God’s Word Translation
Luke 12:18
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.
Luke 12:18 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
- New International Version (NIV)“Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.
- English Standard Version (ESV)And he said, 'I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.
- New King James Version (NKJV)So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.
Context of Luke 12:18
16Then he used this illustration. He said, “A rich man had land that produced good crops. 17He thought, ‘What should I do? I don’t have enough room to store my crops.’ He 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.” ’ 20“But God said to him, ‘You fool! I will demand your life from you tonight! Now who will get what you’ve accumulated?’
Read all of Luke 12Luke 12:18 word by word
καὶ εἶπεν· τοῦτο ποιήσω· καθελῶ μου τὰς ἀποθήκας καὶ μείζονας οἰκοδομήσω καὶ συνάξω ἐκεῖ πάντα τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μουRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- he saidλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- Thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- will I doποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
- I will pull downκαθαιρέωkathaireō · to take downG2507
- myἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- barnsἀποθήκηapothēkē · storehouseG596
- buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
- greaterμέγαςmegas · greatG3173
- thereἐκεῖekei · thereG1563
- will I bestowσυνάγωsunagō · to assembleG4863
- allπᾶςpas · allG3956
- fruitsγέννημαgennēma · offspringG1081
- goodsἀγαθόςagathos · goodG18
Cross-references for Luke 12:18
- Luke 12:21That’s how it is when a person has material riches but is not rich in his relationship with God.”
- Luke 18:4“For a while the judge refused to do anything. But then he thought, ‘This widow really annoys me. Although I don’t fear God or respect people,
- Psalms 17:14With your power rescue me from mortals, O Lord, from mortals who enjoy their inheritance only in this life. You fill their bellies with your treasure. Their children are satisfied ⌞with it⌟, and they leave what remains to their children.
- James 3:15That kind of wisdom doesn’t come from above. It belongs to this world. It is self-centered and demonic.
- James 4:15Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and carry out our plans.”
Commentaries on Luke 12:18
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18I will pull down, etc. - The rich are full of designs concerning this life, but in general take no thought about eternity till the time that their goods and their lives are both taken away.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18I will pull down my barns - The word “barns” here, properly means, “granaries,” or places exclusively designed to put wheat, barley, etc. They were commonly made, by the ancients, “underground,” where grain could be kept a long time more safe from thieves and from vermin. If it be asked why he did not let the old ones remain and build new ones, it may be answered that it would be easier to “enlarge” those already excavated in the earth than to dig new…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 12:18
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
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