Luke 12:22
New International Version
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

New Living Translation
Then, turning to his disciples, Jesus said, “That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food to eat or enough clothes to wear.

English Standard Version
And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to His disciples, "Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious for life, what you should eat, nor for your body, what you should put on.

King James Bible
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

New King James Version
Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on.

New American Standard Bible
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you are to eat; nor for your body, as to what you are to wear.

NASB 1995
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

NASB 1977
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said to His disciples, “For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.

Amplified Bible
Jesus said to His disciples, “For this reason I tell you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; or about your body, as to what you will wear.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said to His disciples: “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear.

American Standard Version
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Contemporary English Version
Jesus said to his disciples: I tell you not to worry about your life! Don't worry about having something to eat or wear.

English Revised Version
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "So I tell you to stop worrying about what you will eat or wear.

Good News Translation
Then Jesus said to the disciples, "And so I tell you not to worry about the food you need to stay alive or about the clothes you need for your body.

International Standard Version
Then Jesus told his disciples, "That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying about your life—what you will eat—or about your body—what you will wear,

Majority Standard Bible
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

NET Bible
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

New Heart English Bible
He said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

Weymouth New Testament
Then turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, 'Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'

World English Bible
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life, what you will eat, nor yet for your body, what you will wear.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He said to His disciples, “Because of this, to you I say, do not be anxious for your life, what you may eat; nor for the body, what you may put on;

Berean Literal Bible
And He said to His disciples, "Because of this I say to you, do not be anxious for life, what you should eat, nor for your body, what you should put on.

Young's Literal Translation
And he said unto his disciples, 'Because of this, to you I say, Be not anxious for your life, what ye may eat; nor for the body, what ye may put on;

Smith's Literal Translation
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Have no anxiety for your soul, what ye eat; nor for the body what ye put on.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to his disciples: Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to his disciples: “And so I say to you: Do not choose to be anxious about your life, as to what you may eat, nor about your body, as to what you will wear.

New American Bible
He said to [his] disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear.

New Revised Standard Version
He said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Do not worry for your life, what you will eat; nor for your body, what you will wear.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And he said to his disciples, “Because of this, I say to you that you shall not be taking pains for yourselves what you will eat, neither for your bodies, what you will wear.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he said to his disciples: For this reason I say to you, Be not anxious for your life, what you shall eat; nor for your body, what you shall put on.

Godbey New Testament
And He spoke to His disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Be not solicitous for your soul, what you may eat; nor for your body, what you may put on.

Haweis New Testament
Then said he to his disciples, For this reason I tell you, Be under no anxiety about your life, what ye shall eat, nor for your body, how ye shall be clothed.

Mace New Testament
Wherefore (said he to his disciples,) be not sollicitous for your life, what ye shall eat; nor for the body, what ye shall put on.

Weymouth New Testament
Then turning to His disciples He said, "For this reason I say to you, 'Dismiss all anxious care for your lives, inquiring what you are to eat, and for your bodies, what you are to put on.'

Worrell New Testament
And He said to His disciples, "Therefore, I say to you, be not anxious for your soul, what ye shall eat; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on;

Worsley New Testament
And He said to his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, be not anxious for your life, what ye shall eat; nor for the body, what ye shall put on:

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Do Not Worry
21This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.” 22Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. 23For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.…

Cross References
Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? / Look at the birds of the air: They do not sow or reap or gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? / Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? ...

Philippians 4:6-7
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. / And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Matthew 10:29-31
Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. / And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. / So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous be shaken.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Jeremiah 17:7-8
But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. / He is like a tree planted by the waters that sends out its roots toward the stream. It does not fear when the heat comes, and its leaves are always green. It does not worry in a year of drought, nor does it cease to produce fruit.

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things, at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

Romans 8:32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?

Hebrews 13:5-6
Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.” / So we say with confidence: “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?”

1 Timothy 6:6-8
Of course, godliness with contentment is great gain. / For we brought nothing into the world, so we cannot carry anything out of it. / But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these.

Psalm 37:3-5
Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness. / Delight yourself in the LORD, and He will give you the desires of your heart. / Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him, and He will do it.

Psalm 37:25
I once was young and now am old, yet never have I seen the righteous abandoned or their children begging for bread.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to his disciples, Therefore I say to you, Take no thought for your life, what you shall eat; neither for the body, what you shall put on.

Take.

Luke 12:29
And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

Matthew 6:25
Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

1 Corinthians 7:32
But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:

Jump to Previous
Anxious Bodies Body Care Careful Cause Clothed Disciples Dismiss Eat Food Inquiring Jesus Life Reason Thought Turning Wear Worry
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Anxious Bodies Body Care Careful Cause Clothed Disciples Dismiss Eat Food Inquiring Jesus Life Reason Thought Turning Wear Worry
Luke 12
1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13. and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns.
22. We must not worry about earthly things,
31. but seek the kingdom of God;
33. give alms;
35. be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes.
41. Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,
49. and look for persecution.
54. The people must take this time of grace;
57. because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation.














Then Jesus said
This phrase marks a transition in the narrative, indicating that Jesus is addressing His disciples directly. The Greek word for "said" is "εἶπεν" (eipen), which is often used to introduce important teachings or declarations. In the context of Luke, Jesus is continuing His discourse on the kingdom of God, emphasizing the importance of trust and reliance on divine provision.

to His disciples
The term "disciples" refers to those who are followers of Jesus, committed to learning from Him and living according to His teachings. In the first-century Jewish context, a disciple (Greek: μαθητής, mathētēs) was someone who adhered to the teachings of a rabbi. Here, Jesus is imparting wisdom specifically to those who have chosen to follow Him, highlighting the intimate and instructional nature of His relationship with them.

Therefore I tell you
The word "therefore" (Greek: διὰ τοῦτο, dia touto) connects this teaching to the preceding verses, where Jesus speaks about the futility of storing up earthly treasures. It serves as a logical conclusion, urging the disciples to apply the previous lessons to their lives. "I tell you" underscores the authority of Jesus' words, as He speaks not just as a teacher, but as the Son of God, whose words carry divine weight and truth.

do not worry
The Greek word for "worry" is "μεριμνᾶτε" (merimnate), which conveys a sense of being anxious or overly concerned. In the cultural and historical context, life was fraught with uncertainties, much like today. Jesus' command to not worry is a call to trust in God's providence, reminding believers that anxiety is counterproductive to faith.

about your life
The term "life" (Greek: ψυχή, psychē) can refer to both physical life and the soul. Here, it encompasses the entirety of one's being and existence. Jesus is teaching that life is more than material needs and that one's focus should be on spiritual well-being and trust in God, who sustains all life.

what you will eat
Food was a daily concern in the ancient world, where subsistence living was common. Jesus addresses this basic human need to illustrate that God, who provides for the birds of the air, will surely provide for His people. This phrase encourages believers to trust in God's provision rather than be consumed by the pursuit of material sustenance.

or about your body
The "body" (Greek: σῶμα, sōma) represents the physical aspect of human existence. Jesus is emphasizing that the body, while important, should not be the primary focus of concern. This teaching aligns with the broader biblical narrative that values spiritual health and eternal life over temporal, physical concerns.

what you will wear
Clothing, like food, was a basic necessity and a symbol of status in ancient times. Jesus' mention of clothing serves to remind His followers that God, who clothes the lilies of the field, will also care for their needs. This phrase reinforces the call to prioritize spiritual riches over material possessions.

(22) And he said unto his disciples.--The previous words had been spoken generally to all who needed their warning against greed. What follows is addressed to those who had already been called to the consciousness of a higher life.

Take no thought for your life.--Another reproduction, in a distinct context, and as drawn forth by a special occasion, of the general teaching of Matthew 6:25.

Verse 22. - And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. A better rendering for "Take no thought" is Be not anxious about. This, too, suggests a more practical lesson. "What ye shall eat." How repeatedly in the Master's sermons do we find the reminder against the being careful about eating! We know from pagan writers in this age how gluttony, in its coarser and more refined forms, was among the more notorious evils of Roman society in Italy and in the provinces. This passion for the table more or less affected all classes in the empire.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
Then
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

[Jesus] said
Εἶπεν (Eipen)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to
πρὸς (pros)
Preposition
Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

disciples,
μαθητὰς (mathētas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

“Therefore
Διὰ (Dia)
Preposition
Strong's 1223: A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.

I 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.

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

worry
μεριμνᾶτε (merimnate)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 3309: To be over-anxious; with acc: To be anxious about, distracted; I care for. From merimna; to be anxious about.

about
τῇ (tē)
Article - Dative 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.

your life,
ψυχῇ (psychē)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

you will eat,
φάγητε (phagēte)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5315: A primary verb; to eat.

[or]
μηδὲ (mēde)
Conjunction
Strong's 3366: And not, not even, neither…nor. From me and de; but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor.

about
τῷ (tō)
Article - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

your
ὑμῶν (hymōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou.

body,
σώματι (sōmati)
Noun - Dative Neuter Singular
Strong's 4983: Body, flesh; the body of the Church. From sozo; the body, used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively.

what
τί (ti)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what.

you will wear.
ἐνδύσησθε (endysēsthe)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1746: To put on, clothe (another). From en and duno; to invest with clothing.


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