Luke 3:14
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
Luke 3:14 in other translations
| BSB | Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” |
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| WEB | Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.” |
| ASV | And soldiers also asked him, saying, And we, what must we do? And he said unto them, Extort from no man by violence, neither accuse any one wrongfully; and be content with your wages. |
| YLT | And questioning him also were those warring, saying, ‘And we, what shall we do?' and he said unto them, ‘Do violence to no one, nor accuse falsely, and be content with your wages.' |
| DARBY | And persons engaged in military service also asked him saying, And we, what should we do? And he said to them, Oppress no one, nor accuse falsely, and be satisfied with your pay. |
| BBE | And men of the army put questions to him, saying, And what have we to do? And he said to them, Do no violent acts to any man, and do not take anything without right, and let your payment be enough for you. |
| Webster | And the soldiers likewise asked him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said to them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely, and be content with your wages. |
What does Luke 3:14 mean?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 3:10-14
10-14. What shall we do then?--to show the sincerity of our repentance. (Also see on Mt 3:10.)
Barnes' Notes
Do violence (2), &c. Do not take the property of any by unlawful force, or do not use unjust force against the person or property of any individual. It is probable that many of them were oppressive, or prone to violence, rapine, or theft, and burdensome even in times of peace to the inhabitants.
Neither accuse any falsely. It is probable that when they wished the property of others and could not obtain it by violence, or when there was no pretext for violence, they often attempted the same-thing in another way, and falsely accused the persons of crime. The word rendered falsely accused is the one from which our word sycophant is derived. The proper meaning of the word sycophant was this: There was a law in Athens which prohibited the importation of figs. The sycophant (literally the man who made figs to appear, or who showed them) was one who made complaint to the magistrate of persons who had imported figs contrary to law, or who was an informer; and then the word came to be used in a general sense to denote any complainer -- a calumniator--an accuser --an informer. As such persons were usually cringing and fawning, and looked for a reward, the word came to be used also to denote a fawner or flatterer. It is always used in a bad sense. It is correctly rendered here, "do not accuse any falsely."
Be content, &c. Do not murmur or complain, or take unlawful means to increase your wages.
Wages. This word means not only the money which was paid them, but also their rations or daily allowance of food. By this they were to show that their repentance was genuine; that it had a practical influence; that it produced a real reformation of life; and it is clear that no other repentance would be genuine. Every profession of repentance which is not attended with a change of life is mere hypocrisy. It did not condemn their profession, or say that it was unlawful to be a soldier, or that they must abandon the business in order to be true penitents. It was possible to be a good man and yet a soldier. What was required was that in their profession they should show that they were really upright, and did not commit the crimes which were often practised in that calling. It is lawful to defend one's self, one's family, or one's country, and hence it is lawful to be a soldier. Man everywhere, in all professions, should be a Christian, and then he will do honour to his profession, and his profession, if it is not a direct violation of the law of God, will be honourable.
(2) "Do violence" or "Put no man in fear"
Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain
Adam Clarke's Commentary
Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 3:1-14
The scope and design of John's ministry were, to bring the people from their sins, and to their Saviour. He came preaching, not a sect, or party, but a profession; the sign or ceremony was washing with water. By the words here used John preached the necessity of repentance, in order to the remission of sins, and that the baptism of water was an outward sign of that inward cleansing and renewal of heart, which…
Luke 3:14 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.
Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).
Cross references for Luke 3:14
- Hebrews 13:5-6
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
- Exodus 20:16
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- 1 Timothy 6:8-10
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
- Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Exodus 23:1
Thou shalt not raise a false report: put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness.
- Leviticus 19:11
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.
- Romans 13:9-10
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Luke 19:8
And Zaccheus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.
- Titus 2:3
The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things;
- Philippians 2:15
That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;
- Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.
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Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Context
- Luke 3:13
And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
- Luke 3:14
And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.
- Luke 3:15
And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
Luke 3:14 in other languages
| Spanish Reina-Valera 1909 | Y le preguntaron también los soldados, diciendo: Y nosotros, ¿qué haremos? Y les dice: No hagáis extorsión á nadie, ni calumniéis; y contentaos con vuestras pagas. |
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| French Bible J.N. Darby 1885 | Et des gens de guerre l’interrogèrent aussi, disant: Et nous, que faut-il que nous fassions? Et il leur dit: Ne commettez pas d’extorsions, ni n’accusez faussement personne, et contentez-vous de vos gages. |
| German Elberfelder 1871 | Es fragten ihn aber auch Kriegsleute und sprachen: Und wir, was sollen wir tun? Und er sprach zu ihnen: Tut niemand Gewalt, und klaget niemand fälschlich an, und begnüget euch mit eurem Solde. |
| Latin Clementine Vulgate | Interrogabant autem eum et milites, dicentes: Quid faciemus et nos? Et ait illis: Neminem concutiatis, neque calumniam faciatis: et contenti estote stipendiis vestris. |