Christian Standard Bible
Luke 16:8
8“The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people.
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
6“‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he said. “‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ 7“Next he asked another, ‘How much do you owe?’ “‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he said. “‘Take your invoice,’ he told him, ‘and write eighty.’ “The master praised the unrighteous manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the children of this age are more shrewd than the children of light in dealing with their own people. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of worldly wealth so that when it fails, they may welcome you into eternal dwellings. 10Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.
Read all of Luke 16Luke 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 16:10Whoever is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and whoever is unrighteous in very little is also unrighteous in much.
- Luke 18:6Then the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
- Luke 16:4I know what I’ll do so that when I’m removed from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’
- Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”
- Exodus 1:10Come, let’s deal shrewdly with them; otherwise they will multiply further, and when war breaks out, they will join our enemies, fight against us, and leave the country.”
- 2 Samuel 13:3Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, a son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man,
- 2 Kings 10:19Now, therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests. None must be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal. Whoever is missing will not live.” However, Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise.
- Luke 20:34Jesus told them, “The children of this age marry and are given in marriage.
- Psalms 17:14With your hand, Lord, save me from men, from men of the world whose portion is in this life: You fill their bellies with what you have in store; their sons are satisfied, and they leave their surplus to their children.
- 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so that he can become wise.
- Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame; and they are focused on earthly things.
- Psalms 49:10For one can see that the wise die; the foolish and stupid also pass away. Then they leave their wealth to others.
- Matthew 17:26“From strangers,” he said. “Then the sons are free,” Jesus told him.
- John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become children of light.” Jesus said this, then went away and hid from them.
- Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of 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
In the dictionaries
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
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