Luke 14:28

Luke 14:28 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
• New International Version (NIV)“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?
• English Standard Version (ESV)For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
• New King James Version (NKJV)For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it—

Context of Luke 14:28

26“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters—and yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple. 27Whoever does not carry his own cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple. “For which of you, wanting to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and figure out the cost, to see if he has enough to finish it? 29Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and isn’t able to finish everything, all who see it begin to mock him, 30saying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish!’

Luke 14:28 word by word

Τίς γὰρ ἐξ ὑμῶν θέλων πύργον οἰκοδομῆσαι οὐχὶ πρῶτον καθίσας ψηφίζει τὴν δαπάνην εἰ ἔχει εἰς ἀπαρτισμόν;Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• ·ὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• Forγάρgar · forG1063
• whichτίςtis · which?G5101
• ofἐκek ex · out fromG1537
• youσύsu · youG4771
• intendingθέλωthelō ethelō · to will/desireG2309
• toπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• buildοἰκοδομέωoikodomeō · to buildG3618
• a towerπύργοςpurgos · towerG4444
• sittethκαθίζωkathizō · to seatG2523
• notοὐχίouchi · not!G3780
• firstπρῶτονprōton · firstG4412
• and countethψηφίζωpsēphizō · to calculateG5585
• the costδαπάνηdapanē · costG1160
• whetherεἰei · ifG1487
• he haveἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• to finishἀπαρτισμόςapartismos · completionG535

Cross-references for Luke 14:28

• Genesis 11:4Then they said, “Come! Let’s build ourselves a city, with a tower whose top reaches into heaven. So let’s make a name for ourselves, or else we will be scattered over the face of the whole land.”
• Proverbs 24:27Finish your outdoor work and get your fields ready. After that, build your house.
• Luke 14:33So in the same way, whoever does not renounce all that he has, cannot be My disciple.
• Joshua 24:19But Joshua said to the people, “You will not be able to worship Adonai, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not pardon your transgression and your sins.
• Matthew 8:20Yeshua tells him, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
• Matthew 10:22And you will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end shall be saved.
• Matthew 20:22But Yeshua replied, “You don’t know what you’re asking! Are you able to drink the cup I am about to drink?” “We are able,” they say to Him.
• Acts 21:13Then Paul responded, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound but to die for the name of the Lord Yeshua!”
• 1 Thessalonians 3:4For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer persecution— just as has happened, as you know.
• 2 Peter 1:13I think it right to stir you up with a reminder, as long as I remain alive in this “tent” of a body—

Commentaries on Luke 14:28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 28To build a tower - Probably this means no more than a dwelling house, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on, and to serve for refuge from and defense against an enemy. It was also used for prayer and meditation. This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 28Intending to build a tower - See Matthew 21:33. A tower was a place of defense or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made “high,” so as to enable one to see an enemy when he approached; and “strong,” so that it could not be easily taken. Counteth the cost - Makes a calculation how much it will cost to build it.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 25-35Verses 25-35 Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of sin, even the most beloved…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25-35large crowds were traveling with Jesus: Jesus was very popular, but he was about to teach that the cost of following him was also very high.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 28-3328-33. which of you, &c.--Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the…Read the comment

Topics related to Luke 14:28

• Jesus, the Christ
• Prudence
• Salvation
• Seekers
• Self-Denial
• Tower

In the dictionaries

• Compel
• Condition
• Consent
• Consult
• Exalt
• Excuse
• Halt
• Hate
• Worship
• Architecture

Commentaries on Luke 14

• 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