Luke 14 · Verse 28

Luke 14:28

For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?
Luke 14:28, King James Version

Luke 14:28 in other translations

BSBWhich of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?
WEBFor which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it?
ASVFor which of you, desiring to build a tower, doth not first sit down and count the cost, whether he have wherewith to complete it?
YLT‘For who of you, willing to build a tower, doth not first, having sat down, count the expence, whether he have the things for completing?
DARBYFor which of you, desirous of building a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, if he have what is needed to complete it;
BBEFor which of you, desiring to put up a tower, does not first give much thought to the price, if he will have enough to make it complete?
WebsterFor which of you intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he hath sufficient to finish it?

What does Luke 14:28 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 14:28-33
28-33. which of you, &c.--Common sense teaches men not to begin any costly work without first seeing that they have wherewithal to finish. And he who does otherwise exposes himself to general ridicule. Nor will any wise potentate enter on a war with any hostile power without first seeing to it that, despite formidable odds (two to one), he be able to stand his ground; and if he has no hope of this, he will feel that nothing remains for him but to make the best terms he can. Even so, says our Lord, "in the warfare you will each have to wage as My disciples, despise not your enemy's strength, for the odds are all against you; and you had better see to it that, despite every disadvantage, you still have wherewithal to hold out and win the day, or else not begin at all, and make the best you can in such awful circumstances." In this simple sense of the parable (Stier, Alford, &c., go wide of the mark here in making the enemy to be God, because of the "conditions of peace," Lu 14:32), two things are taught: (1) Better not begin (Re 3:15), than begin and not finish. (2) Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one, the human will, in the exercise of that "faith which overcometh the world" (1Jo 5:4), and nerved by power from above, which "out of weakness makes it strong" (He 11:34; 1Pe 1:5), becomes heroical and will come off "more than conqueror." But without absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless (Lu 14:33).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 28. Intending to build a tower. See Mt 21:33. A tower was a place of defence or observation, erected on high places or in vineyards, to guard against enemies. It was made high, so as to enable one to see an enemy when he approached; and strong, so that it could not be easily taken.

Counteth the cost. Makes a calculation how much it will cost to build it.

(y) "intending to build a tower" Prov 24:27

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 28 To build a tower - Probably this means no more than a dwelling house, on the top of which, according to the Asiatic manner, battlements were built, both to take the fresh air on, and to serve for refuge from and defense against an enemy. It was also used for prayer and meditation. This parable represents the absurdity of those who undertook to be disciples of Christ, without considering what difficulties they were to meet with, and what strength they had to enable them to go through with the undertaking. He that will be a true disciple of Jesus Christ shall require no less than the mighty power of God to support him; as both hell and earth will unite to destroy him.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 14:25-35

Though the disciples of Christ are not all crucified, yet they all bear their cross, and must bear it in the way of duty. Jesus bids them count upon it, and then consider of it. Our Saviour explains this by two similitudes; the former showing that we must consider the expenses of our religion; the latter, that we must consider the perils of it. Sit down and count the cost; consider it will cost the mortifying of…

Read the full comment on Luke 14:25-35 →

Luke 14:28 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.

ΤίςTisWhichG5101
γὰρgarforG1063
ἐξexofG1537
ὑμῶνhumōnyouG4771
θέλωνthelōnis desiringG2309
πύργονpurgona towerG4444
οἰκοδομῆσαιoikodomēsaito buildG3618
οὐχὶouchinotG3780
πρῶτονprōtonfirstG4413
καθίσαςkathisashe having sat downG2523
ψηφίζειpsēphizeihe countsG5585
τὴνtēntheG3588
δαπάνηνdapanēncostG1160
εἰeiwhetherG1487
ἔχειecheihe hasG2192
εἰςeisforG1519
ἀπαρτισμόν;apartismon[its] completion?G535

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

Cross references for Luke 14:28

  • Proverbs 24:27

    Prepare thy work without, and make it fit for thyself in the field; and afterwards build thine house.

  • Matthew 10:22

    And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

  • Joshua 24:19-24

    And Joshua said unto the people, Ye cannot serve the Lord: for he is an holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins. If ye forsake the Lord, and serve strange gods, then he will turn and do you hurt, and consume you, after that he hath done you good. And the people said unto Joshua, Nay; but we will serve the Lord. And Joshua said unto the people, Ye are witnesses against yourselves that ye have chosen you the Lord, to serve him. And they said, We are witnesses. …

  • Luke 14:33

    So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.

  • Acts 21:13

    Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

  • Matthew 20:22-23

    But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared of my Father.

  • Matthew 8:20

    And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

  • Genesis 11:4-9

    And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth. And the Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the Lord said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do. Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech. …

  • 1 Thessalonians 3:4-5

    For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

  • 2 Peter 1:13-14

    Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
intending.
Ge 11:4-9; Pr 24:27
counteth.
33; Jos 24:19-24; Mt 8:20; 10:22; 20:22,23; Ac 21:13; 1Th 3:4,5
2Pe 1:13,14

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

Context

  • Luke 14:27

    And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

  • Luke 14:28

    For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it?

  • Luke 14:29

    Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,

Read all of Luke 14

Luke 14:28 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Porque ¿cuál de vosotros, queriendo edificar una torre, no cuenta primero sentado los gastos, si tiene lo que necesita para acabarla?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Car quel est celui d’entre vous qui, voulant bâtir une tour, ne s’asseye premièrement et ne calcule la dépense, pour voir s’il a de quoi l’achever?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Denn wer unter euch, der einen Turm bauen will, setzt sich nicht zuvor nieder und berechnet die Kosten, ob er das Nötige zur Ausführung habe?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quis enim ex vobis volens turrim ædificare, non prius sedens computat sumptus, qui necessarii sunt, si habeat ad perficiendum,