Luke 21:15
What does Luke 21:15 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 21:15 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 21:15 means
Jesus promises His disciples, "I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay." This means God will supernaturally empower them with the ability to speak effectively and with profound insight, making their words unanswerable by their opponents. This divine enablement ensures that the truth will prevail even against powerful opposition, providing immense comfort and confidence in the face of daunting challenges. The Holy Spirit will speak through them.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to withstand or to gainsay.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For I will give you words and wisdom, so that not one of those who are against you will be able to get the better of you, or to put you in the wrong.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for I will give to you a mouth and wisdom that all your opposers shall not be able to refute or resist.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to resist and gainsay.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your opposers shall not be able to reply to or resist.
Context
This verse delivers the powerful promise that directly relates to the command in verse 14. Jesus offers the divine provision—a mouth and wisdom—that enables the disciples to fulfill the instruction of not meddling beforehand. This promise of supernatural empowerment for effective witness in the face of persecution prepares the disciples for even greater trials, including betrayal by family and even martyrdom, which Jesus reveals in the verses that follow.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Acts 26:28
And Agrippa said unto Paul, With but little persuasion thou wouldest fain make me a Christian.
- Acts 4:8
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders,
- Luke 12:12
for the Holy Spirit shall teach you in that very hour what ye ought to say.
- Proverbs 2:6
For Jehovah giveth wisdom; Out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding:
- Jeremiah 1:9
Then Jehovah put forth his hand, and touched my mouth; and Jehovah said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth:
- Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
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