Luke 12 · Verse 40

Luke 12:40

Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
Luke 12:40, King James Version

Luke 12:40 in other translations

BSBYou also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”
WEBTherefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.”
ASVBe ye also ready: for in an hour that ye think not the Son of man cometh.
YLTand ye, then, become ye ready, because at the hour ye think not, the Son of Man doth come.'
DARBYAnd ye therefore, be ye ready, for in the hour in which ye do not think it, the Son of man comes.
BBESo be ready: for the Son of man is coming at a time when you are not looking for him.
WebsterBe ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

What does Luke 12:40 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).

Read the full comment on Luke 12:35-40 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 40.

(k) "Be ye therefore ready" Lk 21:34,36

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 40 Be ye therefore ready also - It is pretty evident that what is related here, from Luk 12:35 to Luk 12:49, was spoken by our Lord at another time. See Mat 24:42 (note), etc., and the notes there.

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 12:40 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.

καὶkaiAlsoG2532
ὑμεῖςhumeisyou yourselvesG4771
οὖνounthereforeG3767
γίνεσθεginesthedo beG1096
ἕτοιμοι,hetoimoiready,G2092
ὅτιhotiforG3754
ᾗhēin theG3739
ὥρᾳhōrahourG5610
οὐounotG3756
δοκεῖτεdokeiteyou expectG1380
ὁhotheG3588
υἱὸςhuiosSonG5207
τοῦtou<the>G3588
ἀνθρώπουanthrōpouof ManG444
ἔρχεται.¶erchetaicomes.G2064

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

Cross references for Luke 12:40

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:6

    Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

  • Matthew 25:13

    Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

  • Romans 13:11

    And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.

  • Matthew 24:44

    Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.

  • Revelation 19:7

    Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.

  • 2 Peter 3:12-14

    Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

  • Mark 13:33-36

    Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping.

  • Matthew 24:42

    Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.

  • Luke 21:34-36

    And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

  • Romans 13:14

    But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
21:34-36; Mt 24:42,44; 25:13; Mr 13:33-36; Ro 13:11,14; 1Th 5:6
2Pe 3:12-14; Re 19:7

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

Context

  • Luke 12:39

    And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

  • Luke 12:40

    Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

  • Luke 12:41

    Then Peter said unto him, Lord, speakest thou this parable unto us, or even to all?

Read all of Luke 12

Luke 12:40 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Vosotros pues también, estad apercibidos; porque á la hora que no pensáis, el Hijo del hombre vendrá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Vous donc aussi soyez prêts; car, à l’heure que vous ne pensez pas, le fils de l’homme vient.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Auch ihr nun,seid bereit; denn in der Stunde, in welcher ihr es nicht meinet, kommt der Sohn des Menschen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et vos estote parati: quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet.