Luke 14:31

Luke 14:31 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
• New International Version (NIV)“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
• English Standard Version (ESV)Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?

Context of Luke 14:31

29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is unable to finish [the building], all who see it will begin to ridicule him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and was not able to finish!’ Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is strong enough with ten thousand men to encounter the one who is coming against him with twenty thousand? 32Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace. 33So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not [carefully consider the cost and then for My sake] give up all his own possessions.

Luke 14:31 word by word

ἢ τίς βασιλεὺς πορευόμενος ἑτέρῳ βασιλεῖ συμβαλεῖν εἰς πόλεμον οὐχὶ καθίσας πρῶτον βουλεύσεται εἰ δυνατός ἐστιν ἐν δέκα χιλιάσιν ὑπαντῆσαι τῷ μετὰ εἴκοσι χιλιάδων ἐρχομένῳ ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Orἤē · orG2228
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
• goingπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
• to makeσυμβάλλωsumballō · to ponder/conferG4820
• warπόλεμοςpolēmos · warG4171
• againstεἰςeis · towardG1519
• anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
• sittethκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• and consultethβουλεύωbouleuō · to planG1011
• whetherεἰei · ifG1487
• he beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• ableδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
• withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
• tenδέκαdeka · tenG1176
• thousandχιλιάςchilias · thousandG5505
• to meet himἀπαντάωapantaō · to meetG528
• thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• againstἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
• himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
• withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
• twentyεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501

Cross-references for Luke 14:31

• 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘A man who puts on [his armor to go to battle] should not boast like the man who takes it off [after the battle has been won].’ ”
• 2 Kings 18:20You say (but they are only empty words) ‘I have counsel and strength for the war.’ Now on whom do you rely, that you have rebelled against me?
• Proverbs 20:18Plans are established by counsel; So make war [only] with wise guidance.
• Proverbs 25:8Do not rush out to argue your case [before magistrates or judges]; Otherwise what will you do in the end [when your case is lost and] When your neighbor (opponent) humiliates you?

Commentaries on Luke 14:31

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31With ten thousand to meet … - Whether he will be able, with the forces which he “has,” to meet his enemy. Christ here perhaps intends to denote that the enemies which we have to encounter in following him are many and strong, and that “our” strength is comparatively feeble. “To meet him.” To contend with him. To gain a victory over him.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35large crowds were traveling with Jesus: Jesus was very popular, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3328-33. which of you, &c.--Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 14:31

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prudence
• Salvation
• Seekers
• Self-Denial
• War

In the dictionaries

• Compel
• Condition
• Consent
• Consult
• Exalt
• Excuse
• Halt
• Hate
• Worship
• Criticism of the Bible

Commentaries on Luke 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Calvin’s Commentaries
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Catena Aurea
• Illustrated New Testament
• Burkitt’s Expository Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Family Bible Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• John Lightfoot Commentary
• Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• The People’s New Testament
• Robertson’s Word Pictures
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings