Luke 16:8

Luke 16:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
• New International Version (NIV)“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

Context of Luke 16:8

6He said, ‘A hundred measures of [olive] oil.’ And he said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ And his master commended the unjust manager [not for his misdeeds, but] because he had acted shrewdly [by preparing for his future unemployment]; for the sons of this age [the non-believers] are shrewder in relation to their own kind [that is, to the ways of the secular world] than are the sons of light [the believers]. 9And I tell you [learn from this], make friends for yourselves [for eternity] by means of the wealth of unrighteousness [that is, use material resources as a way to further the work of God], so that when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings. 10“He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.

Luke 16:8 word by word

καὶ ἐπῄνεσεν ὁ κύριος τὸν οἰκονόμον τῆς ἀδικίας ὅτι φρονίμως ἐποίησεν, ὅτι οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου φρονιμώτεροι ὑπὲρ τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ φωτὸς εἰς τὴν γενεὰν τὴν ἑαυτῶν εἰσιν.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• commendedἐπαινέωepaineō · to praiseG1867
• the unjustἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
• stewardοἰκονόμοςoikonomos · managerG3623
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• he had doneποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• wiselyφρονίμωςphronimōs · shrewdlyG5430
• the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• theirἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• generationγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• wiserφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• thanὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• of lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457

Cross-references for Luke 16:8

• Luke 16:10“He who is faithful in a very little thing is also faithful in much; and he who is dishonest in a very little thing is also dishonest in much.
• Luke 18:6Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says!
• Luke 16:4I know what I will do, so that when I am removed from the management, people [who are my master’s debtors] will welcome me into their homes.’
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty (subtle, skilled in deceit) than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And the serpent (Satan) said to the woman, “Can it really be that God has said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden’?”
• Exodus 1:10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, so that they will not multiply and in the event of war, join our enemies, and fight against us and escape from the land.”
• 2 Samuel 13:3But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother; and Jonadab was a very shrewd (cunning) man.
• 2 Kings 10:19Now, summon unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let no one be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal; whoever is missing shall not live.” But Jehu did it with trickery, in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.
• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, O lazy one; Observe her ways and be wise,
• Luke 20:34Jesus said to them, “The sons of this [world and present] age marry and [the women] are given in marriage;
• Psalms 17:14From men with Your hand, O Lord, From men of the world [these moths of the night] whose portion [of enjoyment] is in this life—idle and vain, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And they leave what they have left [of wealth] to their children.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool [discarding his worldly pretensions and acknowledging his lack of wisdom], so that he may become [truly] wise.
• Philippians 3:19whose fate is destruction, whose god is their belly [their worldly appetite, their sensuality, their vanity], and whose glory is in their shame—who focus their mind on earthly and temporal things.
• Psalms 49:10For he sees that even wise men die; The fool and the stupid alike perish And leave their wealth to others.
• Matthew 17:26When Peter said, “From strangers,” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are exempt [from taxation].
• John 12:36While you have the Light, believe and trust in the Light [have faith in it, hold on to it, rely on it], so that you may become sons of Light [being filled with Light as followers of God].” Jesus said these things, and then He left and hid Himself from them.
• Ephesians 5:8For once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of Light [live as those who are native-born to the Light]

Commentaries on Luke 16:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The lord commended - Viz. the master of this unjust steward. He spoke highly of the address and cunning of his iniquitous servant. He had, on his own principles, made a very prudent provision for his support; but his master no more approved of his conduct in this, than he did in his wasting his substance before. From the ambiguous and improper manner in which this is expressed in the common English translation, it has been supposed that our blessed Lord…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The lord commended - Praised, or expressed admiration at his wisdom. These are not the words of Jesus, as commending him, but a part of the narrative or parable. His “master” commended him - saw that he was wise and considerate, though he was dishonest. The unjust steward - It is not said that his master commended him because he was “unjust,” but because he was “wise.” This is the only thing in his conduct of which there is any approbation expressed, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The ways of the world are the opposite of God’s ways. The children of this world use all their resources to succeed or gain an advantage in this world. God’s people do just the opposite (16:9). the sons of the light: These are God's people (see John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. the lord--evidently the steward's lord, so called in Lu 16:3, 5. commended, &c.--not for his "injustice," but "because he had done wisely," or prudently; with commendable foresight and skilful adaptation of means to end. children of this world--so Lu 20:34; compare Psa 17:14 ("their portion in this life"); Php 3:19 ("mind earthly things"); Psa 4:6, 7. their generation--or "for their generation"--that is, for the purposes of the "world" they are "of."…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 16:8

• Covetousness
• Dishonesty
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Probation
• Servant
• Steward
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Beg
• Beside
• Child
• Cool
• Deride
• Dig
• Fare
• Put
• Riches

Commentaries on Luke 16

• 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