Luke 12 · Verse 56

Luke 12:56

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?
Luke 12:56, King James Version

Luke 12:56 in other translations

BSBYou hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?
WEBYou hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky, but how is it that you don’t interpret this time?
ASVYe hypocrites, ye know how to interpret the face of the earth and the heaven; but how is it that ye know not how to interpret this time?
YLThypocrites! the face of the earth and of the heaven ye have known to make proof of, but this time--how do ye not make proof of it?
DARBYHypocrites, ye know how to judge of the appearance of the earth and of the heaven; how is it then that ye do not discern this time?
BBEO false ones! the face of the earth and the heaven is clear to you; how is it that the signs of these times are not as clear to you?
WebsterYe hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky, and of the earth; but how is it, that ye do not discern this time?

What does Luke 12:56 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
56. how ... not discern, &c.--unable to perceive what a critical period that was for the Jewish Church.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verses 54-57. Mt 16:2, 16:3.

Verse 56.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 56 This time? - Can ye not discover from the writings of the prophets, and from the events which now take place, that this is the time of the Messiah, and that I am the very person foretold by them?

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 12:54-59

Christ would have the people to be as wise in the concerns of their souls as they are in outward affairs. Let them hasten to obtain peace with God before it is too late. If any man has found that God has set himself against him concerning his sins, let him apply to him as God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. While we are alive, we are in the way, and now is our time.

Read the full comment on Luke 12:54-59 →

Luke 12:56 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.

ὑποκριταί,hupokritaiHypocrites!G5273
τὸtoTheG3588
πρόσωπονprosōponappearanceG4383
τῆςtēsof theG3588
γῆςgēsearthG1093
καὶkaiandG2532
τοῦtouof theG3588
οὐρανοῦouranouskyG3772
οἴδατεoidateyou know [how]
δοκιμάζειν,dokimazeinto discern,G1381
τὸνtontheG3588
καιρὸνkairontimeG2540
δὲdehoweverG1161
τοῦτονtoutonthisG3778
πῶςpōshowG4459
οὐκouknotG3756
δοκιμάζειν;dokimazeinto discern?G1381

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

Cross references for Luke 12:56

  • Matthew 16:3

    And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?

  • Matthew 24:32-33

    Now learn a parable of the fig tree; When his branch is yet tender, and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh: So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

  • Matthew 11:25

    At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

  • 1 Chronicles 12:32

    And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.

  • Luke 19:42-44

    Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side, And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

  • Daniel 9:24-26

    Seventy weeks are determined upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy. Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times. And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.

  • Galatians 4:4

    But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

  • Malachi 4:2

    But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.

  • Haggai 2:7

    And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Malachi 3:1

    Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • Acts 3:24-26

    Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
ye can.
1Ch 12:32; Mt 11:25; 16:3; 24:32,33
that.
19:42-44; Da 9:24-26; Hag 2:7; Mal 3:1; 4:2; Ac 3:24-26; Ga 4:4

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

Context

  • Luke 12:55

    And when ye see the south wind blow, ye say, There will be heat; and it cometh to pass.

  • Luke 12:56

    Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

  • Luke 12:57

    Yea, and why even of yourselves judge ye not what is right?

Read all of Luke 12

Luke 12:56 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
¡Hipócritas! Sabéis examinar la faz del cielo y de la tierra; ¿y cómo no reconocéis este tiempo?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Hypocrites! vous savez discerner les apparences de la terre et du ciel, et comment ne discernez-vous pas ce temps-ci?
German
Elberfelder 1871
Heuchler! das Angesicht der Erde und des Himmels wisset ihr zu beurteilen; wie aber ist es, daß ihr diese Zeit nicht beurteilet?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Hypocritæ! faciem cæli et terræ nostis probare: hoc autem tempus quomodo non probatis?