New International Version
Luke 14:31
31“Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
Luke 14:31 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
- English Standard Version (ESV)Or what king, going out to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
- New King James Version (NKJV)Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?
- New Living Translation (NLT)“Or what king would go to war against another king without first sitting down with his counselors to discuss whether his army of 10,000 could defeat the 20,000 soldiers marching against him?
Context of Luke 14:31
29For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, 30saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? 32If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. 33In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples.
Read all of Luke 14Luke 14:31 word by word
ἢ τίς βασιλεὺς πορευόμενος ἑτέρῳ βασιλεῖ συμβαλεῖν εἰς πόλεμον οὐχὶ καθίσας πρῶτον βουλεύσεται εἰ δυνατός ἐστιν ἐν δέκα χιλιάσιν ὑπαντῆσαι τῷ μετὰ εἴκοσι χιλιάδων ἐρχομένῳ ἐπ᾽ αὐτόν;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Orἤē · orG2228
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- kingβασιλεύςbasileus · kingG935
- goingπορεύωporeuomai · to travelG4198
- to makeσυμβάλλωsumballō · to ponder/conferG4820
- warπόλεμοςpolēmos · warG4171
- againstεἰςeis · towardG1519
- anotherἕτεροςheteros · otherG2087
- sittethκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
- notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
- firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
- and consultethβουλεύωbouleuō · to planG1011
- whetherεἰei · ifG1487
- he beεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- ableδυνατόςdunatos · ableG1415
- withἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
- tenδέκαdeka · tenG1176
- thousandχιλιάςchilias · thousandG5505
- to meet himἀπαντάωapantaō · to meetG528
- thatὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- comethἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
- againstἐπίepi · upon/to/againstG1909
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- withμετάmeta · with/afterG3326
- twentyεἴκοσιeikosi · twentyG1501
Cross-references for Luke 14:31
- 1 Kings 20:11The king of Israel answered, “Tell him: ‘One who puts on his armor should not boast like one who takes it off.’ ”
- 2 Kings 18:20You say you have the counsel and the might for war—but you speak only empty words. On whom are you depending, that you rebel against me?
- Proverbs 20:18Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.
- Proverbs 25:8do not bring hastily to court, for what will you do in the end if your neighbor puts you to shame?
Commentaries on Luke 14:31
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 31With ten thousand to meet - Whether he will be able, with the forces which he “has,” to meet his enemy. Christ here perhaps intends to denote that the enemies which we have to encounter in following him are many and strong, and that “our” strength is comparatively feeble. “To meet him.” To contend with him. To gain a victory over him.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35large crowds were traveling with Jesus: Jesus was very popular, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3328-33. which of you, &c.--Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the…Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 14:31
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 14
- 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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