Luke 21:18 kjv
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
Luke 21:18 nkjv
But not a hair of your head shall be lost.
Luke 21:18 niv
But not a hair of your head will perish.
Luke 21:18 esv
But not a hair of your head will perish.
Luke 21:18 nlt
But not a hair of your head will perish!
Luke 21 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 21:12-17 | "But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you... deliver you up... kill some of you." | Context of severe persecution |
| Matthew 10:28 | "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul..." | Fear God who preserves soul, not men |
| Matthew 10:30 | "But even the hairs of your head are all numbered." | God's meticulous care and knowledge |
| Acts 27:34 | "for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you." | Idiom of complete safety in physical peril |
| 1 Samuel 14:45 | "...there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground..." | Assurance of safety for the innocent |
| 2 Samuel 14:11 | "...not one hair of your son shall fall to the ground." | King David's promise of safety |
| 1 Kings 1:52 | "If he prove himself a worthy man, not one of his hairs shall fall..." | Conditional promise of safety, linked to worth |
| Romans 8:28 | "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good..." | God's purposeful work in all circumstances |
| Romans 8:35-39 | "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?... neither death nor life..." | Ultimate inability to be separated from Christ |
| Romans 8:37 | "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him..." | Victory despite tribulations |
| Philippians 1:21 | "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." | Martyrdom as spiritual gain |
| 2 Timothy 4:18 | "The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely..." | God's ultimate deliverance |
| Acts 14:22 | "through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God." | Expectation of tribulation for believers |
| Revelation 2:10 | "...Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life." | Promise of eternal reward for faithfulness |
| Job 5:19 | "He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no harm will touch you." | God's protection in multiple trials |
| Psalm 91:3-4 | "...He will deliver you from the snare... under His wings you will find refuge..." | God's protective shield and shelter |
| Psalm 121:7-8 | "The LORD will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life." | God as ultimate keeper of life |
| Isaiah 43:2 | "When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you..." | God's presence through danger and hardship |
| 1 Peter 1:6-7 | "In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials..." | Trials refining faith for greater glory |
| 1 Peter 4:12-13 | "Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes..." | Expecting and rejoicing in suffering for Christ |
| Hebrews 12:2 | "looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross..." | Example of Christ enduring suffering for joy |
| Acts 7:59-60 | "...Lord Jesus, receive my spirit... Lord, do not hold this sin against them." | Stephen's martyrdom and ultimate preservation |
Luke 21 verses
Luke 21 18 Meaning
Luke 21:18 offers a profound assurance of ultimate divine protection and preservation for believers during times of intense persecution and tribulation. Despite predictions of severe physical trials, betrayal, imprisonment, and even death in the preceding verses, this verse guarantees that not even the smallest detail of a believer's true being, their spiritual integrity, eternal destiny, or essential value in God's eyes will be lost or destroyed. It speaks to God's sovereign control and meticulous care, ensuring that suffering or physical harm, when it occurs, serves a divine purpose and does not lead to eternal perdition.
Luke 21 18 Context
Luke 21:18 is embedded within Jesus' "Olivet Discourse," which spans Luke 21:5-36. The discourse begins with Jesus prophesying the destruction of the magnificent Temple (Luke 21:5-6) and then proceeds to detail various signs preceding His return. Crucially, before describing cosmic signs and the desolation of Jerusalem, Jesus dedicates verses 12-17 to warning His disciples about the intense personal persecution they would endure. He foretells their arrest, delivery to synagogues and prisons, appearance before kings and governors, betrayal by family, and even martyrdom. It is in the immediate wake of these severe predictions that Jesus interjects the powerful reassurance of Luke 21:18, highlighting God's overarching providence. Historically, this prophecy would be fulfilled as early Christians faced severe opposition from both Jewish authorities and the Roman Empire, suffering imprisonments, tortures, and executions, yet their witness continued to spread the gospel.
Luke 21 18 Word analysis
- But (ἀλλά, alla): A strong adversative conjunction. It marks a sharp contrast, emphatically introducing a counterpoint to the dire predictions of persecution and physical harm in the preceding verses (Luke 21:12-17). Despite the severity of trials, this promise holds true.
- there shall not (οὐ μή, ou mē): This is a powerful double negative construction in Greek, conveying an absolute and emphatic denial. It translates to "certainly not," "absolutely no way," or "never under any circumstances." It stresses the unwavering certainty of the promise.
- an hair (θρίξ, thrix): Refers to a single, individual strand of hair, symbolizing the smallest, most insignificant, and seemingly most perishable part of the human body. Its mention signifies that God's protection is so meticulous and complete that not even the slightest or most inconsequential detail will be lost or come to harm from His eternal perspective.
- of your head (ἐκ τῆς κεφαλῆς ὑμῶν, ek tēs kephalēs hymōn): Literally "out of the head of you (plural)." "Of your head" stands for your whole being, your very person. The idiom "not a hair of your head" means not the slightest part of you.
- perish (ἀπόληται, apollētai): From the verb ἀπόλλυμι (apollumi), which means "to destroy, ruin, lose, be lost, put to death, or to be separated from safety." In this context, given the preceding warnings of death, it is understood not as a blanket guarantee against any physical harm or martyrdom, but rather as an assurance that believers will not ultimately or eternally be lost or destroyed. Their ultimate well-being and salvation are secure in God, and even physical death for the faith will not diminish their eternal glory or spiritual integrity. It speaks of divine preservation from ultimate spiritual harm.
Words-group analysis:
- But there shall not...perish: This phrase uses the strong adversative "but" and the emphatic double negative "there shall not," indicating an unwavering, absolute promise. It acts as a divine counter-guarantee against the physical threats foretold, ensuring ultimate security.
- not an hair of your head: This is an ancient idiomatic expression used across cultures and in the Old Testament to convey complete safety, absolute preservation, or meticulous divine care over the whole person, down to the smallest detail. It doesn't necessarily mean physical unscathedness, especially given the preceding context, but rather refers to ultimate preservation of essential being or destiny.
Luke 21 18 Bonus section
The seemingly paradoxical promise in Luke 21:18, given the explicit warnings of persecution and death, highlights the theological distinction between temporal physical well-being and eternal spiritual preservation. This promise reinforces that a believer's true "life" (ψυχή, psychē, soul/spirit), in God's eyes, cannot be truly harmed by worldly tribulation, even unto death. Martyrdom, from this perspective, is not an ultimate defeat but a triumph, a powerful witness, and a gateway to eternal glory, proving that even the ultimate earthly "perishing" cannot undermine God's preserving power over His chosen ones. It teaches reliance on God's unwavering faithfulness even when circumstances appear overwhelmingly hostile, asserting divine providence over human frailty and worldly power.
Luke 21 18 Commentary
Luke 21:18 provides a profound theological anchor amidst Jesus' grim prophecy of persecution for His followers. Situated directly after descriptions of arrests, betrayals, and even martyrdom (Lk 21:12-17), this verse reassures believers that despite the severe physical hardships they would face, God's providential care over their ultimate destiny remains absolute. It is not a promise of immunity from all suffering or death, as historical and biblical accounts clearly demonstrate martyrs like Stephen did indeed "perish" physically for their faith. Instead, it underscores that their physical suffering or demise for Christ's sake will not lead to true or eternal destruction, but rather serve a greater purpose in God's plan and ultimately secure their salvation and eternal reward. The idiom "not an hair of your head perish" speaks to God's meticulous, sovereign control over even the smallest details of their lives, ensuring that nothing of ultimate spiritual value or eternal significance will be lost. It means that while the body might be killed, the soul and the ultimate witness of their lives remain preserved and vindicated by God. This promise empowers believers to endure persecution without fearing ultimate loss, knowing their life is "hidden with Christ in God" (Col 3:3).