Luke 8:18
What does Luke 8:18 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:18 means
Luke 8:18 warns to watch how you hear because spiritual opportunity and understanding are linked to responsibility: whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what they think they possess will be taken away. This cryptic economy underscores that receptive faith begets further revelation and blessing, while neglect or hardness leads to loss. It serves as both encouragement and caution: cultivate an open, obedient heart so your grasp of truth grows; otherwise, failure to use or respond to truth risks forfeiting what little insight you have.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000Take 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901Take 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949So take care how you give hearing, for to him who has will be given, and from him who has not will be taken even what he seems to have.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862`See, therefore, how ye hear, for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever may not have, also what he seemeth to have, shall be taken from him.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Take heed therefore how you hear. For whosoever hath, to him shall be given: and whosoever hath not, that also which he thinketh he hath shall be taken away from him.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890Take heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given, and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him.
Context
After affirming that hidden things will be revealed, Jesus applies the truth to hearers’ responsibility. This verse bridges parable interpretation and subsequent narrative shifts by urging personal examination. It sets up the urgency of the following episodes, where Jesus’ authority and ministry demand considered responses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 14:37
If any man thinketh himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him take knowledge of the things which I write unto you, that they are the commandment of the Lord.
- Luke 9:44
Let these words sink into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered up into the hands of men.
- Luke 16:19
Now there was a certain rich man, and he was clothed in purple and fine linen, faring sumptuously every day:
- Proverbs 14:12
There is a way which seemeth right unto a man; But the end thereof are the ways of death.
- Acts 17:11
Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the scriptures daily, whether these things were so.
- Mark 13:14
But when ye see the abomination of desolation standing where he ought not (let him that readeth understand), then let them that are in Judæa flee unto the mountains:
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