Luke 12:49

Luke 12:49 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
• New International Version (NIV)“I have come to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
• English Standard Version (ESV)"I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!
• New Living Translation (NLT)“I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!

Context of Luke 12:49

47And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 48But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more. “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! 50But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! 51Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.

Luke 12:49 word by word

Πῦρ ἦλθον βαλεῖν ἐπὶ τὴν γῆν καὶ τί θέλω εἰ ἤδη ἀνήφθη.Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• I am comeἔρχομαιerchomai · to come/goG2064
• to sendβάλλωballō · to throw: throwG906
• fireπῦρpur · fireG4442
• onεἰςeis · towardG1519
• the earthὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• whatτίςtis · which?G5101
• will Iθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• ifεἰei · if: if onlyG1487
• it beἀνάπτωanaptō · to set fireG381
• alreadyἤδηēdē · alreadyG2235

Cross-references for Luke 12:49

• Luke 12:51Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
• Isaiah 11:4But with righteousness He shall judge the poor, And decide with equity for the meek of the earth; He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, And with the breath of His lips He shall slay the wicked.
• Joel 2:30“And I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth: Blood and fire and pillars of smoke.
• Malachi 3:2“But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire And like launderers’ soap.
• Malachi 4:1“For behold, the day is coming, Burning like an oven, And all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble. And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” Says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.
• Matthew 3:10And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
• Luke 11:53And as He said these things to them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to assail Him vehemently, and to cross-examine Him about many things,
• Luke 13:31On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Him, “Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.”
• Luke 19:39And some of the Pharisees called to Him from the crowd, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”
• John 9:4I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day; the night is coming when no one can work.
• John 11:8The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”
• John 12:17Therefore the people, who were with Him when He called Lazarus out of his tomb and raised him from the dead, bore witness.

Commentaries on Luke 12:49

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 49I am come to send fire - See this subject largely explained on Matthew 10:34; (note), etc. From the connection in which these words stand, both in this place and in Matthew, it appears as if our Lord intended by the word fire, not only the consuming influence of the Roman sword, but also the influence of his own Spirit in the destruction of sin. In both these senses this fire was already kindled: as yet, however, it appeared but as a spark, but was soon…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 49I am, come … - The result of my coming will be that there will be divisions and contentions. He does not mean that he came “for” that purpose, or that he “sought” and “desired” it; but that such was the state of the human heart, and such the opposition of people to the truth, that that would be the “effect” of his coming. See the notes at Matthew 10:34. Fire - Fire, here, is the emblem of discord and contention, and consequently of calamities. Thus it is…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 41-53Verses 41-53 All are to take to themselves what Christ says in his word, and to inquire concerning it. No one is left so ignorant as not to know many things to be wrong which he does, and many things to be right which he neglects; therefore all are without excuse in their sin. The bringing in the gospel dispensation would occasion desolations. Not that this would be the tendency of Christ's religion, which is pure, peaceable, and loving; but the effect of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 49I have come to ignite a fire: The ministry of Jesus brought great change. It brought judgment on the wicked and purification for the righteous (see 3:16–17; 9:54; 17:29; Deuteronomy 4:24; Amos 5:6; Hebrews 12:29).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 49-5349-53. to send--cast. fire--"the higher spiritual element of life which Jesus came to introduce into this earth (compare Mt 3:11), with reference to its mighty effects in quickening all that is akin to it and destroying all that is opposed. To cause this element of life to take up its abode on earth, and wholly to pervade human hearts with its warmth, was the lofty destiny of the Redeemer" [Olshausen: so Calvin, Stier, Alford, &c.]. what will I, &c.--an…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 12:49

• Fire
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ

In the dictionaries

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

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