Luke 11 31

Luke 11:31 kjv

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31 nkjv

The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31 niv

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon's wisdom; and now something greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31 esv

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31 nlt

"The queen of Sheba will stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for she came from a distant land to hear the wisdom of Solomon. Now someone greater than Solomon is here ? but you refuse to listen.

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 31 Meaning

Luke 11:31 presents Jesus' stern warning to the generation that demands a sign while rejecting Him. He contrasts their spiritual blindness and stubbornness with the Queen of the South (Sheba), a Gentile who traveled a great distance to seek out Solomon's wisdom. Jesus declares that she will rise at the judgment to condemn the current generation because His wisdom and authority, a reality "greater than Solomon," is present before them, yet they refuse to acknowledge it. This verse underscores the theme of rejection and judgment, highlighting that those who are less privileged or unexpected will recognize truth, serving as witnesses against those who had every advantage but remained obstinate.

Luke 11 31 Context

Luke 11:31 occurs within a series of teachings and controversies following Jesus' "Lord's Prayer" instruction and the parable of the persistent friend. Directly preceding this verse (Lk 11:29-30), Jesus responds to the crowd's demand for a sign by declaring that no sign will be given to "this evil generation" except the sign of Jonah. He explains that just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to "this generation," implicitly referring to His death and resurrection. The context thus focuses on the profound spiritual blindness and moral depravity of the generation witnessing Jesus' ministry. Historically, Jesus is addressing a predominantly Jewish audience, particularly the religious leaders, who, despite having access to the Law and Prophets and witnessing Jesus' miraculous works, stubbornly refused to acknowledge His divine authority or Messianic identity. They continually sought outward displays of power ("signs") while rejecting the very truth standing before them. The Queen of the South serves as a stark foil, a Gentile who pursued truth from afar, thus highlighting the tragic irony and impending judgment for those who had truth near but spurned it. This forms a polemic against the Jewish leadership's presumption of spiritual superiority.

Luke 11 31 Word analysis

• The Queen of the South: Greek: Basílossa Nótou (βασίλισσα Νότου). Refers to the Queen of Sheba (modern-day Yemen/Ethiopia region), as described in 1 Ki 10 and 2 Chr 9. She was a Gentile, yet traveled an immense distance. Her presence on judgment day signifies God's universal reach and willingness to save those far off, in stark contrast to the nearby rejection of Jesus by "God's people."
• will rise up: Greek: egherthḗsetai (ἐγερθήσεται), future passive of egeirō, meaning "to raise up, awaken." Implies her physical resurrection at the final judgment.
• at the judgment: Greek: en tē kritikon (ἐν τῇ κρίσει), from krísis, meaning "judgment, decision, justice." This refers to the eschatological final judgment when all humanity will give account.
• with the men of this generation: This clearly specifies Jesus' contemporary audience, particularly those who rejected Him, including religious leaders and unresponsive crowds. It highlights a group co-present at judgment for comparison.
• and condemn them: Greek: kai katakrínei autoús (καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτούς), from katakrínō, "to give judgment against, to condemn." Her presence and former actions will serve as damning evidence against the unbelieving generation, not through a verbal testimony, but through the stark contrast of their responsiveness (or lack thereof) to God's revelation. Her sincere search for wisdom exposes their complacent refusal of the ultimate wisdom.
• for she came from the ends of the earth: Greek: ek tōn perátōn tēs gēs (ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς). Emphasizes the great distance and effort she expended, indicating her genuine earnestness and spiritual hunger for truth and wisdom.
• to listen to the wisdom of Solomon: Greek: akousai tēn sophían Solomōntos (ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σοφίαν Σολομῶντος). Her singular purpose was to hear and discern profound truth. This speaks to a heart open to receive knowledge.
• and behold: Greek: kai idoú (καὶ ἰδοὺ), an interjection meaning "look, see," drawing attention to what follows. It emphasizes the momentous statement.
• a greater than Solomon is here: Greek: pleíon Solomōntos hōde (πλεῖον Σολομῶντος ὧδε). The absolute essence of the verse. Jesus unequivocally declares His own superiority to Solomon, the epitome of wisdom in the Old Testament. The term pleíon is neuter, meaning "something greater," not just "someone greater," hinting at His ultimate authority, divine wisdom, and Messiahship. Solomon received wisdom from God; Jesus is the wisdom of God. This challenges the entire framework of Jewish expectation and spiritual understanding.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "The Queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them": This phrase introduces a profound theological principle: lesser-privileged individuals who respond faithfully to light will, by their example, indict those with greater privilege and access to truth who remain unresponsive. It prefigures a reversal of expectations in the divine judgment.
• "for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon": This highlights the Queen's proactive, sacrificial effort to seek wisdom. Her genuine pursuit stands in stark contrast to the casual indifference or outright hostility of Jesus' audience, who had truth brought to their doorstep. Her diligent seeking shows a receptive heart.
• "and behold, a greater than Solomon is here": This declaration is the punchline. Jesus presents Himself as the fulfillment and surpassing reality of all previous manifestations of God's wisdom and authority. Solomon was a type; Christ is the archetype. This statement directly claims divine prerogative and wisdom far exceeding any human, setting the stage for their condemnation because they rejected such an unparalleled presence.

Luke 11 31 Bonus section

This verse carries a significant polemic not only against the religious leadership of Jesus' time but also against any who prioritize outward display or cultural pride over genuine spiritual seeking and humble acceptance of divine truth. It reveals that proximity to truth (physical presence of Jesus, or knowledge of scripture) does not guarantee receptivity; in fact, greater light brings greater accountability. The example of the Queen of the South universalizes God's judgment and grace, indicating that Gentile figures can possess a more profound spiritual responsiveness than those within the covenant people, if the latter reject their God-given privilege. This also implicitly elevates Jesus' teaching ministry as superior to even the wisdom associated with Israel's greatest king, pointing to His divine nature and the ultimate authority of His message over all earthly wisdom.

Luke 11 31 Commentary

Luke 11:31 is a critical verse in Jesus' ministry, emphasizing His unparalleled authority and the severe consequences of rejecting Him. The Queen of Sheba serves as an unshakeable witness against the generation of Jesus' day, highlighting their profound spiritual deficiency. Her willingness to undertake a long, arduous journey to seek the famed wisdom of Solomon underscores her hunger for truth and genuine openness. In contrast, Jesus' contemporaries, particularly the religious leaders, stood face-to-face with the very embodiment of divine wisdom, something greater than Solomon, yet they stubbornly refused to believe. They sought superficial signs while missing the divine truth plainly manifest. The condemnation at judgment will not be an act of revenge, but a simple unveiling of hearts—the Gentile queen's receptive heart exposing the obduracy of those who prided themselves on their spiritual heritage but ignored the culmination of God's revelation. This verse serves as a powerful reminder of accountability based on the light one receives.