’s commands expose our lack, we should not lower the standard but turn to Him, confessing need and expecting His enabling grace.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And the twelve said to the Lord, Make our faith greater.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And the apostles said to the Lord, `Add to us faith;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And the apostles said to the Lord: Increase our faith.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And the apostles said to the Lord, Give more faith to us.
Context
This plea rises directly from the burden of forgiving repeatedly (verse 4) and maintaining holy relationships (verse 3). Jesus will respond by correcting their assumption that they mainly need more quantity of faith (verse 6). He will then guard them from pride by speaking about the mindset of unworthy servants (verses 7–10). The flow shows that true discipleship depends on faith in God’s power, not on human sufficiency, and that such faith expresses itself in humble, uncomplaining service rather than in self-congratulation.
v.4And if he sin against thee seven times in the day, and seven times turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.
v.5This passage
v.6And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye would say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou rooted up, and be thou planted in the sea; and it would obey you.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Thessalonians 1:3
We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth;
- Mark 6:30
And the apostles gather themselves together unto Jesus; and they told him all things, whatsoever they had done, and whatsoever they had taught.
- 1 Peter 1:22
Seeing ye have purified your souls in your obedience to the truth unto unfeigned love of the brethren, love one another from the heart fervently:
- Luke 7:13
And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.
- Hebrews 12:2
looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and hath sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8
Concerning this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
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