Luke 9:23
What does Luke 9:23 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 9:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 9:23 means
Jesus calls everyone who would follow him to deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow. Discipleship involves self-denial and willingness to endure suffering; the cross symbolizes the cost and humility required. “Daily” means continual commitment, not a one-time act. To follow Jesus is to embrace his way of costly obedience and to identify with his path of sacrificial love. This teaching reframes success: greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humility and cross-bearing, not self-preservation or worldly ambition.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he said unto all, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he said to them all, If any man has a desire to come after me, let him give up all, and take up his cross every day, and come after me.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he said unto all, `If any one doth will to come after me, let him disown himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he said to [them] all, If any one will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me;
Context
This verse immediately follows the announcement of Jesus’ suffering (v.22) and shows how that truth translates into discipleship. If the Messiah’s path is rejection and cross-bearing, followers should expect similar demands. The teaching on self-denial counters the disciples’ later disputes about status (vv.46–48) and prepares the reader for examples where following Jesus disrupts ordinary expectations (vv.51–62).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 8:34
And he called unto him the multitude with his disciples, and said unto them, If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
- Luke 14:26
If any man cometh unto me, and hateth not his own father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
- 2 Timothy 3:12
Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
- Titus 2:12
instructing us, to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly and righteously and godly in this present world;
- Romans 8:13
for if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live.
- John 12:25
He that loveth his life loseth it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.
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