Luke 12:24–28
Jesus asks us to look at the ravens and lilies so as not to live anxious
Study it word by word24Consider the ravens, that they do not sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them. How much more are you worth than the birds!
25And which of you by worrying can add a cubit to the length of his life?
26If then you cannot even do the least thing, why do you worry about the rest?
27Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
28But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, you of little faith!
In its context
22And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will wear.
23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.
…
29And you, do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not be unsettled.
30For all these things the nations of the world seek after; but your Father knows that you need them.
Its words in the original
- κατανοήσατεkatanoēsate· consider, notice
Notice, consider carefully, observe.
- κόρακαςkorakas· raven
Raven.
- σπείρουσινspeirousin· sow
Sow.
- θερίζουσινtherizousin· reap, harvest
Reap, harvest.
- ἔστινestin· be
Be, exist.
- ταμεῖονtameion· inner room, storeroom
Inner room of the house, storeroom; the most private place.
- ἀποθήκηapothēkē· barn, storehouse
Barn, granary, storehouse.
- θεὸςtheos· God, god
God. In the plural or in another sense, "gods".
- τρέφειtrephei· feed, bring up
Feed, nourish; bring up, raise a child.
- πόσῳposōi· how much, how many
How much, how great; how many.
- μᾶλλονmallon· more, rather
More, rather.
- διαφέρετεdiapherete· be worth more, carry
Be worth more, be superior; also carry through, or carry about.
- πετεινῶνpeteinōn· bird
Bird.
- μεριμνῶνmerimnōn· be anxious, care for
Be anxious, worry, be troubled; also care for, be concerned about someone or something.
- δύναταιdynatai· can, be able
Can, be able.
- ἡλικίανhēlikian· age, stature
Stature; also age, length of life.
- προσθεῖναιprostheinai· add
Add, add to; do again.
- πῆχυνpēchyn· cubit
Cubit, a measure of about 45 centimeters (about 18 inches).
- ἐλάχιστονelachiston· least, smallest
Least, smallest, the lowest in size or importance.
- λοιπῶνloipōn· the rest, remaining
The rest, the others; as an adverb, "from now on", "finally".
- κρίναkrina· lily
Lily, wildflower.
- αὐξάνειauxanei· grow, increase
Grow, increase; make grow.
- κοπιᾷkopiai· labor, toil
Grow weary, work hard.
- νήθειnēthei· spin
Spin thread.
- λέγωlegō· say
Say, speak; in the passive, "be called".
- ΣολομὼνSolomōn· Solomon
Solomon, son of David and Bathsheba, the king of Israel who built the temple.
- δόξῃdoxēi· glory
Glory: splendor, honor, the weight of God's presence.
- περιεβάλετοperiebaleto· clothe, put around
Clothe, put a garment around; dress oneself.
- ἓνhen· one
One.
- ἀγρῷagrōi· field, countryside
Field, farmland; in the plural, the countryside and its farms.
- χόρτονchorton· grass
Grass, pasture.
- σήμερονsēmeron· today
Today.
- αὔριονaurion· tomorrow
Tomorrow, the next day.
- κλίβανονklibanon· oven
Oven.
- βαλλόμενονballomenon· throw, put
Throw, cast; also put.
- ἀμφιέζειamphiezei· clothe
Clothe, dress.
- ὀλιγόπιστοιoligopistoi· of little faith
Of little faith: trusting God only a little.