Luke 16:3
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
Luke 16:3 in other translations
| BSB | The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg. |
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| WEB | “The manager said within himself, ‘What will I do, seeing that my lord is taking away the management position from me? I don’t have strength to dig. I am ashamed to beg. |
| ASV | And the steward said within himself, What shall I do, seeing that my lord taketh away the stewardship from me? I have not strength to dig; to beg I am ashamed. |
| YLT | ‘And the steward said in himself, What shall I do, because my lord doth take away the stewardship from me? to dig I am not able, to beg I am ashamed: -- |
| DARBY | And the steward said within himself, What shall I do; for my lord is taking the stewardship from me? I am not able to dig; I am ashamed to beg. |
| BBE | And the servant said to himself, What am I to do now that my lord takes away my position? I have not enough strength for working in the fields, and I would be shamed if I made requests for money from people in the streets. |
| Webster | Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg. |
What does Luke 16:3 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain
Barnes' Notes
My lord. My master, my employer.
I cannot dig. This may mean either that his employment had been such that he could not engage in agriculture, not having been acquainted with the business, or that he was unwilling to stoop to so low an employment as to work daily for his support. To dig, here, is the same as to till the earth, to work at daily labour.
To beg. These were the only two ways that presented themselves for a living-- either to work for it, or to beg.
I am ashamed. He was too proud for that. Besides, he was in good health and strength, and there was no good reason why he should beg--nothing which he could give as a cause for it. It is proper for the sick, the lame, and the feeble to beg; but it is not well for the able-bodied to do it, nor is it well to aid them, except by giving them employment, and compelling them to work for a living. He does a beggar who is able to work the most real kindness who sets him to work, and, as a general rule, we should not aid an able-bodied man or woman in any other way. Set them to work, and pay them a fair compensation, and you do them good in two ways, for the habit of labour may be of more value to them than the price you pay them.
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 16:1-12
Whatever we have, the property of it is God's; we have only the use of it, according to the direction of our great Lord, and for his honour. This steward wasted his lord's goods. And we are all liable to the same charge; we have not made due improvement of what God has trusted us with. The steward cannot deny it; he must make up his accounts, and be gone. This may teach us that death will come, and deprive us of the…
Luke 16:3 in the original Greek
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Cross references for Luke 16:3
- Proverbs 27:23-27
Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation? The hay appeareth, and the tender grass sheweth itself, and herbs of the mountains are gathered. The lambs are for thy clothing, and the goats are the price of the field. …
- Jeremiah 5:31
The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by their means; and my people love to have it so: and what will ye do in the end thereof?
- Luke 18:4
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
- 2 Thessalonians 3:11
For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies.
- Proverbs 21:25-26
The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. He coveteth greedily all the day long: but the righteous giveth and spareth not.
- Proverbs 26:13-16
The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.
- Luke 12:17
And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
- Proverbs 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.
- Isaiah 10:3
And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?
- Proverbs 18:9
He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.
- Luke 16:20
And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores,
- Luke 16:22
And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Luke 16:2
And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.
- Luke 16:3
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.
- Luke 16:4
I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.
Luke 16:3 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Entonces el mayordomo dijo dentro de sí: ¿Qué haré? que mi señor me quita la mayordomía. Cavar, no puedo; mendigar, tengo vergüenza. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et l’économe dit en lui-même: Que ferai-je, car mon maître m’ôte l’administration? Je ne puis pas bêcher la terre; j’ai honte de mendier: |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Der Verwalter aber sprach bei sich selbst: Was soll ich tun? denn mein Herr nimmt mir die Verwaltung ab. Zu graben vermag ich nicht, zu betteln schäme ich mich. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Ait autem villicus intra se: Quid faciam, quia dominus meus aufert a me villicationem? Fodere non valeo, mendicare erubesco. |