Luke 12:35 kjv
Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luke 12:35 nkjv
"Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning;
Luke 12:35 niv
"Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,
Luke 12:35 esv
"Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning,
Luke 12:35 nlt
"Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning,
Luke 12 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 24:42 | "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come." | Watchfulness for Christ's return. |
| Mt 25:1-13 | "five of them were foolish... their lamps went out." | Parable emphasizing preparedness with lamps. |
| Mk 13:33-37 | "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." | Call to vigilance and readiness. |
| Lk 21:36 | "Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen..." | Constant watchfulness and prayer. |
| Rom 13:11-14 | "The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber... put on the armor of light." | Awaken from slumber; spiritual readiness. |
| 1 Thes 5:6-8 | "So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober." | Urging spiritual alertness. |
| 1 Pet 5:8 | "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around..." | Vigilance against spiritual dangers. |
| Rev 3:3 | "If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief..." | Warning against spiritual complacency. |
| Ex 12:11 | "This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt..." | Passover readiness for immediate departure. |
| 1 Ki 18:46 | "Elijah tucked his cloak into his belt and ran ahead of Ahab..." | Physical readiness for urgent travel. |
| 2 Ki 4:29 | (Elisha sending Gehazi) "Tuck your cloak into your belt..." | Readiness for an urgent mission. |
| 2 Ki 9:1 | "Tuck your cloak into your belt, and take this flask of olive oil..." | Preparedness for a specific task. |
| Job 38:3 | "Brace yourself like a man; I will question you..." | Metaphorical girding for confrontation/truth. |
| Prov 31:17 | "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks." | Figurative strength/readiness for duties. |
| Eph 6:14 | "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist..." | Spiritual readiness; part of armor of God. |
| 1 Pet 1:13 | "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled..." | Metaphorical girding of the mind. |
| Ps 119:105 | "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." | God's Word as guiding illumination. |
| Prov 6:23 | "For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light..." | God's commands as illuminating guidance. |
| Mt 5:14-16 | "You are the light of the world... let your light shine before others..." | Disciples as sources of light and good deeds. |
| Jn 8:12 | "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness..." | Jesus as the ultimate source of light. |
| Phil 2:15 | "Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky..." | Believers shining light in the world. |
| Lk 8:16 | "No one lights a lamp and hides it... Instead, they put it on a stand..." | The purpose of light is to be seen. |
Luke 12 verses
Luke 12 35 Meaning
Luke 12:35 is a direct exhortation from Jesus to His disciples, commanding them to maintain a constant state of readiness and spiritual vigilance. The vivid imagery used, "Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning," depicts practical preparations common in the ancient world for action, journey, or welcoming an awaited arrival. "Girded loins" symbolizes mental and spiritual alertness, ready for immediate service or spiritual activity, free from the entanglements of earthly concerns. "Lamps burning" signifies sustained spiritual illumination, a vigilant faith that actively shines, demonstrating continuous watchfulness and preparedness for the Master's return or divine summons.
Luke 12 35 Context
Luke 12:35 is situated within a longer teaching discourse by Jesus to His disciples concerning readiness and the coming Kingdom of God. Immediately preceding this verse (Lk 12:22-34), Jesus instructs them to avoid anxiety over material possessions and instead to prioritize seeking God's Kingdom, ensuring their treasure is in heaven. This detachment from worldly concerns provides the foundational spiritual freedom necessary for the immediate readiness exhorted in verse 35. Following this verse, Jesus elaborates with the "Parable of the Waiting Servants" (Lk 12:36-38), emphasizing the blessedness of those found vigilant when their master returns. The discourse continues with warnings about the unexpected timing of His coming (Lk 12:39-40), likening it to a thief, reinforcing the urgency of constant preparedness. Historically, the audience would easily grasp the imagery of servants and travelers requiring such readiness, and living in anticipation of significant events, whether from secular rulers or Messianic prophecies.
Luke 12 35 Word analysis
Let your loins be girded:
- Let (Ἔστωσαν - Estōsan): This is an imperative verb, functioning as a strong command or urgent exhortation rather than a suggestion. It signifies a necessary and required state of being.
- your (ὑμῶν - hymōn): A possessive pronoun addressing the disciples directly in the plural, implying a personal responsibility for each follower of Christ to be in this state.
- loins (ὀσφύες - osphyēs): Refers to the area around the waist and lower back, considered a point of strength and the literal area where a belt would be tied. In ancient times, people wore long, flowing garments.
- be girded (περιεζωσμέναι - periezōsmenai): A perfect passive participle meaning "girded around" or "tucked up and tied." It describes the act of gathering the loose ends of one's tunic or robe and securing them with a belt to facilitate strenuous activity like running, working, or battling. Spiritually, this signifies removing encumbrances, becoming agile for service, demonstrating spiritual readiness, alertness, and purposeful living. The imagery resonates with Old Testament instances of preparing for a journey (Ex 12:11), or an urgent task (2 Ki 4:29, 9:1).
and your lamps burning:
- and (καὶ - kai): This conjunction links the two aspects of preparedness, indicating they are equally essential and complementary.
- your (οἱ λύχνοι - hoi lychnoi): The "your" conceptually extends from the previous mention, referring to the disciples' individual lamps.
- lamps (λύχνοι - lychnoi): Small oil lamps were commonplace for illumination after dark or in dim environments. They require oil and tending to function.
- burning (καιόμενοι - kaiomenoi): A present active participle, indicating a continuous and active state of being lit and producing light. This means the lamps are not merely present but are continuously tended and operational. Spiritually, this signifies a vibrant, active, and manifest spiritual life—one where faith, prayer, and good works consistently "shine" and remain ready to welcome the Master or illuminate the darkness, similar to the wise virgins in the parable of Matthew 25.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Let your loins be girded, and your lamps burning": This phrase delivers a powerful double imperative through two easily understandable and practical actions from ancient life. "Girded loins" speaks to being physically and mentally prepared for diligent work, travel, or any imminent action; it calls for spiritual focus and active removal of hindrances. "Lamps burning" symbolizes sustained spiritual vigilance, inner light (faith, the Holy Spirit), and a visible testimony, indicating one is actively awaiting and ready to respond in the darkness. Together, these form a concise yet comprehensive command for perpetual, active readiness and wakefulness, stressing that followers of Christ are to live in a state of prepared anticipation, actively ready to serve and meet the Lord whenever He should come.
Luke 12 35 Bonus section
The passage containing Luke 12:35 implies a stark contrast to a life of spiritual laxity, sloth, or being engrossed in worldly worries, which Jesus addresses in the preceding verses (Lk 12:22-34). The expectation of the master's unexpected arrival permeates the parable following this verse, reinforcing that true readiness must be perpetual, not situational. The profound implication for those who are found ready is astonishing: the Master will serve them (Lk 12:37), turning the usual servant-master relationship on its head. This emphasizes the extraordinary grace and reward awaiting the watchful and diligent servant, transforming readiness from a burdensome duty into a joyful and greatly rewarded state of being.
Luke 12 35 Commentary
Luke 12:35 encapsulates Jesus' imperative for continuous, active readiness in the life of a believer. This readiness is not passive anticipation but vibrant spiritual engagement. The command to "gird your loins" means stripping away any spiritual sluggishness or distraction, making oneself agile and prepared for immediate action, just as ancient travelers or workers would secure their garments for exertion or journey. It's a call to disciplined living, ready to "run" the race of faith unencumbered. Simultaneously, "your lamps burning" emphasizes the necessity of maintaining a constant inner light—faith, prayer, and the active presence of the Holy Spirit—which fuels an outward shining of good deeds and witness. A burning lamp not only dispels personal darkness but also signifies vigilance in the night, prepared to meet the unexpected arrival of the Master. This verse urges disciples to live with intentional purpose and wakefulness, ensuring they are always found actively engaged in God's service and shining His light, never caught off guard by complacency or worldly concerns. For practical usage, this means regular prayer, study of God's Word, active participation in the body of Christ, and living a life that reflects His values in daily tasks, anticipating His sovereign will in every moment.