Luke 12:48

“But the one who did not know, and did things deserving of blows, will be beaten with few blows. And from everyone to whom much was given, much will be required from him; and to whom they entrusted much, they will ask of him even more.”

Luke 12:48 · direct translation from the Greek
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With the Greek beneath

48

Luke 12:48, word by word

knowγνοὺςgnous

know

To be truly acquainted with someone, or grasp something fully.

Where else “gnous” appears
didποιήσαςpoiēsas

do

To carry out an action or cause an effect.

Where else “poiēsas” appears
things deservingἄξιαaxia

deserving

Deserving a punishment.

Where else “axia” appears
of blowsπληγῶνplēgōn

blow

The mark or harm a blow or a whip leaves on the body.

Where else “plēgōn” appears
will be beatenδαρήσεταιdarēsetai

beat, strike

Beat, strike, flog.

Where else “darēsetai” appears
with few blowsὀλίγαςoligas

few

In small number or amount, not many.

Where else “oligas” appears
muchπολύpoly

much

A great amount of something, like fruit or work.

Where else “poly” appears
was givenἐδόθηedothē

give

To hand something to another freely, as a gift.

Where else “edothē” appears
will be requiredζητηθήσεταιzētēthēsetai

demand

To demand something, or discuss it.

Where else “zētēthēsetai” appears
they entrustedπαρέθεντοparethento

entrust

To leave in another's care: "into your hands I place my spirit".

Where else “parethento” appears
they will askαἰτήσουσινaitēsousin

ask

Ask, ask for.

Where else “aitēsousin” appears
even moreπερισσότερονperissoteron

more, greater

More, greater; all the more.

Where else “perissoteron” appears

Parallel passages

Other books that tell the same thing or quote these words.

The faithful and wise servant

Matthew 24:45-51

A similar saying; scholars discuss whether it is the same saying in another setting or a repeated one.

See them side by side

Luke 12:42-48

42And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master will put in charge over his household staff to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43Happy is that slave whom his master will find doing so when he comes. 44I tell you truly that he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying to come,’ and begins to beat the servants and the maids, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, and will cut him in two and put his portion with the unbelieving. 47And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not prepare or act according to his will will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who did not know, and did things deserving of blows, will be beaten with few blows. And from everyone to whom much was given, much will be required from him; and to whom they entrusted much, they will ask of him even more.

Matthew 24:45-51

45Who, then, is the faithful and wise slave whom the master has put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46Happy is that slave whom his master will find doing so when he comes. 47Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 48But if that wicked slave says in his heart, ‘My master is delayed,’ 49and begins to beat his fellow slaves, and eats and drinks with the drunkards, 50the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour that he does not know, 51and will cut him in two and assign him his place with the hypocrites; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The context

47And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not prepare or act according to his will will be beaten with many blows.

48 · This verse (above)

49I came to cast fire upon the earth, and how I wish that it were already kindled!

Read all of Luke 12

To study Luke 12 in a group

  1. 1. What it says

    What does the rich man plan to do with his harvest, and what does God say to him? (vv. 16-21)

  2. 2. What it means

    Jesus says, “Do not worry about your life,” pointing to the ravens and the lilies. What reason does he give for not being anxious? (vv. 22-31)

  3. 3. How I live it

    Jesus says where our treasure is, our heart will be too (v. 34). What takes most of your time and attention today?

How to use it