Luke 11 11

Luke 11:11 kjv

If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

Luke 11:11 nkjv

If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?

Luke 11:11 niv

"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Luke 11:11 esv

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;

Luke 11:11 nlt

"You fathers ? if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 11 Meaning

Luke 11:11 is part of Jesus' teaching on prayer, demonstrating God's inherent goodness and willingness to respond to His children. Through two vivid rhetorical questions, Jesus highlights the stark contrast between essential nourishment (bread, fish) and harmful alternatives (stone, serpent). The core message is an argument from the lesser to the greater: if flawed human fathers, despite their imperfections, would never maliciously give harmful things to their children who ask for basic necessities, how much more will the perfect Heavenly Father graciously give good gifts to those who sincerely ask Him. In Luke's specific account, this divine benevolence is pointedly linked to the gift of the Holy Spirit (v. 13).

Luke 11 11 Context

Luke 11:11 is an integral part of Jesus' discourse on prayer, immediately following the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4) and the parable of the friend at midnight who receives bread due to persistence (Luke 11:5-8). This verse serves as a crucial bridge, applying the concept of persistence and confident asking to God's character as a loving Father. It reassures the disciples that unlike the hesitant friend, God is eager to give. Historically, the listeners were familiar with paternal roles in providing for their households and the distinction between useful food and dangerous imposters. This teaching likely served as a gentle correction or clarification for anyone who might perceive God as reluctant, stingy, or potentially harmful, as some pagan deities were thought to be. It presents a strong contrast to common ancient perceptions of gods who might be indifferent or capricious, instead painting a picture of God as supremely benevolent and trustworthy.

Luke 11 11 Word analysis

• If a son asks for bread:
  • son: (Greek: υἱός - huios) Implies a rightful, familial relationship, not a stranger. Highlights the privilege and trust inherent in approaching a father. This immediate relationship emphasizes dependence and a father's natural inclination to provide.
  • asks: (Greek: αἰτέω - aiteō) Indicates a request, a seeking. It's direct, not demanding, signifying a position of reliance.
  • bread: (Greek: ἄρτος - artos) A universal staple, symbolizing essential sustenance and daily needs. Its simplicity highlights a fundamental request for survival.
• from any of you who is a father:
  • father: (Greek: πατήρ - patēr) Represents human fatherhood. Jesus appeals to a basic human understanding of parental love and responsibility, however imperfect, to illustrate God's perfect Fatherhood. This rhetorical strategy aims to draw an immediate, relatable connection for the listeners.
• will he give him a stone?
  • stone: (Greek: λίθον - lithon) The direct opposite of bread – utterly useless as food, potentially harmful. It signifies a deceptive and unhelpful substitution for what is needed. This immediate negative example underscores the absurdity of a father offering harm.
• Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?
  • fish: (Greek: ἰχθύν - ichthyn) Another common and essential food source, especially in Galilee. It represents another basic provision.
  • serpent: (Greek: ὄφιν - ophin) Represents something inherently dangerous, venomous, and potentially deadly, disguised as something life-sustaining. The immediate harm posed by a serpent is much greater than that of a stone, intensifying the rhetorical argument. This comparison further solidifies the idea of a father never providing something deadly instead of beneficial.
  • instead of: (Greek: ἀντὶ - anti) Emphasizes the cruel, malicious substitution of something good with something actively harmful. It speaks to intentional malevolence.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "If a son asks for bread... will he give him a stone?": This rhetorical question highlights the absurdity of a father giving something useless or inedible in place of life-sustaining food. It sets the baseline for understanding human parental instinct.
  • "Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish?": This second question escalates the absurdity, contrasting a nutritious food with a deadly, harmful creature. The parallel structure deepens the implication: human parents, however imperfect, would never offer harm, much less death, to their children. This prepares the listener for the grander revelation about the Heavenly Father's benevolence in Luke 11:13. The emphasis is on malicious deception or fatal danger, which is utterly alien to true fatherly love.

  Commentary

  Luke 11:11 brilliantly uses common familial understanding to illuminate the nature of God. Jesus appeals to the intrinsic goodness, albeit flawed, of human fatherhood. No loving human father, however imperfect, would intentionally trick or harm his child by offering a stone for bread or a snake for a fish. This isn't just about refusing a request; it's about actively replacing good with useless or deadly evil. This provides a strong basis for Jesus' concluding statement in Luke 11:13: "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" The comparison works on an "a fortiori" (from the stronger) principle: if imperfect human love dictates benevolent provision, perfect divine love guarantees even greater and purer gifts. God's response to prayer is not reluctance, but abundant and beneficial giving, supremely exemplified by the gift of the Holy Spirit. This gift is not just any good thing, but the indwelling presence of God, empowering, guiding, and comforting His children.* Example for Practical Usage: When facing uncertainty in prayer, recall that God's character is superior to the most loving earthly parent. If a child asked for a blanket on a cold night, a good parent would not give them a thorn bush. Similarly, God, our perfectly loving Father, always provides what is truly good and beneficial, even if it looks different from our initial request, particularly His empowering Spirit.

  Bonus section

  This verse subtly serves as an assurance against misconceptions about God's character that may arise from negative human experiences with authority figures or a misunderstanding of divine discipline. It distinguishes God's character from any potentially manipulative, stingy, or malevolent deity in other religious systems, emphasizing His pure, benevolent desire to bless. While Matthew's parallel speaks of giving "good things," Luke's unique emphasis on the "Holy Spirit" underscores the specific and paramount nature of the ultimate gift that the Father delights to bestow. The Holy Spirit encompasses all good things (Gal 5:22-23) and enables believers to live a life aligned with God's will and experience His presence. Thus, asking for the Holy Spirit is asking for the truest and best "bread" and "fish" for the spiritual life.

Luke 11 11 Bonus section

Luke 11 11 Commentary