Luke 16:8

Luke 16:8 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.
• New International Version (NIV)“The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

Context of Luke 16:8

6And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 7Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. 10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Luke 16:8 word by word

καὶ ἐπῄνεσεν ὁ κύριος τὸν οἰκονόμον τῆς ἀδικίας ὅτι φρονίμως ἐποίησεν, ὅτι οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ αἰῶνος τούτου φρονιμώτεροι ὑπὲρ τοὺς υἱοὺς τοῦ φωτὸς εἰς τὴν γενεὰν τὴν ἑαυτῶν εἰσιν.Read the interlinear

• Andκαίkai · andG2532
• the lordὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the lordκύριοςkurios · lord: masterG2962
• commendedἐπαινέωepaineō · to praiseG1867
• the unjustἀδικίαadikia · unrighteousnessG93
• stewardοἰκονόμοςoikonomos · managerG3623
• becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• he had doneποιέωpoieō · to do/make: doG4160
• wiselyφρονίμωςphronimōs · shrewdlyG5430
• the childrenυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
• of thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• worldαἰώνaiōn · an age: ageG165
• areεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• inεἰςeis · towardG1519
• theirἑαυτοῦheautou · themselfG1438
• generationγενεάgenea · generationG1074
• wiserφρόνιμοςphronimos · thoughtfulG5429
• thanὑπέρhuper · above/forG5228
• of lightφῶςphōs · lightG5457

Cross-references for Luke 16:8

• Luke 16:10He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
• Luke 18:6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
• Luke 16:4I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
• Genesis 3:1Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which Yhwh God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?
• Exodus 1:10Come on, let us deal wisely with them; lest they multiply, and it come to pass, that, when there falleth out any war, they join also unto our enemies, and fight against us, and so get them up out of the land.
• 2 Samuel 13:3But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah David’s brother: and Jonadab was a very subtil man.
• 2 Kings 10:19Now therefore call unto me all the prophets of Baal, all his servants, and all his priests; let none be wanting: for I have a great sacrifice to do to Baal; whosoever shall be wanting, he shall not live. But Jehu did it in subtilty, to the intent that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise:
• Luke 20:34And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:
• Psalms 17:14From men which are thy hand, O Yhwh, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
• Philippians 3:19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
• Psalms 49:10For he seeth that wise men die, likewise the fool and the brutish person perish, and leave their wealth to others.
• Matthew 17:26Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free.
• John 12:36While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
• Ephesians 5:8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Commentaries on Luke 16:8

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 8The lord commended - Viz. the master of this unjust steward. He spoke highly of the address and cunning of his iniquitous servant. He had, on his own principles, made a very prudent provision for his support; but his master no more approved of his conduct in this, than he did in his wasting his substance before. From the ambiguous and improper manner in which this is expressed in the common English translation, it has been supposed that our blessed Lord…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 8The lord commended - Praised, or expressed admiration at his wisdom. These are not the words of Jesus, as commending him, but a part of the narrative or parable. His “master” commended him - saw that he was wise and considerate, though he was dishonest. The unjust steward - It is not said that his master commended him because he was “unjust,” but because he was “wise.” This is the only thing in his conduct of which there is any approbation expressed, and…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8The ways of the world are the opposite of God’s ways. The children of this world use all their resources to succeed or gain an advantage in this world. God’s people do just the opposite (16:9). the sons of the light: These are God's people (see John 12:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:5).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 88. the lord--evidently the steward's lord, so called in Lu 16:3, 5. commended, &c.--not for his "injustice," but "because he had done wisely," or prudently; with commendable foresight and skilful adaptation of means to end. children of this world--so Lu 20:34; compare Psa 17:14 ("their portion in this life"); Php 3:19 ("mind earthly things"); Psa 4:6, 7. their generation--or "for their generation"--that is, for the purposes of the "world" they are "of."…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 16:8

• Covetousness
• Dishonesty
• Jesus Continued
• Jesus, the Christ
• Light
• Probation
• Servant
• Steward
• Wisdom
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Account
• Beg
• Beside
• Child
• Cool
• Deride
• Dig
• Fare
• Put
• Riches

Commentaries on Luke 16

• 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