English Standard Version
Luke 16:8
8The 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)“The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
Context of Luke 16:8
6He said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' 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.' 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. 9And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings. 10"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest 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 16:10"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.
- Luke 18:6And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge says.
- Luke 16:4I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.'
- Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?"
- Exodus 1:10Come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and, if war breaks out, they 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 crafty man.
- 2 Kings 10:19Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshipers and all his priests. Let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice to offer to Baal. Whoever is missing shall not live." But Jehu did it with cunning in order to destroy the worshipers of Baal.
- Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.
- Luke 20:34And Jesus said to them, "The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage,
- Psalms 17:14from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
- 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 that he may become wise.
- Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
- Psalms 49:10For he sees that even the wise die; the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.
- Matthew 17:26And when he said, "From others," Jesus said to him, "Then the sons are free.
- John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.
- Ephesians 5:8for at one time you were 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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