Luke 10 11

Luke 10:11 kjv

Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.

Luke 10:11 nkjv

'The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.'

Luke 10:11 niv

'Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.'

Luke 10:11 esv

'Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near.'

Luke 10:11 nlt

'We wipe even the dust of your town from our feet to show that we have abandoned you to your fate. And know this ? the Kingdom of God is near!'

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 11 Meaning

Luke 10:11 describes a symbolic action instructed by Jesus for His disciples when their message of the Kingdom of God is rejected in a town. The act of shaking off the dust from their feet against a city signifies a complete disassociation from it, carrying none of its spiritual defilement or shared judgment. It serves as a powerful, non-verbal warning and testimony, declaring that the city has rejected the imminent arrival of God's kingdom and thereby brings judgment upon itself, not on the messengers. It signifies the end of their responsibility towards that place and leaves the city accountable for its unbelief in the presence of God's Kingdom.

Luke 10 11 Context

Luke Chapter 10 immediately precedes this verse with Jesus appointing and sending out seventy-two (or seventy in some manuscripts) disciples. These are not the twelve apostles, but a larger group, symbolizing a wider scope of ministry. Jesus sends them out in pairs, instructing them specifically on their mission: to preach the near advent of the Kingdom of God and to heal. Their journey is urgent and focused. The instructions about shaking off dust are given in the context of how to handle rejection. It underscores the urgency of their message and the consequences for towns that do not welcome the message of the Kingdom, setting the stage for their accountability. Historically and culturally, the act of shaking off dust was a common Jewish practice used by travelers when leaving Gentile territory to cleanse themselves of defilement before re-entering Jewish land. Jesus' instruction repurposes this ritual, directing it at fellow Jews within Israel, indicating that the rejection of His messengers was as serious as or even worse than pagan defilement, warranting a similar severance and serving as a witness against their spiritual state.

Luke 10 11 Word analysis

• Even (Καὶ): An emphatic "And" or "Even," highlighting the thoroughness and significance of the action to be taken.
• the dust (τὸν κονιορτὸν - ton koniorton): Refers to fine, dry earth particles. Symbolically, this "dust" could represent not only physical grime but also the spiritual defilement or impurity of a place that rejects God's message. In Jewish custom, shaking off dust from Gentile land prevented its "uncleanliness" from entering Jewish land; here it's applied to Jewish towns, heightening the severity of their rejection.
• of your city (τῆς πόλεως ὑμῶν - tēs poleōs hymōn): Emphasizes the specific rejection by that locality and its people, not just general rejection. The collective responsibility of the inhabitants is implied.
• which clings (ὁ κολληθεὶς - ho kollētheis): From kollao, meaning "to glue," "to cling to," "to stick fast." It denotes that the dust has become attached, suggesting a lingering connection, which the act aims to completely sever.
• to our feet (τοὺς πόδας ἡμῶν - tous podas hēmōn): The feet, the means of movement, metaphorically carrying away defilement. The action of "shaking off" purifies the messenger and disconnects them from the negative association of the rejected place.
• we wipe off (ἐκμαξάμενοι - ekmaxamenoi): From ekmasso, meaning "to wipe off thoroughly," "to rub clean." It implies a forceful and complete removal, indicating finality and disassociation. The active verb underscores the disciples' conscious and deliberate action.
• against you (εἰς ὑμᾶς - eis hymas): This crucial phrase indicates the purpose and direction of the action. It's not just shaking off dust; it's a testimony directed against them, laying the responsibility and consequences squarely on their shoulders.
• Yet be sure of this (Πλὴν τοῦτο γινώσκετε - Plēn touto ginōskete): An emphatic transition. "But know this," or "However, know this." It shifts from the action to the undeniable truth and the serious implication behind it.
• that the kingdom of God (ὅτι ἤγγικεν ἡ βασιλεία τοῦ θεοῦ - hoti ēggiken hē basileia tou theou): The central message and the core reason for the severe reaction to rejection. The Kingdom has "come near" (perfect tense, "has drawn near and is present"), implying its active presence and availability. Their rejection is not just of messengers, but of God's present reign and salvation.
• has come near (ἤγγικεν - ēggiken): The perfect tense of engizō, indicating a state of being "at hand" or "having arrived and being present." This proximity means the opportunity for salvation and submission to God's rule is immediate, and their refusal carries grave consequences.

Words-group analysis:

• Even the dust...we wipe off against you: This phrase encapsulates a potent symbolic act. It communicates a public, visible break with the town and its people. It is a declarative, prophetic gesture serving as a tangible warning. The rejection is severe enough to warrant total disassociation, symbolizing the town’s spiritual contagion in the eyes of God’s messengers.
• Yet be sure of this, that the kingdom of God has come near: This second part reveals the ultimate meaning and severity of the first action. The disassociation is warranted precisely because the town rejected the arrival of the divine rule, not merely human representatives. It establishes the town's profound culpability: their rejection isn't merely of human teaching, but of God's immediate, saving presence and authority. The act of shaking dust then serves as a witness (μαρτύριον) that they were given the opportunity to accept the Kingdom but chose to reject it, leaving them without excuse.

Luke 10 11 Bonus section

This act of shaking off the dust is more than a warning; it’s an implied verdict. It communicates that the time of decision has passed for that place concerning that specific presentation of the Kingdom. While God's mercy extends, this symbolic act points to an hardening of heart that brings a foretaste of future judgment. It demonstrates the authority given to the disciples – their message of the Kingdom was God’s message, and to reject them was to reject the Father who sent Jesus (Lk 10:16). Furthermore, the severity of the rejection implies that while the disciples brought peace (Lk 10:5-6), for those who refused it, that peace returned to the messengers, leaving the town without its blessing. The parallel instructions in Matthew and Mark confirm this instruction as foundational to the disciples' mission of proclamation and how to deal with the inevitable resistance.

Luke 10 11 Commentary

Luke 10:11 encapsulates Jesus’ clear teaching on the responsibility of those who hear the gospel of the Kingdom. The act of "shaking off the dust" is not an act of vindictiveness or malice, but a deeply symbolic, prophetic gesture rooted in Jewish custom. It functions primarily as a testimony or witness (μαρτύριον) against the unrepentant town. The messengers, by performing this action, declare that they have fulfilled their obligation to proclaim the Kingdom and bear no further responsibility for that city's judgment, nor do they carry its spiritual "contamination."

The true weight of the verse lies in the solemn pronouncement: "the kingdom of God has come near." This statement reveals the underlying reason for the severe, public disassociation. The rejection is not of mere travelers or human teachers, but of God’s own redemptive, authoritative presence through Jesus and His messengers. Because the Kingdom has "drawn near" and is tangibly present through the disciples' healing and preaching, rejection signifies a direct affront to God's reign itself. The shaking of the dust, therefore, marks a point of no return for that locality in terms of that specific visit, making its inhabitants culpable before God. It emphasizes that salvation is offered freely, but also carries the profound consequence of accountability if deliberately rejected. The act also served to confirm for the disciples that their mission was completed in that location and they were free to move on without guilt.