Luke 8:17
What does Luke 8:17 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:17 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:17 means
Luke 8:17 asserts that hidden things will be revealed; secret matters will come to light. This principle reinforces the lamp metaphor: truth that is concealed will eventually be exposed. The verse warns that actions and motives cannot remain forever hidden from God’s scrutiny or from the revealing course of events. It is both comforting—God will make what is right known—and admonitory—what we hide may be disclosed. The statement undergirds Jesus’ teaching about living transparently before God and others.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For nothing is hid, that shall not be made manifest; nor anything secret, that shall not be known and come to light.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For nothing is put out of view which will not be made clear, and nothing is secret of which the knowledge will not come to light.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for nothing is secret, that shall not become manifest, nor hid, that shall not be known, and become manifest.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For there is not any thing secret that shall not be made manifest, nor hidden that shall not be known and come abroad.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For there is nothing hid which shall not become manifest, nor secret which shall not be known and come to light.
Context
Immediately after the image of the lamp, this verse gives theological backing: illumination is inevitable. It links private hearing and public fruitfulness by warning that concealment is futile. The chapter then uses this principle to urge careful hearing and to introduce the theme of spiritual accountability.
v.16And no man, when he hath lighted a lamp, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but putteth it on a stand, that they that enter in may see the light.
v.17This passage
v.18Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5
Wherefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the hearts; and then shall each man have his praise from God.
- Matthew 10:26
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
- Luke 12:2
But there is nothing covered up, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known.
- Mark 4:22
For there is nothing hid, save that it should be manifested; neither was anything made secret, but that it should come to light.
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