Luke 12 · Verse 35

Luke 12:35

Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;
Luke 12:35, King James Version

Luke 12:35 in other translations

BSBBe dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.
WEB“Let your waist be dressed and your lamps burning.
ASVLet your loins be girded about, and your lamps burning;
YLT‘Let your loins be girded, and the lamps burning,
DARBYLet your loins be girded about, and lamps burning;
BBEBe ready, dressed as for a journey, with your lights burning.
WebsterLet your loins be girt, and your lights burning;

What does Luke 12:35 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 12:35-40
35-40. loins ... girded--to fasten up the long outer garment, always done before travel and work (2Ki 4:29; Ac 12:8). The meaning is, Be in readiness. lights, &c.--(See on Mt 25:1).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verses 35,36. Let your loins, &c. This alludes to the ancient manner of dress. They wore a long flowing robe as their outer garment. Mt 5:38-41. When they laboured, or walked, or ran, it was necessary to gird or tie this up by a sash or girdle about the body, that it might not impede their progress. Hence, to gird up the loins means to be ready, to be active, to be diligent. Comp. 2Kgs 4:29; 9:1; Jer 1:17; Acts 12:8.

Your lights burning. This expresses the same meaning. Be ready at all times to leave the world and enter into rest, when your Lord shall call you. Let every obstacle be out of the way; let every earthly care be removed, and be prepared to follow him into his rest. Servants were expected to be ready for the coming of their lord. If in the night, they were expected to keep their lights trimmed and burning. When their master was away in attendance on a wedding, as they knew not the hour when he would return, they were to be continually ready. So we, as we know not the hour when God shall call us, should be always ready to die. Comp. Mt 25:1 and Mt 25:2-13.

(f) "Let your loins" Eph 6:14, 1Pet 1:13 (g) "your lights burning" Mt 25:1,13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 35 Let your loins - Be active, diligent, determined ready; let all hinderances be removed out of the way; and let the candle of the Lord be always found burning brightly in your hand. See on Luk 12:37 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 12:22-40

Christ largely insisted upon this caution not to give way to disquieting, perplexing cares, Mt 6:25-34. The arguments here used are for our encouragement to cast our care upon God, which is the right way to get ease. As in our stature, so in our state, it is our wisdom to take it as it is. An eager, anxious pursuit of the things of this world, even necessary things, ill becomes the disciples of Christ. Fears must…

Read the full comment on Luke 12:22-40 →

Luke 12:35 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ἜστωσανEstōsanshould beG1510
ὑμῶνhumōnyourG4771
αἱhai<the>G3588
ὀσφύεςosphueswaistG3751
περιεζωσμέναιperiezōsmenaigirdedG4024
καὶkaiandG2532
οἱhoitheG3588
λύχνοιluchnoilampsG3088
καιόμενοι,kaiomenoiburning,G2545

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 12:35

  • 1 Peter 1:13

    Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

  • Ephesians 6:14

    Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

  • Matthew 25:4-10

    But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. …

  • Matthew 25:1

    Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.

  • Matthew 5:16

    Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

  • Isaiah 5:27

    None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken:

  • Isaiah 11:5

    And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.

  • Philippians 2:15

    That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

  • Proverbs 31:17

    She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.

  • 1 Kings 18:46

    And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
your loins.
1Ki 18:46; Pr 31:17; Isa 5:27; 11:5; Eph 6:14; 1Pe 1:13
your lights.
Mt 5:16; 25:1,4-10; Php 2:15

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 12:34

    For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

  • Luke 12:35

    Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning;

  • Luke 12:36

    And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately.

Read all of Luke 12

Luke 12:35 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Estén ceñidos vuestros lomos, y vuestras antorchas encendidas;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Que vos reins soient ceints et vos lampes allumées;
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es seien eure Lenden umgürtet und die Lampen brennend;
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Sint lumbi vestri præcincti, et lucernæ ardentes in manibus vestris,