Luke 16:8

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.
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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

6“ ‘Nine hundred gallons of olive oil,’ he replied. “The manager told him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and make it four hundred and fifty.’ 7“Then he asked the second, ‘And how much do you owe?’ “ ‘A thousand bushels of wheat,’ he replied. “He told him, ‘Take your bill and make it eight hundred.’ “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. 9I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. 10“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Luke 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“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
• Luke 18:6And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says.
• Luke 16:4I know what I’ll do so that, when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.’
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”
• Exodus 1:10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.”
• 2 Samuel 13:3Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
• 2 Kings 10:19Now summon all the prophets of Baal, all his servants and all his priests. See that no one is missing, because I am going to hold a great sacrifice for Baal. Anyone who fails to come will no longer live.” But Jehu was acting deceptively in order to destroy the servants of Baal.
• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!
• Luke 20:34Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage.
• Psalms 17:14By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise.
• Philippians 3:19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
• Psalms 49:10For all can see that the wise die, that the foolish and the senseless also perish, leaving their wealth to others.
• Matthew 17:26“From others,” Peter answered. “Then the children are exempt,” Jesus said to him.
• John 12:36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
• Ephesians 5:8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live 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

• Covetousness
• Dishonesty
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Probation
• Servant
• Steward
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Beg
• Beside
• Child
• Cool
• Deride
• Dig
• Fare
• Put
• Riches

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