Luke 8 · Verse 18

Luke 8:18

Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Luke 8:18, King James Version

Luke 8:18 in other translations

BSBPay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”
WEBBe careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn’t have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has.”
ASVTake heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that which he thinketh he hath.
YLT‘See, therefore, how ye hear, for whoever may have, there shall be given to him, and whoever may not have, also what he seemeth to have, shall be taken from him.'
DARBYTake heed therefore how ye hear; for whosoever has, to him shall be given, and whosoever has not, even what he seems to have shall be taken from him.
BBESo take care how you give hearing, for to him who has will be given, and from him who has not will be taken even what he seems to have.
WebsterTake heed therefore how ye hear: for whoever hath, to him shall be given; and whoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

What does Luke 8:18 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
18. how ye--in Mr 4:24, "what ye hear." The one implies the other. The precept is very weighty. seemeth to have--or, "thinketh that he hath" (Margin). The "having" of Mt 13:12 (on which see), and this "thinking he hath," are not different. Hanging loosely on him, and not appropriated, it is and is not his.

Lu 8:19-21. His Mother and Brethren Desire to Speak with Him.

(See on Mt 12:46-50).

Lu 8:22-25. Jesus Crossing the Lake, Stills the Storm.

(See on Mt 8:23-27, and Mr 4:35-41).

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 18.

Mk 4:21, and Mr 4:22-25

(w) "take heed" Jas 1:21-25 (x) "whosoever hath" Mt 13:12, 25:29, Lk 19:26 (1) "seemeth to have", or "thinketh that he hath"

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 Even that which he seemeth to have - Or rather, even what he hath. Ὁ δοκει εχειν, rendered by our common version, what he seemeth to have, seems to me to contradict itself. Let us examine this subject a little. 1. To seem to have a thing, is only to have it in appearance, and not in reality; but what is possessed in appearance only can only be taken away in appearance; therefore on the one side there is no gain, and on the other side no loss. On this ground, the text speaks just nothing. 2. It is evident that ὁ δοκει εχειν, what he seemeth to have, here, is equivalent to ὁ εχει, what he hath, in the parallel places, Mar 4:25; Mat 13:12; Mat 25:29; and in Luk 19:26. 3. It is evident, also, that these persons had something which might be taken away from them. For 1. The word of God, the Divine seed, was planted in their hearts. 2. It had already produced some good effects; but they permitted the devil, the cares of the world, the desire of riches, and the love of pleasure, to destroy its produce. 4. The word δοκειν is often an expletive: so Xenophon in Hellen, vi. ὁτι εδοκει πατικος φιλος αυτοις, Because he seemed to be (i.e. Was) their father's friend. So in his Oeeon. Among the cities that seemed to be (δοκουσαις, actually were) at war. So Athenaeus, lib. vi. chap. 4. They who seemed to be (δοκουντες, who really were) the most opulent, drank out of brazen cups. 5. It often strengthens the sense, and is thus used by the very best Greek writers. Ulpian, in one of his notes on Demosthenes' Orat. Olinth. 1, quoted by Bishop Pearce, says expressly, το δοκειν ου παντως επι αμφιβολου ταττουσιν οἱ παλαιοι, αλλα πολλακις και επι του αληθευειν. The word δοκειν is used by the ancients to express, not always what is doubtful, but oftentimes what is true and certain. And this is manifestly its meaning in Mat 3:9; Luk 22:24; Joh 5:39; 1Cor 7:40; 1Cor 10:12; 1Cor 11:16; Gal 2:9; Phi 3:4; and in the text. See these meanings of the word established beyond the possibility of successful contradiction, in Bishop Pearce's notes on Mar 10:42, and in Kypke in loc. See also the notes on Mat 13:12 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 8:4-21

There are many very needful and excellent rules and cautions for hearing the word, in the parable of the sower, and the application of it. Happy are we, and for ever indebted to free grace, if the same thing that is a parable to others, with which they are only amused, is a plain truth to us, by which we are taught and governed. We ought to take heed of the things that will hinder our profiting by the word we hear…

Read the full comment on Luke 8:4-21 →

Luke 8:18 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.

ΒλέπετεBlepetedo take heedG991
οὖνounthereforeG3767
πῶςpōshowG4459
ἀκούετε·akoueteyou hear;G191
ὃςhoswho[ever]G3739
ἂνanmaybeG302
γὰρgarforG1063
ἔχῃ,echēshall have,G2192
δοθήσεταιdothēsetaiwill be givenG1325
αὐτῷ,autōto him,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
ὃςhoswho[ever]G3739
ἂνanmaybeG302
μὴmēnotG3361
ἔχῃ,echēshall have,G2192
καὶkaievenG2532
ὃhowhatG3739
δοκεῖdokeihe seemsG1380
ἔχεινecheinto haveG2192
ἀρθήσεταιarthēsetaiit will be taken awayG142
ἀπ᾽ap᾽fromG575
αὐτοῦ.¶autouhim.G846

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

Cross references for Luke 8:18

  • Matthew 13:12

    For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

  • Luke 19:26

    For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

  • Mark 4:23-25

    If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given. For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.

  • Matthew 25:29

    For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.

  • Proverbs 2:2-5

    So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

  • Hebrews 2:1

    Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

  • John 15:2

    Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.

  • Matthew 7:22-23

    Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

  • James 1:19-26

    Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. …

  • Romans 12:3

    For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  • Acts 10:33

    Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.

  • 1 Corinthians 14:37

    If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
heed.
9:44; De 32:46,47; Pr 2:2-5; Mr 4:23,24; 13:14; Ac 10:33; 17:11
Heb 2:1; Jas 1:19-25; 1Pe 2:1,2
for.
19:26; Mt 13:12; 25:29; Mr 4:25; Joh 15:2
from.
12:20,21; 16:2-4,19-25; Mt 7:22,23; 1Co 13:1-3
seemeth to have. or, thinketh that he hath.
Pr 14:12; Ro 12:3; 1Co 3:18; 8:2; 14:37; Php 3:4; Jas 1:26

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

Context

  • Luke 8:17

    For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.

  • Luke 8:18

    Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

  • Luke 8:19

    Then came to him his mother and his brethren, and could not come at him for the press.

Read all of Luke 8

Luke 8:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mirad pues cómo oís; porque á cualquiera que tuviere, le será dado; y á cualquiera que no tuviere, aun lo que parece tener le será quitado.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Prenez donc garde comment vous entendez; car à quiconque a, il sera donné, et à quiconque n’a pas, cela même qu’il paraît avoir sera ôté.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sehet nun zu, wie ihr höret; denn wer irgend hat, dem wird gegeben werden, und wer irgend nicht hat, von dem wird selbst was er zu haben scheint genommen werden.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Videte ergo quomodo audiatis? Qui enim habet, dabitur illi: et quicumque non habet, etiam quod putat se habere, auferetur ab illo.