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

6“He said, ‘One hundred units of olive oil.’ “The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill, sit down quickly, and write fifty.’ 7Then he said to another, ‘Now how much do you owe?’ “He said, ‘A hundred units of wheat.’ “The manager said to him, ‘Take your bill and write eighty.’ “Now the master praised the crooked manager because he had acted shrewdly, for the sons of this age are smarter when dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9I say to you, make friends for yourselves from the wealth of the world, so when it runs out, they will welcome you into the eternal shelters. 10“One who is faithful in the smallest matters is also faithful in much, and the one unjust in the smallest matters will likewise be unjust 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• 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 16:10“One who is faithful in the smallest matters is also faithful in much, and the one unjust in the smallest matters will likewise be unjust in much.
• Luke 18:6Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge is saying.
• Luke 16:4I know what I’ll do, so that when I’m put out of management others will welcome me into their homes.’
• Genesis 3:1But the serpent was shrewder than any animal of the field that Adonai Elohim made. So it said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from all the trees of the garden’?”
• Exodus 1:10Come, we must deal shrewdly with them, or else they will grow even more numerous, so that if war breaks out, they may join our enemies, fight against us, and then escape from the land.”
• 2 Samuel 13:3However, Amnon had a friend named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother, and Jonadab was a very shrewd man.
• 2 Kings 10:19Now therefore, summon to me all the prophets of Baal, all his worshippers, and all his priests, let none be missing, for I have a great sacrifice for Baal—whoever is missing will not live.” But Jehu did it in cunning, in order to destroy the worshippers of Baal.
• Proverbs 6:6Go to the ant, you slacker— consider its ways and be wise!
• Luke 20:34Yeshua said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage.
• Psalms 17:14from men, with Your hand, Adonai, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their belly with Your treasure —with plenty of children— and leave their surplus to their babes.
• 1 Corinthians 3:18Let no one deceive himself. If anyone thinks he is wise in this age, let him become a fool so he may become wise.
• Philippians 3:19Their end is destruction—their god is their belly and their glory is in their shame. They set their minds on earthly things.)
• Psalms 49:10Will he live forever— and never see the Pit?
• Matthew 17:26After Peter said, “From strangers,” Yeshua said to him, “Then the sons are free.
• John 12:36While you have the light, believe in the light so that you may become sons of light.” Yeshua spoke these things, then left and hid Himself from them.
• Ephesians 5:8For once you were darkness, but now in union with the Lord you are light. 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