Luke 14:35 kjv

It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

Luke 14:35 nkjv

It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Luke 14:35 niv

It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

Luke 14:35 esv

It is of no use either for the soil or for the manure pile. It is thrown away. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Luke 14:35 nlt

Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!"

Luke 14 verses

Luke 14 35 Meaning

Luke 14:35 concludes Jesus' teaching on radical discipleship, metaphorically declaring the complete worthlessness of "salt" that has lost its essential savor or distinguishing quality. Such salt, unlike pure and active salt, becomes entirely useless for its primary purposes – neither fit for fertilizing the land nor aiding the decomposition and enrichment of a dunghill. Its only fate is to be discarded as worthless refuse. The verse then ends with a solemn call to profound spiritual discernment: "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," emphasizing the critical importance and gravity of this teaching for anyone considering true discipleship.

Luke 14 35 Context

Luke chapter 14 presents a series of teachings by Jesus that challenge conventional values and call for radical, self-sacrificing discipleship. It begins with a Sabbath meal where Jesus teaches about humility and inviting the poor (Luke 14:1-14). This is followed by the Parable of the Great Supper, illustrating God's invitation and the excuses of those who reject it (Luke 14:15-24). Immediately preceding Luke 14:35 are Jesus' demanding declarations regarding the cost of discipleship (Luke 14:25-33). He speaks of "hating" family in comparison to ultimate love for Him, carrying one's cross, and forsaking all possessions. To illustrate this need for full commitment, Jesus uses two mini-parables: a man building a tower needing to count the cost, and a king going to war needing to assess his strength. Luke 14:34-35 serves as the summary and culminating warning for this entire discourse. The metaphor of salt, therefore, is directly applied to those who profess to follow Jesus but have not fully grasped or committed to the true nature and demands of His Kingdom. They risk becoming spiritually ineffective and ultimately rejected.

Luke 14 35 Word analysis

• "It is neither fit": Implies complete unsuitability or uselessness. The salt has lost its essential property.

• "for the land" (γῆ, gē): In agricultural context, good for fertilizing. Impure or de-flavored salt was not beneficial for soil fertility, and in some cases, excess sodium could harm land. This denotes its unsuitability for direct productive use.

• "nor yet for the dunghill" (κοπρία, kopria): A manure pile, where organic waste would decompose to become rich fertilizer. Pure salt could act as a preservative or purifier in certain agricultural applications, but flavorless salt had no value here; it would not assist the composting process. It's truly useless for any agricultural benefit.

• "but men cast it out" (ἐκβάλλουσιν, ekballousin): Strong verb meaning "to throw out," "expel," or "reject." This highlights the definitive nature of its expulsion due to utter worthlessness. It underscores the ultimate fate of useless "disciples."

• "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear" (ἔχων ὦτα ἀκούειν ἀκουέτω, echōn ōta akouein akouetō): This is a powerful, recurring refrain used by Jesus. It is not merely a call to hear words physically, but to grasp their spiritual meaning, to perceive the profound truth conveyed, and to act upon it. It emphasizes the seriousness and spiritual depth of the message, warning against spiritual deafness. This statement implicitly distinguishes those who are truly receptive to divine truth from those who hear but do not understand or obey.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "It is neither fit for the land, nor yet for the dunghill; but men cast it out": This phrase encapsulates the total, multi-faceted uselessness of de-flavored salt. It shows there's no secondary purpose or "lesser" good that it can achieve. It's simply discarded, serving as a stark warning to those who might be followers of Christ in name only, without the "saltiness" of true conviction and spiritual integrity. Such individuals are ineffective for God's Kingdom and are ultimately rejected.

Luke 14 35 Bonus section

• The salt of that region, often from near the Dead Sea, was not pure sodium chloride but contained other minerals. When exposed to the elements, the soluble sodium chloride could leach out, leaving behind a tasteless, white, gritty residue that looked like salt but lacked its essential properties. This phenomenon makes Jesus' metaphor deeply relatable and literal for His audience.
• The phrase "covenant of salt" (Num 18:19; 2 Chr 13:5) in the Old Testament indicates permanence, purity, and fidelity. Disciples who lose their "saltiness" break covenant not just with Christ's demands but with the very nature of faithful relationship with God, embodying instability and impurity instead of lasting commitment.
• The emphasis on "casting out" resonates with other parables where unfruitful or unprepared individuals are removed, such as the unfruitful fig tree (Luke 13:6-9), the weeds thrown into the fire (Matt 13:30), or the guest without a wedding garment (Matt 22:13). It speaks to accountability and consequence for those who do not live up to the call.

Luke 14 35 Commentary

Luke 14:35 serves as a concluding warning to Jesus' challenging teachings on radical discipleship. As salt is useless if it loses its saltiness, so a disciple is worthless if they lose their distinguishing qualities—their commitment, their transformative influence, their Christ-likeness. This "savor" (saltiness) refers to the essence of discipleship: living out absolute allegiance to Christ, carrying one's cross, and forsaking all else when necessary. If a follower retains merely the external form of faith without internal conviction and spiritual impact, they become good for nothing. They fail in their preservative and flavoring role within the world and are not even beneficial for the growth and spiritual "compost" of God's Kingdom. Their destiny is to be "cast out," illustrating a separation from usefulness and divine favor. The solemn call, "He that hath ears to hear, let him hear," reinforces that this message demands deep spiritual understanding and immediate personal application. True discipleship is costly and demanding, but the alternative—a flavorless faith—leads to spiritual barrenness and ultimate rejection.