Luke 11 32

Luke 11:32 kjv

The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

Luke 11:32 nkjv

The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:32 niv

The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and now something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:32 esv

The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.

Luke 11:32 nlt

The people of Nineveh will also stand up against this generation on judgment day and condemn it, for they repented of their sins at the preaching of Jonah. Now someone greater than Jonah is here ? but you refuse to repent.

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 32 Meaning

Luke 11:32 declares that the Queen of the South, referring to the Queen of Sheba, will stand as a witness and accuser against the people of Jesus' generation on the Day of Judgment. This condemnation arises because she traveled from afar to seek and hear the renowned wisdom of King Solomon, while the current generation, having something infinitely greater than Solomon – Jesus Christ Himself, the very embodiment of divine wisdom – remained hardened in their unbelief and failed to heed His teaching and miracles. The verse highlights the superior spiritual receptivity of a Gentile seeker compared to the spiritual blindness and hardened hearts of many within the privileged generation who encountered the Messiah.

Luke 11 32 Context

Luke 11:32 is part of a broader discourse by Jesus concerning spiritual responsiveness and judgment. It immediately follows the pericope where Jesus condemns "this evil generation" for demanding a miraculous sign beyond the "sign of Jonah" (Lk 11:29-30). The sign of Jonah referred to His own death and resurrection, a profound and ultimate sign that this generation would reject. Following this, Luke 11:31 and 11:32 draw parallels between Gentile figures who sought truth (the Queen of the South seeking Solomon's wisdom, and the Ninevites repenting at Jonah's preaching) and "this generation" that failed to recognize and respond to the greater presence of Jesus. Historically and culturally, this passage directly challenges the spiritual complacency and nationalistic pride of some Jewish people and their religious leaders, who, despite their privileged heritage as God's chosen people, exhibited greater spiritual dullness than outsiders. It functions as a polemic against the idea that lineage or religious custom alone ensures righteousness without genuine faith and responsiveness to God's manifested truth in Christ.

Luke 11 32 Word analysis

• The Queen of the South (ἡ βασίλισσα τοῦ Νότου - hē basilissa tou Notou): Refers to the Queen of Sheba (1 Kgs 10, 2 Chr 9). "South" here specifically refers to her homeland in ancient South Arabia (Yemen/Ethiopia). Her significance lies in her being a Gentile, from a distant land, demonstrating extraordinary effort and humility to seek wisdom. She embodies the spiritual seeking that Jesus' contemporary audience often lacked.
• will rise up (ἀναστήσεται - anastēsetai): Future tense, active voice of anistēmi. It means to stand up, to arise, often used for resurrection (Mt 26:62) or for rising to accuse/testify (Jn 5:28-29, Acts 10:42). Here, it implies her standing as a witness or accuser in the divine court of judgment.
• at the judgment (ἐν τῇ κρίσει - en tē krisei): Refers to the final, eschatological judgment. This is not a human legal process but God's divine verdict on humanity (Jn 5:22, Rev 20:12). The Queen's testimony will be integral to this process.
• with the men of this generation (μετὰ τῶν ἀνδρῶν τῆς γενεᾶς ταύτης - meta tōn andrōn tēs geneas tautēs): "Men" (andres) generally refers to people. "This generation" (tēs geneas tautēs) points to the contemporary Jews who encountered Jesus' ministry, witnessing His miracles and hearing His teaching, yet remained spiritually unyielding. It signifies their unique culpability due to their unprecedented privilege.
• and condemn them (καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτούς - kai katakrinei autous): From katakrinō, meaning to pronounce a sentence against, to judge adversely, to condemn. The Queen does not literally pass judgment, but her righteous seeking serves as a living testimony, demonstrating by comparison the exceeding sinfulness and inexcusability of those who rejected Jesus. Her actions provide the evidence for their condemnation.
• for she came (ὅτι ἦλθεν - hoti ēlthen): "For" (hoti) indicates the reason for her condemnatory witness. Her actions are the contrast point.
• from the ends of the earth (ἐκ τῶν περάτων τῆς γῆς - ek tōn peratōn tēs gēs): Emphasizes the immense distance and effort she undertook. It signifies her determination and the extent of her desire for wisdom, overcoming all geographical and cultural barriers.
• to hear the wisdom of Solomon (ἀκοῦσαι τὴν σοφίαν Σολομῶνος - akousai tēn sophian Solomōnos): Her primary motivation was to gain understanding and insight from the legendary wise king (1 Kgs 4:29-34). Her humility to learn from another, even a foreign king, stands in stark contrast to the spiritual pride of Jesus' contemporaries.
• and behold (καὶ ἰδοὺ - kai idou): An interjection drawing attention, emphasizing what follows as significant or surprising.
• something greater than Solomon is here (πλεῖον Σολομῶνος ὧδε - pleion Solomōnos hōde): "Greater" (pleion) is neuter, referring to something more excellent or superior. It subtly, yet powerfully, points to Jesus Himself. He is not merely greater in wisdom; He is Wisdom incarnate (1 Cor 1:24, Col 2:3). This contrasts the mere human wisdom Solomon possessed with the divine, infinite wisdom residing in Christ. "Here" (hōde) emphasizes His immediate, tangible presence among them.

Words-group analysis:

• "The Queen of the South... condemn them": This phrase encapsulates the central theme of unexpected judgment. A Gentile, representing those outside Israel's covenant, becomes the standard by which the privileged "men of this generation" are found wanting. Her earnest pursuit of truth highlights their apathy.
• "came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon": This highlights the depth of the Queen's spiritual hunger and effort. Her arduous journey underscores her valuing wisdom above all comforts and distances. It sets a stark precedent for active seeking of divine truth.
• "behold, something greater than Solomon is here": This is the crux of the verse. It asserts Jesus' unparalleled supremacy. Solomon was known for his divinely granted wisdom (1 Kgs 3), but Jesus is the fount of all wisdom and knowledge. This direct comparison elevates Jesus above Israel's greatest king and exposes the tragic spiritual blindness of those who rejected Him. They ignored divine wisdom in person for seeking mundane signs.

Luke 11 32 Bonus section

The motif of "greater than" is central to Jesus' self-declaration throughout the Gospels (e.g., greater than the temple, greater than Jonah, greater than Solomon). In Luke 11:32, it signifies not just superior wisdom or authority but Jesus' unique identity as God-with-us. Solomon's wisdom, while divinely granted, was a gift to a human; Jesus is divine Wisdom. The Queen traveled to a specific place to encounter wisdom; for Jesus' generation, wisdom (Himself) had come to their very homes. This magnifies their spiritual failing. Furthermore, this verse underscores a frequent New Testament theme: God's openness to the Gentiles and their potential for greater faith compared to some within Israel who had become spiritually hardened despite their heritage. This served as a challenging prophetic word for the Jewish leadership and a warning for future generations of believers against taking their access to Christ lightly.

Luke 11 32 Commentary

Luke 11:32 is a powerful condemnation of spiritual complacency and unresponsiveness in the face of manifest divine truth. Jesus employs the historical account of the Queen of Sheba to illustrate a profound spiritual principle for "this generation." The Queen, a foreign ruler from the extremities of the known world, embarked on an arduous journey solely to hear the renowned wisdom of Solomon. Her dedication, humility, and earnest search for knowledge exemplify true spiritual seeking, despite her not being a recipient of Israel's special covenant.

In stark contrast, "the men of this generation" had "something greater than Solomon" present in their midst – Jesus Christ, God incarnate, the very source and embodiment of all wisdom. Yet, instead of humbly receiving Him, they demanded further miraculous signs and remained resistant to His teachings. The Queen's future role "at the judgment" is not to pronounce a legal sentence, but her eager actions will stand as irrefutable evidence against their spiritual dullness. Her pilgrimage from afar exposes the greater culpability of those who, having direct access to infinite wisdom in Christ, deliberately chose to reject it. It is a severe warning against spiritual arrogance, emphasizing that divine privilege does not negate personal accountability, and that genuine spiritual receptivity can be found in the most unexpected places, even outside of established religious structures.