Luke 14:28

Luke 14:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
• New International Version (NIV)“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
• English Standard Version (ESV)For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

Context of Luke 14:28

26‘If someone wants to obey me, he must live like this: He must love me more than he loves his own father and mother. He must love me more than he loves his wife and his children. He must love me more than he loves his brothers and his sisters. He must even love me more than he loves himself. If he does not do that, he cannot be one of my disciples. 27He must live like a person that carries his own cross to go and die. If he is not ready to die for me, he cannot be one of my disciples. Here is an example. Perhaps one of you wants to build a tall building. Before you start to build, you will sit down. You will decide how much it will cost. Then you need to know if you have enough money to finish the work. 29If you do not do this, you may not have enough money. You may put the first stones in the ground, but then you cannot finish the building. If you have to stop, other people will laugh at you. They will say to each other, 30“That man is a fool. He started to build, but he could not finish the work.” ’

Luke 14:28 word by word

Τίς γὰρ ἐξ ὑμῶν θέλων πύργον οἰκοδομῆσαι οὐχὶ πρῶτον καθίσας ψηφίζει τὴν δαπάνην εἰ ἔχει εἰς ἀπαρτισμόν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• whichτίςtis · which?G5101
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• youσύsu · youG4771
• intendingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• a towerπύργοςpurgos · towerG4444
• sittethκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• and countethψηφίζωpsēphizō · to calculateG5585
• the costδαπάνηdapanē · costG1160
• whetherεἰei · ifG1487
• he haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• to finishἀπαρτισμόςapartismos · completionG535

Cross-references for Luke 14:28

• Genesis 11:4They said, ‘Let us build a city to live in. We should also build a very tall tower. The tower will go up into the heavens. Then we will always be famous. If we do that, we will not have to separate and go to live in different places on the earth.’
• Proverbs 24:27Finish your work outside and prepare your fields. After that, you can build your house.
• Luke 14:33Jesus then said, ‘It is like that for all of you, if you want to be my disciples. You must leave everything that you have behind you.
• Joshua 24:19Joshua said to them, ‘The Lord is a holy God. You will not be able to serve him. He wants you to belong to him. If you turn against him or you do not obey him, he will not forgive you.
• Matthew 8:20Jesus replied, ‘Wild animals and birds have their own places to live. But I, the Son of Man, have no place of my own to lie down and rest.’
• Matthew 10:22All people will hate you because you are my disciples. But God will save the person who remains strong until the end.
• Matthew 20:22Jesus said to them, ‘You do not understand what you are asking for. I will have much pain and trouble. Are you ready to have the same pain?’ James and John replied, ‘Yes, we can do that.’
• Acts 21:13But Paul answered, ‘Stop crying like this! You are making me very sad! I am ready for men in Jerusalem to take hold of me. They may tie me up, and I may even die there. I am ready for all this because I believe in the Lord Jesus.’
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4Even when we were there with you, we told you that troubles would come. We told you before the troubles came and now it has really happened. You know that it is true.
• 2 Peter 1:13While I am still alive on this earth I will continue to make sure that you remember them. I think that it is right for me to do that.

Commentaries on Luke 14:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28To build a tower - Probably this means no more than a dwelling house, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on, and to serve for refuge from and defense against an enemy. It was also used for prayer and meditation. This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Intending to build a tower - See Matthew 21:33. A tower was a place of defense or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made “high,” so as to enable one to see an enemy when he approached; and “strong,” so that it could not be easily taken. Counteth the cost - Makes a calculation how much it will cost to build it.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 14:28

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

In the dictionaries

• Compel
• Condition
• Consent
• Consult
• Exalt
• Excuse
• Halt
• Hate
• Worship
• Architecture

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