Luke 14 · Verse 30

Luke 14:30

Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
Luke 14:30, King James Version

Luke 14:30 in other translations

BSBsaying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’
WEBsaying, ‘This man began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’
ASVsaying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
YLTsaying--This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
DARBYsaying, This man began to build and was not able to finish?
BBEAnd saying, This man made a start at building and is not able to make it complete.
WebsterSaying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

What does Luke 14:30 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…

Read the full comment on Luke 14:28-33 →

Barnes' Notes
Verse 30.

(z) "was not able to finish" Heb 7:11

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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…

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Luke 14:30 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.

λέγοντεςlegontessayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
οὗτοςhoutosThisG3778
ὁho<the>G3588
ἄνθρωποςanthrōposmanG444
ἤρξατοērxatobeganG757
οἰκοδομεῖνoikodomeinto buildG3618
καὶkaiandG2532
οὐκouknotG3756
ἴσχυσενischusenhe was ableG2480
ἐκτελέσαι.ektelesaito finish.G1615

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

Cross references for Luke 14:30

  • Hebrews 6:11

    And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end:

  • 2 John 1:8

    Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

  • Hebrews 6:4-8

    For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: …

  • 2 Peter 2:19-22

    While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it is happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog is turned to his own vomit again; and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire.

  • Hebrews 10:38

    Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

  • Acts 1:18-19

    Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out. And it was known unto all the dwellers at Jerusalem; insomuch as that field is called in their proper tongue, Aceldama, that is to say, The field of blood.

  • 1 Corinthians 3:11-14

    For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

  • Matthew 7:27

    And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

  • Matthew 27:3-8

    Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that. And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself. And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Mt 7:27; 27:3-8; Ac 1:18,19; 1Co 3:11-14; Heb 6:4-8,11; 10:38
2Pe 2:19-22; 2Jo 1:8

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

Context

  • 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,

  • Luke 14:30

    Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.

  • Luke 14:31

    Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?

Read all of Luke 14

Luke 14:30 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Diciendo: Este hombre comenzó á edificar, y no pudo acabar.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
disant: Cet homme a commencé à bâtir, et il n’a pu achever.
German
Elberfelder 1871
und sagen: Dieser Mensch hat angefangen zu bauen und vermochte nicht zu vollenden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
dicentes: Quia hic homo cœpit ædificare, et non potuit consummare?