Luke 12 6

Luke 12:6 kjv

Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?

Luke 12:6 nkjv

"Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

Luke 12:6 niv

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

Luke 12:6 esv

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God.

Luke 12:6 nlt

"What is the price of five sparrows ? two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them.

Luke 12 verses

Luke 12 6 Meaning

Luke 12:6 declares God's comprehensive and meticulous knowledge and care over all His creation, even the most seemingly insignificant elements. Jesus uses the example of sparrows, inexpensive birds readily available in the market, to illustrate that not a single one falls from existence or is overlooked by the Almighty. This truth then serves as an foundational assurance to His disciples, emphasizing that if God demonstrates such detailed providence over something so common and of low monetary value, His care and concern for human beings, made in His image and dedicated to His service, are immeasurably greater and more specific. The core message is an antidote to fear and anxiety, urging complete trust in divine watchfulness.

Luke 12 6 Context

Luke 12 begins with Jesus warning His disciples against the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, stressing the unveiling of truth. He then shifts to addressing fear. Before verse 6, Jesus explicitly urges them "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more" (Lk 12:4), instead instructing them to fear God, who has authority to cast into hell. Luke 12:6 serves as the foundation for this command not to fear those who might persecute or even kill them. It assures the disciples that their very lives are constantly in God's discerning sight and care. This passage encourages unwavering trust in God's providence, which extends to every minute detail of their existence, thereby emboldening them for fearless witness and endurance in the face of future opposition or hardship.

Luke 12 6 Word analysis

• Are not: A rhetorical question, common in ancient teaching, that assumes an affirmative answer. It establishes a universally known truth as the basis for Jesus' further instruction.

• five sparrows (πέντε στρουθία - pente strouthia): Sparrows (στρουθίον - strouthion) were the most common, smallest, and cheapest birds in the marketplace, typically caught for consumption by the poor. The number "five" is noteworthy: Matthew 10:29 mentions "two sparrows for one assarion." Luke's "five for two assaria" suggests a slight "bulk discount"—if one were to buy two sets of two, they would get four for two assaria. Getting five for the same price signifies that the fifth bird was considered almost worthless, essentially "thrown in for free" due to its negligible market value. This emphasizes their utter insignificance in human commercial terms.

• sold (πωλοῦνται - pōlountai): Present passive indicative, indicating a continuous, ongoing, or common practice. Sparrows were continually being sold, highlighting their plentifulness and commonality as an everyday commodity.

• for two pennies (δύο ἀσσαρίων - dyo assariōn): An assarion (from Latin as) was a small, low-value copper coin, approximately 1/16th of a denarius (a typical day's wage for a laborer). "Two pennies" (two assaria) represents an exceedingly small sum, underscoring the negligible commercial worth of these birds.

• Yet not one of them (καὶ ἓν ἐξ αὐτῶν - kai hen ex autōn): The Greek word "kai" here functions as "and yet" or "but." This phrase creates a stark contrast, introducing a divine perspective that radically revalues what humanity deems insignificant. "Not one" emphasizes meticulous attention to every single bird, highlighting comprehensive and absolute awareness.

• is forgotten (οὐκ ἔστιν ἐπιλελησμένον - ouk estin epilēlesmenon): This uses the perfect passive participle of the verb "to forget." It means "is not and has never been forgotten." The negation of "forgotten" implies constant, active, and inherent divine awareness—never slipping from God's knowledge or mind.

• by God (ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ - enōpion tou theou): Literally "before the face of God" or "in the sight of God." This signifies direct, intimate, and continuous awareness and presence. It's not just that God remembers them generally, but that they are actively within His divine sight and concern at all times.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "five sparrows sold for two pennies": This phrase paints a vivid picture of extreme commonness and near-worthlessness from a human market perspective. It sets the baseline for the following contrast.
  • "Yet not one of them is forgotten by God": This dramatically contrasts human valuation with divine value. Despite their utter insignificance to humans, these trivial creatures are under God's perpetual, meticulous, and personal awareness. This profound truth builds a foundation for overcoming fear through trust in God's care.

Luke 12 6 Bonus section

• The subtle difference between Luke 12:6 (five for two pennies) and Matthew 10:29 (two for one penny) actually intensifies Jesus' point in Luke. While Matthew's account simply shows how cheap two sparrows are, Luke's detail of five for two pennies demonstrates a "dealer's discount"—if you buy twice as many, you essentially get an extra one for free. This further underscores the sparrows' extreme worthlessness from a human, commercial viewpoint, making God's individual remembrance of every single one even more profound and impactful.
• Luke 12:6 immediately precedes verse 7, where Jesus escalates this imagery of divine meticulousness to human beings: "Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered." This hyperbole demonstrates that God's detailed knowledge and care for His followers are utterly boundless and beyond human comprehension, confirming that believers are truly priceless in His sight, far surpassing any earthly creature or commodity. This serves as the ultimate basis for confidence against fear of anything the world can inflict.

Luke 12 6 Commentary

Luke 12:6 offers a profound teaching on divine providence through a simple, everyday example. Jesus appeals to a commonly observed fact: sparrows, easily acquired for a pittance in the market, are so plentiful and cheap that buying four earns you a fifth free. This commercial triviality sets up a powerful theological statement. Despite their perceived insignificance and disposability in the human economy, Jesus emphatically declares that "not one of them is forgotten by God." The divine eye, unlike the human, does not overlook the small, the cheap, or the numerous. God's knowledge is not generic; it is specific, individual, and unceasingly aware of every single creature.

This verse serves as a fundamental assurance to those who follow Christ, especially in the face of fear or persecution, a context often present in Luke 12. If God cares for these lowly, almost worthless birds with such detailed attention, how infinitely more valuable and certainly not forgotten are His people, made in His image and recipients of His unique love? The implied logic moves from the lesser (sparrows) to the greater (human beings), building profound confidence. It dismantles anxiety about daily provisions, safety, and future threats by anchoring trust in God's boundless sovereignty and meticulous, personal care. The lesson encourages a bold faith, knowing that divine providence extends to the very minute details of one's existence, rendering earthly fears powerless in comparison to God's all-encompassing watchfulness.