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 King James Version (NKJV)“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!

Context of Luke 12:49

47“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. 48But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required. “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning! 50I have a terrible baptism of suffering ahead of me, and I am under a heavy burden until it is accomplished. 51Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!

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 think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!
• Isaiah 11:4He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited. The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
• Joel 2:30And I will cause wonders in the heavens and on the earth— blood and fire and columns of smoke.
• Malachi 3:2“But who will be able to endure it when he comes? Who will be able to stand and face him when he appears? For he will be like a blazing fire that refines metal, or like a strong soap that bleaches clothes.
• Malachi 4:1The Lord of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all.
• Matthew 3:10Even now the ax of God’s judgment is poised, ready to sever the roots of the trees. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.
• Luke 11:53As Jesus was leaving, the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees became hostile and tried to provoke him with many questions.
• Luke 13:31At that time some Pharisees said to him, “Get away from here if you want to live! Herod Antipas wants to kill you!”
• Luke 19:39But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”
• John 9:4We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work.
• John 11:8But his disciples objected. “Rabbi,” they said, “only a few days ago the people in Judea were trying to stone you. Are you going there again?”
• John 12:17Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it.

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