Devine Scripture

Luke 6:38

What does Luke 6:38 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 6:38 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 6:38 means

Jesus continued, "Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will they give into your bosom. For with what measure you mete, it will be measured to you again." This promise underscores the principle of divine generosity in response to human generosity. It encourages liberal giving, assuring believers that God will reciprocate bountifully, often beyond expectation. The vivid imagery depicts an overflowing abundance. This teaching motivates selfless giving by revealing God's commitment to bless those who reflect His generous character, applying the same principle of measure to both judgment and giving.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, shall they give into your bosom. For with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

Give, and it will be given to you; good measure, crushed down, full and running over, they will give to you. For in the same measure as you give, it will be given to you again.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

`Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed, and shaken, and running over, they shall give into your bosom; for with that measure with which ye measure, it shall be measured to you again.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

Give: and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom: for with the same measure with which ye mete it shall be measured to you again.

Context

This verse continues the theme of divine reciprocity, now focusing on the positive outcome of generous giving, directly contrasting with the warnings about judgment. It provides a powerful promise of abundant blessing for those who give freely. This assurance serves as a strong motivation for putting the radical ethics into practice, reinforcing the concept that God's Kingdom operates on principles entirely different from the world's.

v.37And judge not, and ye shall not be judged: and condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: release, and ye shall be released:

v.38This passage

v.39And he spake also a parable unto them, Can the blind guide the blind? shall they not both fall into a pit?

Cross references

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

  • Revelation 16:5

    And I heard the angel of the waters saying, Righteous art thou, who art and who wast, thou Holy One, because thou didst thus judge:

  • Job 31:16

    If I have withheld the poor fromtheirdesire, Or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail,

  • James 2:13

    For judgment is without mercy to him that hath showed no mercy: mercy glorieth against judgment.

  • Job 42:11

    Then came there unto him all his brethren, and all his sisters, and all they that had been of his acquaintance before, and did eat bread with him in his house: and they bemoaned him, and comforted him concerning all the evil that Jehovah had brought upon him: every man also gave him a piece of money, and every one a ring of gold.

  • Psalms 79:12

    And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom Their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord.

  • Psalms 18:25

    With the merciful thou wilt show thyself merciful; With the perfect man thou wilt show thyself perfect;

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