God’s Word Translation
Luke 12:17
17He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’
Luke 12:17 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
- New International Version (NIV)He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’
- English Standard Version (ESV)and he thought to himself, 'What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?'
- New King James Version (NKJV)And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’
Context of Luke 12:17
15He told the people, “Be careful to guard yourselves from every kind of greed. Life is not about having a lot of material possessions.” 16Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ 18He said, ‘I know what I’ll do. I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones so that I can store all my grain and goods in them. 19Then I’ll say to myself, “You’ve stored up a lot of good things for years to come. Take life easy, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself.” ’
Read all of Luke 12Luke 12:17 word by word
καὶ διελογίζετο ἐν ἑαυτῷ λέγων· τί ποιήσω ὅτι οὐκ ἔχω ποῦ συνάξω τοὺς καρπούς μου;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he thoughtδιαλογίζομαιdialogizomai · to discussG1260
- withinἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- himselfἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
- sayingλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- shall I doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- I haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
- noοὐou · noG3756
- whereποῦpou · where?G4226
- to bestowσυνάγωsunagō · to assembleG4863
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- fruitsὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- fruitsκαρπόςkarpos · fruitG2590
Cross-references for Luke 12:17
- Luke 12:22Then Jesus said to his disciples, “So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear.
- Luke 10:25Then an expert in Moses’ Teachings stood up to test Jesus. He asked, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
- Luke 16:3“The manager thought, ‘What should I do? My master is taking my job away from me. I’m not strong enough to dig, and I’m ashamed to beg.
- Acts 2:37When the people heard this, they were deeply upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
- Acts 16:30Then he took Paul and Silas outside and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved?”
- Luke 12:33“Sell your material possessions, and give the money to the poor. Make yourselves wallets that don’t wear out! Make a treasure for yourselves in heaven that never loses its value! In heaven thieves and moths can’t get close enough to destroy your treasure.
- Luke 3:11He answered them, “Whoever has two shirts should share with the person who doesn’t have any. Whoever has food should share it too.”
- Luke 11:41Give what is inside as a gift to the poor, and then everything will be clean for you.
- Luke 14:13Instead, when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the handicapped, the lame, and the blind.
- Luke 16:9⌞Jesus continued,⌟ “I’m telling you that although wealth is often used in dishonest ways, you should use it to make friends for yourselves. When life is over, you will be welcomed into an eternal home.
- Luke 18:22When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still need one thing. Sell everything you have. Distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!”
- Luke 19:17“The king said to him, ‘Good job! You’re a good servant. You proved that you could be trusted with a little money. Take charge of ten cities.’
- Ecclesiastes 11:2Divide what you have into seven parts, or even into eight, because you don’t know what disaster may happen on earth.
- Isaiah 58:7Share your food with the hungry, take the poor and homeless into your house, and cover them with clothes when you see ⌞them⌟ naked. Don’t refuse to help your relatives.
- Matthew 5:42Give to everyone who asks you for something. Don’t turn anyone away who wants to borrow something from you.
- Romans 12:13Share what you have with God’s people who are in need. Be hospitable.
Commentaries on Luke 12:17
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 17He thought within himself - Began to be puzzled in consequence of the increase of his goods. Riches, though ever so well acquired, produce nothing but vexation and embarrassment.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 17He thought within himself - He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect - to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth. No room - Everything was full. To bestow - To place, to hoard, to collect. My fruits - Our word “fruits” is not applied to “grain;” but the Greek word is applied to all the…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 13-21Verses 13-21 Christ's kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. Christianity does not meddle with politics; it obliges all to do justly, but wordly dominion is not founded in grace. It does not encourage expectations of worldly advantages by religion. The rewards of Christ's disciples are of another nature. Covetousness is a sin we need constantly to be warned against; for happiness and comfort do not depend on the wealth of this world. The things of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 16-20On the surface, the rich man’s plan seemed wise. But he thought only about himself (compare Ecclesiastes 5:10). He did not think about giving any of his crops to people in need. He assumed that his wealth would last. He only wanted a place to store it and did not include God in his plans (see James 4:13–17). So God’s judgment against him was just.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 16-1916-19. a certain rich man, &c.--Why is this man called a "fool?" (Lu 12:20) (1) Because he deemed a life of secure and abundant earthly enjoyment the summit of human felicity. (2) Because, possessing the means of this, through prosperity in his calling, he flattered himself that he had a long lease of such enjoyment, and nothing to do but give himself up to it. Nothing else is laid to his charge.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 12:17
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
Commentaries