Luke 3:8
What does Luke 3:8 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 3:8 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 3:8 means
John demands tangible evidence of true repentance, not just outward participation in rituals. He warns against relying on their ancestry as children of Abraham, a common Jewish belief in guaranteed favor, declaring that God can raise up children for Abraham even from stones. This emphasizes that genuine salvation comes through a changed life demonstrated by good fruit, not through ethnic heritage or mere religious affiliation. True repentance requires transformation, not just tradition.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Make clear by your acts that your hearts have been changed; and do not say to yourselves, We have Abraham for our father: for I say to you that God is able from these stones to make children of Abraham.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862make, therefore, fruits worthy of the reformation, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have a father--Abraham; for I say to you, that God is able out of these stones to raise children to Abraham;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of penance: and do not begin to say, We have Abraham for our father. For I say unto you that God is able of these stones, to raise up children to Abraham.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Produce therefore fruits worthy of repentance; and begin not to say in yourselves, We have Abraham for [our] father, for I say unto you thatGod is able of these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
Context
Following his stinging rebuke in the previous verse, John now specifies what genuine repentance looks like. He clarifies that mere lineage or superficial religious acts are insufficient for escaping judgment. This sets up the direct questions from the crowds about practical applications of repentance, moving from challenge to concrete instruction.
v.7He said therefore to the multitudes that went out to be baptized of him, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
v.8This passage
v.9And even now the axe also lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Romans 4:16
For this cause it is of faith, that it may be according to grace; to the end that the promise may be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all
- Hebrews 6:7
For the land which hath drunk the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them for whose sake it is also tilled, receiveth blessing from God:
- Acts 26:20
but declared both to them of Damascus first, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judæa, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.
- Galatians 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Romans 9:7
neither, because they are Abraham’s seed, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.
- Philippians 1:11
being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.
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