Luke 6:25
What does Luke 6:25 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 6:25 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 6:25 means
Jesus delivered a "woe" to those who are presently full, declaring they will hunger, and to those who laugh now, affirming they will mourn and weep. This pronouncement warns against complacency and self-satisfaction derived from present ease and worldly pleasure. It emphasizes that those who focus solely on immediate gratification and worldly comfort will experience future spiritual emptiness and sorrow. This warning underscores the temporary nature of earthly satisfaction and the eternal consequences of neglecting spiritual realities, reinforcing the counter-cultural values of the Kingdom.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you, ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949Unhappy are you who are full of food now: for you will be in need. Unhappy are you who are laughing now: for you will be crying in sorrow.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`Woe to you who have been filled--because ye shall hunger. `Woe to you who are laughing now--because ye shall mourn and weep.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Woe to you that are filled: for you shall hunger. Woe to you that now laugh: for you shall mourn and weep.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Woe to you that are filled, for ye shall hunger. Woe to you who laugh now, for ye shall mourn and weep.
Context
Continuing the series of woes, this verse expands on the warnings against worldly satisfaction, contrasting those who are presently full and joyful with a future of hunger, mourning, and weeping. It further develops the theme of reversed fortunes. This strong warning against fleeting earthly comforts sets the tone for Jesus' radical ethical demands, urging listeners to prioritize spiritual realities over temporal pleasures.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Luke 12:20
But God said unto him, Thou foolish one, this night is thy soul required of thee; and the things which thou hast prepared, whose shall they be?
- Isaiah 65:13
Therefore thus saith the Lord Jehovah, Behold, my servants shall eat, but ye shall be hungry; behold, my servants shall drink, but ye shall be thirsty; behold, my servants shall rejoice, but ye shall be put to shame;
- Daniel 5:4
They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
- Luke 16:14
And the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things; and they scoffed at him.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:3
When they are saying, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall in no wise escape.
- Isaiah 9:20
And one shall snatch on the right hand, and be hungry; and he shall eat on the left hand, and they shall not be satisfied: they shall eat every man the flesh of his own arm:
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