New Living Translation
Luke 11:8
8But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.
Luke 11:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.
- New International Version (NIV)I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.
- English Standard Version (ESV)I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
- New King James Version (NKJV)I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.
Context of Luke 11:8
6‘A friend of mine has just arrived for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 7And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’ But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. 9“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Read all of Luke 11Luke 11:8 word by word
λέγω ὑμῖν· εἰ καὶ οὐ δώσει αὐτῷ ἀναστὰς διὰ τὸ εἶναι φίλον αὐτοῦ, διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν αὐτοῦ ἐγερθεὶς δώσει αὐτῷ ὅσων χρῄζει.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- I sayλέγωlegō · to sayG3004
- unto youσύsu · youG4771
- Thoughεἰei · if: even thoughG1487
- ·καίkai · andG2532
- he willδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- notοὐou · noG3756
- rise andἀνίστημιanistēmi · to ariseG450
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- becauseδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- he isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- friendφίλοςphilos · friendly/friendG5384
- yetγέge · indeedG1065
- ofἀναίδειαanaideia · shamelessnesG335
- he will riseἐγείρωegeirō · to ariseG1453
- as many asὅσοςhosos · just as/how muchG3745
- he needethχρῄζωchrēzō · to needG5535
Cross-references for Luke 11:8
- Luke 18:1One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that they should always pray and never give up.
- Genesis 32:26Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
- Matthew 15:22A Gentile woman who lived there came to him, pleading, “Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! For my daughter is possessed by a demon that torments her severely.”
- Romans 15:30Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit.
- 2 Corinthians 12:8Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.
- Colossians 2:1I want you to know how much I have agonized for you and for the church at Laodicea, and for many other believers who have never met me personally.
- Colossians 4:12Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.
Commentaries on Luke 11:8
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8I tell you - The Latin Vulgate here adds, “if he shall continue knocking.” Though this is not in the Greek, yet it is indispensable that it should be understood in order to the sense. Knocking “once” would not denote “importunity,” but it was because he “continued” knocking. His importunity - His troublesome perseverance; his continuing to disturb the man, and refusing to take any denial. The word “importunity” denotes perseverance in an object, without…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 5-13Verses 5-13 Christ encourages fervency and constancy in prayer. We must come for what we need, as a man does to his neighbour or friend, who is kind to him. We must come for bread; for that which is needful. If God does not answer our prayers speedily, yet he will in due time, if we continue to pray. Observe what to pray for; we must ask for the Holy Spirit, not only as necessary in order to our praying well, but as all spiritual blessings are included in…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8because of the man’s persistence (or in order to avoid shame, or so his reputation will not be damaged): The man who refused to get up would also be shamed, because hospitality was a duty in that community. In the same way, God protects his good name by caring for his people.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5-85-8. at midnight ... for a friend is come--The heat in warm countries makes evening preferable to-day for travelling; but "midnight" is everywhere a most unseasonable hour of call, and for that very reason it is here selected.Read the comment
Topics related to Luke 11:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Luke 11
- 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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