Luke 12:56

Luke 12:56 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
• New International Version (NIV)Hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t know how to interpret this present time?
• English Standard Version (ESV)You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?
• New King James Version (NKJV)Hypocrites! You can discern the face of the sky and of the earth, but how is it you do not discern this time?

Context of Luke 12:56

54Then Jesus turned to the crowd and said, “When you see clouds beginning to form in the west, you say, ‘Here comes a shower.’ And you are right. 55When the south wind blows, you say, ‘Today will be a scorcher.’ And it is. You fools! You know how to interpret the weather signs of the earth and sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the present times. 57“Why can’t you decide for yourselves what is right? 58When you are on the way to court with your accuser, try to settle the matter before you get there. Otherwise, your accuser may drag you before the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, who will throw you into prison.

Luke 12:56 word by word

ὑποκριταί, τὸ πρόσωπον τῆς γῆς καὶ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ οἴδατε δοκιμάζειν, τὸν καιρὸν δὲ τοῦτον πῶς οὐκ οἴδατε δοκιμάζειν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• hypocritesὑποκριτήςhupokritēs · hypocriteG5273
• ye canεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
• discernδοκιμάζωdokimazō · to testG1381
• the faceὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the faceπρόσωπονprosōpon · faceG4383
• of the skyοὐρανόςouranos · heavenG3772
• andκαίkai · andG2532
• of the earthγῆgē · earth: planetG1093
• butδέde · thenG1161
• how is it thatπῶςpōs · how?!G4459
• notοὐou · noG3756
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• timeκαιρόςkairos · time/right timeG2540

Cross-references for Luke 12:56

• 1 Chronicles 12:32From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take.
• Matthew 11:25At that time Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding these things from those who think themselves wise and clever, and for revealing them to the childlike.
• Matthew 16:3red sky in the morning means foul weather all day.’ You know how to interpret the weather signs in the sky, but you don’t know how to interpret the signs of the times!
• Matthew 24:32“Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near.
• Luke 19:42“How I wish today that you of all people would understand the way to peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from your eyes.
• Daniel 9:24“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place.
• Haggai 2:7I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
• Malachi 3:1“Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
• Malachi 4:2“But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture.
• Acts 3:24“Starting with Samuel, every prophet spoke about what is happening today.
• Galatians 4:4But when the right time came, God sent his Son, born of a woman, subject to the law.

Commentaries on Luke 12:56

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 56This time? - Can ye not discover from the writings of the prophets, and from the events which now take place, that this is the time of the Messiah, and that I am the very person foretold by them?Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 54-57Verses 54-57 See the notes at Matthew 16:2-3. South wind - To the south and southwest of Judea were situated Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, all warm or hot regions, and consequently the air that came from those quarters was greatly heated. How is it that ye do not discern this time! - You see a cloud rise, and predict a shower; a south wind, and expect heat. These are regular events. So you see my miracles; you hear my preaching; you have the predictions of…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 54-59Verses 54-59 Christ would have the people to be as wise in the concerns of their souls as they are in outward affairs. Let them hasten to obtain peace with God before it is too late. If any man has found that God has set himself against him concerning his sins, let him apply to him as God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. While we are alive, we are in the way, and now is our time.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 5656. how ... not discern, &c.--unable to perceive what a critical period that was for the Jewish Church.Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 12:56

• Hypocrisy
• Jesus, the Christ
• Meteorology and Celestial Phenomena

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