Luke 12:49

Luke 12:49 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
• New International Version (NIV)“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
• New King James Version (NKJV)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Context of Luke 12:49

47And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten. 48But the one who did not know and did what deserved punishment will receive a light beating. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, even more will be expected. “I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze! 50But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished! 51Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.

Luke 12:49 word by word

Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τί θέλω εἰ ἤδη ἀνήφθη.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I am comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• to sendβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
• onεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• will Iθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ifεἰei · if: if onlyG1487
• it beἀνάπτωanaptō · to set fireG381
• alreadyἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235

Cross-references for Luke 12:49

• Luke 12:51Do you think that I came here to bring peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division.
• Isaiah 11:4but he will judge the poor righteously and execute justice for the oppressed of the land. He will strike the land with a scepter from his mouth, and he will kill the wicked with a command from his lips.
• Joel 2:30I will display wonders in the heavens and on the earth: blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
• Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.
• Malachi 4:1“For look, the day is coming, burning like a furnace, when all the arrogant and everyone who commits wickedness will become stubble. The coming day will consume them,” says the Lord of Armies, “not leaving them root or branches.
• Matthew 3:10The ax is already at the root of the trees. Therefore, every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
• Luke 11:53When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to oppose him fiercely and to cross-examine him about many things;
• Luke 13:31At that time some Pharisees came and told him, “Go, get out of here. Herod wants to kill you.”
• Luke 19:39Some of the Pharisees from the crowd told him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.”
• John 9:4We must do the works of him who sent me while it is day. Night is coming when no one can work.
• John 11:8“Rabbi,” the disciples told him, “just now the Jews tried to stone you, and you’re going there again?”
• John 12:17Meanwhile, the crowd, which had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead, continued to testify.

Commentaries on Luke 12:49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 49I am come to send fire - See this subject largely explained on Matthew 10:34; (note), etc. From the connection in which these words stand, both in this place and in Matthew, it appears as if our Lord intended by the word fire, not only the consuming influence of the Roman sword, but also the influence of his own Spirit in the destruction of sin. In both these senses this fire was already kindled: as yet, however, it appeared but as a spark, but was soon…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 49I am, come … - The result of my coming will be that there will be divisions and contentions. He does not mean that he came “for” that purpose, or that he “sought” and “desired” it; but that such was the state of the human heart, and such the opposition of people to the truth, that that would be the “effect” of his coming. See the notes at Matthew 10:34. Fire - Fire, here, is the emblem of discord and contention, and consequently of calamities. Thus it is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-53Verses 41-53 All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 49I have come to ignite a fire: The ministry of Jesus brought great change. It brought judgment on the wicked and purification for the righteous (see 3:16–17; 9:54; 17:29; Deuteronomy 4:24; Amos 5:6; Hebrews 12:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 49-5349-53. to send--cast. fire--"the higher spiritual element of life which Jesus came to introduce into this earth (compare Mt 3:11), with reference to its mighty effects in quickening all that is akin to it and destroying all that is opposed. To cause this element of life to take up its abode on earth, and wholly to pervade human hearts with its warmth, was the lofty destiny of the Redeemer" [Olshausen: so Calvin, Stier, Alford, &c.]. what will I, &c.--an…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 12:49

• Fire
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Beat
• Divide
• Divider
• Fire
• Forewarn
• Hell
• Hypocrisy
• Teach
• Visit

Commentaries on Luke 12

• 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
• 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