Luke 11:9 So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

◄ Luke 11:9 ►

New International Version
“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

New Living Translation
“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

English Standard Version
And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Berean Standard Bible
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Berean Literal Bible
And I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.

King James Bible
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

New King James Version
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

New American Standard Bible
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

NASB 1995
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

NASB 1977
“And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Legacy Standard Bible
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Amplified Bible
“So I say to you, ask and keep on asking, and it will be given to you; seek and keep on seeking, and you will find; knock and keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

Christian Standard Bible
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“So I say to you, keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

American Standard Version
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Contemporary English Version
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you.

English Revised Version
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"So I tell you to ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Good News Translation
And so I say to you: Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

International Standard Version
So I say to you: Keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened for you,

Majority Standard Bible
So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

NET Bible
"So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

New Heart English Bible
"I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you.

Webster's Bible Translation
And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.

Weymouth New Testament
"So I say to you, 'Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.'

World English Bible
“I tell you, keep asking, and it will be given you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
and I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you;

Berean Literal Bible
And I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you.

Young's Literal Translation
and I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you;

Smith's Literal Translation
And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you: seek, and you shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And so I say to you: Ask, and it shall be given to you. Seek, and you shall find. Knock, and it shall be opened to you.

New American Bible
“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

New Revised Standard Version
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
I say to you also, Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“I am also saying to you, Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find, knock and it will be opened to you.”

NT Translations

Anderson New Testament
And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

Godbey New Testament
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Haweis New Testament
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

Mace New Testament
I tell you likewise, ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and the door shall be opened.

Weymouth New Testament
"So I say to you, 'Ask, and what you ask for shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and the door shall be opened to you.'

Worrell New Testament
And I say to you, ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you:

Worsley New Testament
And so I tell you, Ask and it shall be given you, seek and ye shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Ask, Seek, Knock
…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. 9So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. 10For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Matthew 7:7-8
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.

James 1:5
Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

John 14:13-14
And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it.

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

1 John 5:14-15
And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him.

John 15:7
If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Matthew 18:19
Again, I tell you truly that if two of you on the earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by My Father in heaven.

Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:12-13
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. / You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Psalm 37:4
Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Isaiah 55:6
Seek the LORD while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.

Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me early shall find me.

Psalm 50:15
Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.”

Treasury of Scripture

And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you.

I say.

Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Matthew 6:29
And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Matthew 21:31
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.

Ask.

Psalm 50:15
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.

Psalm 118:5
I called upon the LORD in distress: the LORD answered me, and set me in a large place.

Jeremiah 33:3
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

seek.

Luke 13:24
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Psalm 27:4,8
One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple…

Psalm 34:4,10
I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears…

knock.

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:

2 Corinthians 6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

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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.

Berean Study Bible

So I say to you
This phrase emphasizes the authority of Jesus as He speaks directly to His disciples and, by extension, to all believers. The Greek word for "say" is "λέγω" (legō), which implies a declaration or proclamation. Jesus is not merely offering advice; He is issuing a divine promise. This authoritative statement underscores the certainty and reliability of what follows, inviting believers to trust in His words.

ask
The Greek word for "ask" is "αἰτέω" (aiteō), which conveys a sense of earnestness and humility. It is not a casual request but a heartfelt petition. In the cultural and historical context of the Bible, asking was often associated with a recognition of one's need and dependence on God. This word encourages believers to approach God with sincerity and faith, trusting that He is a loving Father who desires to give good gifts to His children.

and it will be given to you
This phrase assures believers of God's willingness to respond to their requests. The passive construction "will be given" indicates that the action is performed by God, highlighting His role as the provider. The certainty of this promise is rooted in the character of God, who is faithful and generous. Historically, this reflects the covenant relationship between God and His people, where God promises to meet their needs.

seek
The Greek word "ζητέω" (zēteō) implies an active and diligent pursuit. It is more than a superficial glance; it involves a determined effort to find something of great value. In the biblical context, seeking often relates to the pursuit of God's kingdom and righteousness. This word encourages believers to prioritize their relationship with God and to earnestly desire His presence and guidance in their lives.

and you will find
This promise assures believers that their diligent pursuit will be rewarded. The certainty of finding is rooted in the faithfulness of God, who reveals Himself to those who earnestly seek Him. This reflects the biblical principle that God is not distant or hidden but desires to be known by His people. The historical context of the Bible shows that those who sought God with all their heart were never disappointed.

knock
The Greek word "κρούω" (krouō) suggests a persistent and intentional action. Knocking implies a desire to enter and be welcomed. In the cultural context of the time, knocking was a common way to request entry into a home, symbolizing a desire for fellowship and communion. This word encourages believers to persist in their pursuit of God, confident that He will open the door to His presence and blessings.

and the door will be opened to you
This phrase promises access and acceptance into God's presence. The imagery of a door being opened signifies an invitation to enter into a deeper relationship with God. The passive construction "will be opened" indicates that God Himself is the one who grants access. This reflects the biblical theme of God's desire for fellowship with His people and His readiness to welcome those who seek Him. Historically, doors were significant in biblical times as symbols of opportunity and new beginnings, reinforcing the hope and assurance found in this promise.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(9-13) Ask, and it shall be given you.--See Notes on Matthew 7:7-11; but note (1) the greater impressiveness of the opening words, "And I say unto you, . . . "as connected with the previous illustration; and (2) the addition of the "scorpion" to the "serpent," as though the recent combination of the two words in Luke 10:19 had so associated them that the one was naturally followed by the other.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 9, 10. - And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall he opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Then the Lord - taking advantage of the state of mind into which his strange words had brought his hearers - made, as Professor Bruce well points out, the solemn declaration on which, and not on the parable, he desired the tried soul to lay the stress of its faith: "And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you," etc. Jesus here pledges that those who act in accordance with this counsel shall find the event justify it. This statement, that those who pray to God shall surely be heard, rests absolutely on Christ's authority. It is not given as a fact which is self-evident, but as a fact which he, the Speaker, knows to be true. The man in bed is pictured in the parable as utterly selfish, regardless of his poorer neighbor's wants and sufferings. So God seems to us often, as we pray to him day after day, month after month, and our prayer receives no answer; he merely appears to us then as a passionless Spectator of the tragedies and comedies of time. "Children," said the Savior," the selfish man of my story yields to constant importunity. Think ye God, who only seems to be deaf to man's pleading voice that he may deepen his faith and educate his soul - think ye God is not listening all the while, and will not in the end, in all his glorious generosity, grant the prayer? Only pray on."

Parallel Commentaries ...

Greek

So I
Κἀγὼ (Kagō)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Nominative 1st Person Singular
Strong's 2504: To also, I too, but I. From kai and ego; so also the dative case kamoi, and accusative case kame and I, me.

tell
λέγω (legō)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

you:
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

Ask
αἰτεῖτε (aiteite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 154: To ask, request, petition, demand. Of uncertain derivation; to ask.

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

it will be given
δοθήσεται (dothēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

to you;
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

seek
ζητεῖτε (zēteite)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2212: To seek, search for, desire, require, demand. Of uncertain affinity; to seek; specially, to worship, or to plot.

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

you will find;
εὑρήσετε (heurēsete)
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2147: A prolonged form of a primary heuro, which heureo is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect to find.

knock
κρούετε (krouete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 2925: To knock, beat a door with a stick, to gain admittance. Apparently a primary verb; to rap.

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

[the door] will be opened
ἀνοιγήσεται (anoigēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 455: To open. From ana and oigo; to open up.

to you.
ὑμῖν (hymin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

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NT Gospels: Luke 11:9 I tell you keep asking and it (Luke Lu Lk)