Luke 9 · Verse 55

Luke 9:55

But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.
Luke 9:55, King James Version

Luke 9:55 in other translations

BSBBut Jesus turned and rebuked them.
WEBBut he turned and rebuked them, “You don’t know of what kind of spirit you are.
ASVBut he turned, and rebuked them.
YLTand having turned, he rebuked them, and said, ‘Ye have not known of what spirit ye are;
DARBYBut turning he rebuked them and said, Ye know not of what spirit ye are.
BBEBut turning round he said sharp words to them.
WebsterBut he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

What does Luke 9:55 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 9:55-56
55-56. know not what ... spirit--The thing ye demand, though in keeping with the legal, is unsuited to the genius of the evangelical dispensation. The sparks of unholy indignation would seize readily enough on this example of Elias, though our Lord's rebuke (as is plain from Lu 9:56) is directed to the principle involved rather than the animal heat which doubtless prompted the reference. "It is a golden sentence of Tillotson, Let us never do anything for religion which is contrary to religion" [Webster and Wilkinson].

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 55. Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. You suppose that you are actuated by a proper love for me; but you know not yourselves. It is rather a love of revenge; rather revengeful feelings toward the Samaritans than proper feelings toward me. We learn here--

1st. That apparent zeal for God may be only improper opposition toward our fellow-men.

2nd. That men, when they wish to honour God, should examine their spirit, and see if there is not lying at the bottom of their professed zeal for God some bad feeling toward their fellow-men.

3rd. That the highest opposition which Jesus met with was not inconsistent with his loving those who opposed him, and with his seeking to do them good.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 55 Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of - Ye do not consider that the present is a dispensation of infinite mercy and love; and that the design of God is not to destroy sinners, but to give them space to repent, that he may save them unto eternal life. And ye do not consider that the zeal which you feel springs from an evil principle, being more concerned for your own honor than for the honor of God. The disciples of that Christ who died for his enemies should never think of avenging themselves on their persecutors.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 9:51-56

The disciples did not consider that the conduct of the Samaritans was rather the effect of national prejudices and bigotry, than of enmity to the word and worship of God; and through they refused to receive Christ and his disciples, they did not ill use or injure them, so that the case was widely different from that of Ahaziah and Elijah. Nor were they aware that the gospel dispensation was to be marked by miracles…

Read the full comment on Luke 9:51-56 →

Luke 9:55 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.

στραφεὶςstrapheisHaving turnedG4762
δὲdethenG1161
ἐπετίμησενepetimēsenHe rebukedG2008
αὐτοῖςautoisthemG846
καὶkaiandG2532
εἶπεν,eipensaidG2036
οὐκouknotG3756
οἰδατεoidateyou know
οἵουoiousuch asG3634
πνεύματόςpneumatosspiritG4151
ἐστεesteareG1510
ὑμεῖς.humeisyou yourselves.G4771

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

Cross references for Luke 9:55

  • 1 Peter 3:9

    Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

  • Job 2:10

    But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

  • Revelation 3:19

    As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

  • Job 26:4

    To whom hast thou uttered words? and whose spirit came from thee?

  • Matthew 16:23

    But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.

  • Job 31:29-31

    If I rejoiced at the destruction of him that hated me, or lifted up myself when evil found him: Neither have I suffered my mouth to sin by wishing a curse to his soul. If the men of my tabernacle said not, Oh that we had of his flesh! we cannot be satisfied.

  • Jeremiah 17:9

    The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

  • Matthew 26:51

    And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest’s, and smote off his ear.

  • Job 42:6

    Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

  • Matthew 26:41

    Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.

  • James 3:10

    Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

  • Job 34:4-9

    Let us choose to us judgment: let us know among ourselves what is good. For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. Should I lie against my right? my wound is incurable without transgression. What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning like water? …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
and rebuked.
1Sa 24:4-7; 26:8-11; 2Sa 19:22; Job 31:29-31; Pr 9:8; Mt 16:23
Re 3:19
Ye know.
Nu 20:10-12; Job 2:10; 26:4; 34:4-9; 35:2-4; 42:6; Jer 17:9
Mt 26:33,41,51; Joh 16:9; Ac 23:3-5; 26:9-11; Jas 3:10; 1Pe 3:9

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

Context

  • Luke 9:54

    And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did?

  • Luke 9:55

    But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.

  • Luke 9:56

    For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

Read all of Luke 9

Luke 9:55 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces volviéndose él, los reprendió, diciendo: Vosotros no sabéis de qué espíritu sois;
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et, se tournant, il les censura fortement et dit: Vous ne savez de quel esprit vous êtes animés!
German
Elberfelder 1871		Er wandte sich aber um und strafte sie und sprach: Ihr wisset nicht, weß Geistes ihr seid.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et conversus increpavit illos, dicens: Nescitis cujus spiritus estis.