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.
• New International Version (NIV)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.
• 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.

Context of Luke 12:37

35“Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning, 36as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast. Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. 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! 38He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. 39“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to 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 12:43If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward.
• Luke 21:36Keep alert at all times. And pray that you might be strong enough to escape these coming horrors and stand before the Son of Man.”
• Matthew 24:45“A faithful, sensible servant is one to whom the master can give the responsibility of managing his other household servants and feeding them.
• Matthew 25:20The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
• Philippians 1:21For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.
• 2 Timothy 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful.
• 1 Peter 5:1And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you:
• 2 Peter 1:11Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
• 2 Peter 3:14And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
• Revelation 14:13And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this down: Blessed are those who die in the Lord from now on. Yes, says the Spirit, they are blessed indeed, for they will rest from their hard work; for their good deeds follow them!”
• Isaiah 62:5Your children will commit themselves to you, O Jerusalem, just as a young man commits himself to his bride. Then God will rejoice over you as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride.
• Jeremiah 32:41I will find joy doing good for them and will faithfully and wholeheartedly replant them in this land.
• Zephaniah 3:17For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.”
• John 12:26Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.
• John 13:4So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist,
• 1 Corinthians 2:9That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what 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