Devine Scripture

Luke 22:38

What does Luke 22:38 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 22:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 22:38 means

The disciples, taking Jesus’ words about swords literally, announce, “Lord, behold, here are two swords.” Jesus replies, “It is enough,” likely ending the discussion rather than endorsing armed resistance. Their response shows partial understanding; they sense danger but miss the deeper meaning. Two swords could not defend against a cohort, but they suffice to fulfill the coming scene’s minimal interaction and to expose the wrongness of violent response when Jesus rebukes it. The Lord’s brief reply acknowledges their limit; further explanation will come by events. The verse illustrates how disciples can grasp the reality of conflict yet still misread the way of the cross, which conquers not by force but by faithful submission.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And they said, Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said unto them, It is enough.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And they said, Lord, here are two swords. And he said, It is enough.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And they said, `Sir, lo, here <FI>are<Fi> two swords;' and he said to them, `It is sufficient.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

But they said: Lord, behold, here are two swords. And he said to them: It is enough.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And they said, Lord, behold here are two swords. And he said to them, It is enough.

Context

After Jesus declared the necessity of being reckoned with transgressors, the disciples fixate on physical swords. Jesus ends the conversation with a curt closure. The very next scene moves to the mount of Olives, where Jesus, as was His custom, leads the disciples and commands them to pray against temptation. There, He will wrestle in prayer with the Father’s will and receive strengthening, providing the true preparation for what is about to unfold in betrayal and arrest.

v.37For I say unto you, that this which is written must be fulfilled in me, And he was reckoned with transgressors: for that which concerneth me hath fulfilment.

v.38This passage

v.39And he came out, and went, as his custom was, unto the mount of Olives; and the disciples also followed him.

Cross references

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

  • Luke 22:49

    And when they that were about him saw what would follow, they said, Lord, shall we smite with the sword?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:8

    But let us, since we are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

  • John 18:36

    Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

  • Ephesians 6:10

    Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.

  • 2 Corinthians 10:3

    For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh

  • 1 Peter 5:9

    whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.

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