Luke 8:10
What does Luke 8:10 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:10 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:10 means
Luke 8:10 explains Jesus’ teaching strategy: to the disciples he willingly gives understanding of “the mysteries of the kingdom of God,” while he speaks to others in parables so that some will not perceive or understand. This is not arbitrary secrecy but a statement about moral hearing: parables reveal to those open to God’s truth and conceal from those whose hearts are hardened. The verse warns that exposure to truth without responsive faith leads to judicial blindness, while faithful seeking yields insight into kingdom realities.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to the rest in parables; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said, To you is given knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God; but to the others, they are given in stories, so that seeing, they may not see, and though they give hearing, the sense will not be clear to them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he said, `To you it hath been given to know the secrets of the reign of God, and to the rest in similes; that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752To whom he said: To you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to the rest in parables, that seeing they may not see and hearing may not understand.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he said, To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom ofGod, but to the rest in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Context
This verse follows the disciples’ request and sets the rationale for the private explanation that follows. It ties the parable method to the theme of receptivity seen in the soils. The claim that mysteries are given to the disciples prepares readers to treat the coming interpretation as authoritative teaching for committed followers.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 16:17
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jonah: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father who is in heaven.
- Matthew 13:11
And he answered and said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given.
- 1 Corinthians 12:11
but all these worketh the one and the same Spirit, dividing to each one severally even as he will.
- 1 Timothy 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.
- Colossians 2:2
that their hearts may be comforted, they being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, that they may know the mystery of God, even Christ,
- Isaiah 29:14
therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvellous work among this people, even a marvellous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.
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