Luke 11:7
New International Version
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’

New Living Translation
And suppose he calls out from his bedroom, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is locked for the night, and my family and I are all in bed. I can’t help you.’

English Standard Version
and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?

Berean Standard Bible
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

Berean Literal Bible
And he answering from within will say, 'Do not cause me trouble; the door already has been shut, and my children are with me in bed; I am not able, having risen up, to give to you.'

King James Bible
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

New King James Version
and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’?

New American Standard Bible
and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.

NASB 1995
and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’

NASB 1977
and from inside he shall answer and say, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.

Legacy Standard Bible
and from inside he answers and says, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot rise up and give you anything.’

Amplified Bible
and from inside he answers, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been shut and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’

Christian Standard Bible
Then he will answer from inside and say, ‘Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then he will answer from inside and say, Don’t bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I have gone to bed. I can’t get up to give you anything.’

American Standard Version
and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?

Contemporary English Version
And suppose your friend answers, "Don't bother me! The door is bolted, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you something."

English Revised Version
and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Your friend might answer you from inside his house, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children are in bed. I can't get up to give you anything.'

Good News Translation
And suppose your friend should answer from inside, 'Don't bother me! The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'

International Standard Version
Suppose he answers from inside, 'Stop bothering me! The door is already locked, and my children are here with us in the bedroom. I can't get up and give you anything!'

Majority Standard Bible
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

NET Bible
Then he will reply from inside, 'Do not bother me. The door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything.'

New Heart English Bible
and he from within will answer and say, 'Do not bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give it to you'?

Webster's Bible Translation
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

Weymouth New Testament
"And he from indoors shall answer, "'Do not pester me. The door is now barred, and I am here in bed with my children. I cannot get up and give you bread.'

World English Bible
and he from within will answer and say, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I can’t get up and give it to you’?
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and he from within answering may say, Do not give me trouble, the door has already been shut, and my children are with me in the bed, I am not able, having risen, to give to you.

Berean Literal Bible
And he answering from within will say, 'Do not cause me trouble; the door already has been shut, and my children are with me in bed; I am not able, having risen up, to give to you.'

Young's Literal Translation
and he from within answering may say, Do not give me trouble, already the door hath been shut, and my children with me are in the bed, I am not able, having risen, to give to thee.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he within, having answered, should say, offer not weariness to me: already has the door been shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot having risen, give thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he from within should answer, and say: Trouble me not, the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And from within, he would answer by saying: ‘Do not disturb me. The door is closed now, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up and give it to you.’

New American Bible
and he says in reply from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked and my children and I are already in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

New Revised Standard Version
And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Would his friend from inside answer and say to him, Do not trouble me; the door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And his friend from within will answer and will say to him, 'Do not disturb me, for behold, the door is bolted and my children are in bed with me; I cannot rise and give to you?' “
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not; the door is already closed, and my children and myself are in bed; I can not rise and give you.

Godbey New Testament
And he responding from within, said, Do not give me trouble: the door has already been closed, and my children are in bed with me; I am not able rising to give unto thee.

Haweis New Testament
And he from within answering, shall say, Give me no farther trouble: my door is already locked, and my children are with me in bed; I am unable to rise and give thee.

Mace New Testament
and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you.

Weymouth New Testament
"And he from indoors shall answer, "'Do not pester me. The door is now barred, and I am here in bed with my children. I cannot get up and give you bread.'

Worrell New Testament
and he from within, answering, shall say, 'Trouble me not; already the door has been shut, and my children are with me in the bed; I cannot rise and give you.'

Worsley New Testament
and he from within shall answer and say, Do not be troublesome; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed, I cannot rise to give thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ask, Seek, Knock
6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’ 7And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’ 8I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.…

Cross References
Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ...

Luke 18:1-8
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ...

James 4:3
And when you do ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may squander it on your pleasures.

Matthew 25:1-13
“At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. / Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. / The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take along any extra oil. ...

Proverbs 3:28
Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means.

1 John 3:17
If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?

Matthew 5:42
Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

1 Samuel 25:10-11
But Nabal asked them, “Who is David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants these days are breaking away from their masters. / Why should I take my bread and water and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give them to these men whose origin I do not know?”

Deuteronomy 15:7-11
If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, then you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. / Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs. / Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought in your heart: “The seventh year, the year of release, is near,” so that you look upon your poor brother begrudgingly and give him nothing. He will cry out to the LORD against you, and you will be guilty of sin. ...

2 Kings 4:1-7
Now the wife of one of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband, is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD. And now his creditor is coming to take my two children as his slaves!” / “How can I help you?” asked Elisha. “Tell me, what do you have in the house?” She answered, “Your servant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.” / “Go,” said Elisha, “borrow empty jars from all your neighbors. Do not gather just a few. ...

Galatians 6:9-10
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. / Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.

Isaiah 58:7
Isn’t it to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your home, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Romans 12:13
Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Hebrews 13:2
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

1 Timothy 6:18
Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, and to be generous and ready to share,


Treasury of Scripture

And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.

Trouble.

Luke 7:6
Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

Galatians 6:17
From henceforth let no man trouble me: for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus.

the door.

Luke 13:25
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:

Matthew 25:10
And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.

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Able Already Answers Barred Bed Bother Bread Children Disturb Door House Indoors Inside Pester Rise Risen Shut Trouble Within
Luke 11
1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him.
14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27. and shows who are blessed;
29. preaches to the people;
37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness.














And he will answer from within
This phrase suggests a response that comes from a place of privacy and security. The Greek word for "within" (ἔσωθεν, esōthen) implies an inner space, both physically and metaphorically. In the context of the parable, it highlights the separation between the one in need and the one who has the means to help. Spiritually, it can remind us of the barriers we sometimes place between ourselves and others, or even between ourselves and God. The call to answer from within can be seen as a challenge to overcome these barriers and respond to the needs around us.

and say, ‘Do not bother me
The phrase "Do not bother me" reflects a reluctance to be disturbed. The Greek word for "bother" (κόπους, kopous) can also mean trouble or burden. This reflects a common human tendency to prioritize personal comfort over the needs of others. Historically, homes in ancient Israel were small, and nighttime disturbances were indeed inconvenient. Yet, this phrase challenges us to consider how often we let inconvenience prevent us from acting in love and service.

The door is already shut
In ancient times, shutting the door was a significant act, symbolizing the end of the day and the beginning of rest. The Greek word for "shut" (κέκλεισται, kekleistai) indicates a completed action, emphasizing finality. This can be seen as a metaphor for opportunities that seem closed to us. However, in the broader context of Jesus' teaching, it serves as a reminder that God's willingness to respond to our needs is not limited by human constraints.

and my children and I are in bed
This phrase paints a picture of a typical family setting in ancient Israel, where families often shared a single sleeping space. The mention of "children" (τέκνα, tekna) underscores the communal aspect of life and the protective instincts of a parent. It highlights the tension between familial responsibilities and the call to serve others. Spiritually, it can remind us of the balance we must maintain between caring for our immediate family and extending love to our broader community.

I cannot get up and give you anything
The statement "I cannot get up" reflects a perceived limitation. The Greek word for "cannot" (οὐ δύναμαι, ou dynamai) suggests an inability or lack of power. This phrase challenges us to consider the excuses we make when faced with opportunities to help others. In the context of the parable, it serves as a contrast to God's limitless ability and willingness to provide for our needs. It encourages believers to trust in God's provision and to be willing instruments of His grace, even when it seems inconvenient.

(7) Trouble me not.--As afterwards in the parable of the Unjust Judge, so here, the illustrative matter cannot be pressed into an interpretation. It seems, indeed, to have been purposely so stated that it could only suggest an a fortiori argument. Thus man might answer, but so does not God. If prayer prevails over apathy and impatience, how much more will it prevail when we pray to One who knows our necessities before we ask Him? The picture drawn is obviously from a poor man's house, children and parents sleeping in the same room, the younger children (the Greek word is a diminutive) in the same bed. The word here, however, differs from the other two commonly translated "bed" (e.g., Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:6; Mark 2:4; Mark 2:9), and probably means the divan or raised platform, which often filled nearly half a room in a Jewish or Eastern house.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And [the one]
Κἀκεῖνος (Kakeinos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2548: And he, she, it, and that. From kai and ekeinos; likewise that.

inside
ἔσωθεν (esōthen)
Adverb
Strong's 2081: From eso; from inside; also used as equivalent to eso.

answers,
ἀποκριθεὶς (apokritheis)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 611: From apo and krino; to conclude for oneself, i.e. to respond; by Hebraism to begin to speak.

‘{Do} not
Μή (Mē)
Adverb
Strong's 3361: Not, lest. A primary particle of qualified negation; not, lest; also (whereas ou expects an affirmative one) whether.

bother
κόπους (kopous)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2873: From kopto; a cut, i.e. toil, literally or figuratively; by implication, pains.

me.
μοι (moi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

[My]
(hē)
Article - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

door
θύρα (thyra)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2374: (a) a door, (b) met: an opportunity. Apparently a primary word; a portal or entrance.

{is} already
ἤδη (ēdē)
Adverb
Strong's 2235: Already; now at length, now after all this waiting. Apparently from e and de; even now.

shut
κέκλεισται (kekleistai)
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2808: To shut, shut up. A primary verb; to close.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

my
μου (mou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

children
παιδία (paidia)
Noun - Nominative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3813: Neuter diminutive of pais; a childling, i.e., an infant, or a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature Christian.

are
εἰσίν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

with
μετ’ (met’)
Preposition
Strong's 3326: (a) gen: with, in company with, (b) acc: (1) behind, beyond, after, of place, (2) after, of time, with nouns, neut. of adjectives.

me
ἐμοῦ (emou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

in
εἰς (eis)
Preposition
Strong's 1519: A primary preposition; to or into, of place, time, or purpose; also in adverbial phrases.

bed.
κοίτην (koitēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2845: From keimai; a couch; by extension, cohabitation; by implication, the male sperm.

I cannot
δύναμαι (dynamai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 1410: (a) I am powerful, have (the) power, (b) I am able, I can. Of uncertain affinity; to be able or possible.

get up
ἀναστὰς (anastas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 450: To raise up, set up; I rise from among (the) dead; I arise, appear. From ana and histemi; to stand up.

to give
δοῦναί (dounai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

you [anything].’
σοι (soi)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.


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NT Gospels: Luke 11:7 And he from within will answer (Luke Lu Lk)
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