Luke 12:37

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, 36like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. 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. 38It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. 39But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Luke 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 12:43It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns.
• Luke 21:36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.”
• Matthew 24:45“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?
• Matthew 25:20The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five 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 5:1To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed:
• 2 Peter 1:11and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 3:14So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.
• Revelation 14:13Then I heard a voice from heaven say, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “they will rest from their labor, for their deeds will follow them.”
• Isaiah 62:5As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.
• Jeremiah 32:41I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.
• Zephaniah 3:17The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
• John 12:26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
• John 13:4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things 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

• Character
• Death
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Obedience
• Servant
• Steward
• Temptation
• Watchfulness

In the dictionaries

• Ask
• Beat
• Divide
• Divider
• Forewarn
• Hell
• Hypocrisy
• Teach
• Visit
• Watch

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