English Standard Version
Luke 12:37
37Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them.
Luke 12:37 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.
- New International Version (NIV)It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.
- New Living Translation (NLT)The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat!
Context of Luke 12:37
35"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.
Read all of Luke 12Luke 12:37 word by word
μακάριοι οἱ δοῦλοι ἐκεῖνοι οὓς ἐλθὼν ὁ κύριος εὑρήσει γρηγοροῦντας· ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι περιζώσεται καὶ ἀνακλινεῖ αὐτούς, καὶ παρελθὼν διακονήσει αὐτοῖς.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Blessedμακάριοςmakarios · blessedG3107
- thoseἐκεῖνοςekeinos · thatG1565
- servantsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- servantsδοῦλοςdoulos · slaveG1401
- whomὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
- the lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
- when he comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- shall findεὑρίσκωheuriskō · to find/meetG2147
- watchingγρηγορέωgrēgoreuō · to keep watchG1127
- verilyἀμήνamēn · amenG281
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- he shall gird himselfπεριζώννυμιperizōnnumi · to girdG4024
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- makeἀνακλίνωanaklinō · to reclineG347
- themαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- will come forthπαρέρχομαιparerchomai · to pass byG3928
- and serveδιακονέωdiakoneō · to serveG1247
Cross-references for Luke 12:37
- Luke 12:43Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.
- Luke 21:36But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man."
- Matthew 24:45"Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?
- Matthew 25:20And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here, I have made five talents more.'
- Philippians 1:21For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
- 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Peter 5:1So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
- 2 Peter 1:11For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
- 2 Peter 3:14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.
- Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!"
- Isaiah 62:5For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.
- Jeremiah 32:41I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul.
- Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.
- John 12:26If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.
- John 13:4rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—
Commentaries on Luke 12:37
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 37He shall gird himself - Alluding to the long garments which were worn in the eastern countries; and which, in travelling and serving, were tucked up in their belts. That those among the Romans who waited on the company at table were girded, and had their clothes tucked up, appears from what Horace says, Sat. b. vi. l. 107: Veluti Succinctus cursitat Hospes, He runs about like a girded waiter. The host himself often performed this office. And ibid. viii…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 37Shall gird himself - Shall take the place of the servant himself. Servants who waited on the table were girded in the manner described above. Shall make them sit - Shall place them at his table and feast them. This evidently means that if we are faithful to Christ, and are ready to meet him when he returns, he will receive us into heaven - will admit us to all its blessings, and make us happy there - as if “he” should serve us and minister to our wants…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-40Verses 22-40 Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must not prevail; when we frighten…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 37he himself will come and wait on them: In Middle Eastern culture, the master would never serve his servants. Jesus changed the master's role by serving his disciples, offering himself for them, and providing for all their needs (see 22:24–27). he will dress himself to serve: In this culture, servants often tied up or adjusted their long robes before working so they could move freely. The picture here is surprising because the master takes the place of a…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 35-4035-40. loins ... girded--to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2Ki 4:29; Ac 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness. lights, &c.--(See on Mt 25:1).Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 12:37
In the dictionaries
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries