Luke 12:47
New International Version
“The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows.

New Living Translation
“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished.

English Standard Version
And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

Berean Standard Bible
That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

Berean Literal Bible
Now that servant, the one having known the will of his master, and not having prepared nor having done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

King James Bible
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

New King James Version
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

New American Standard Bible
And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accordance with his will, will receive many blows,

NASB 1995
“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,

NASB 1977
“And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes,

Legacy Standard Bible
And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many beatings,

Amplified Bible
And that servant who knew his master’s will, and yet did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will be beaten with many lashes [of the whip],

Christian Standard Bible
And that servant who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
And that slave who knew his master’s will and didn’t prepare himself or do it will be severely beaten.

American Standard Version
And that servant, who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

Contemporary English Version
If servants are not ready or willing to do what their master wants them to do, they will be beaten hard.

English Revised Version
And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"The servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't get ready to do it will receive a hard beating.

Good News Translation
"The servant who knows what his master wants him to do, but does not get himself ready and do it, will be punished with a heavy whipping.

International Standard Version
That servant who knew what his master wanted but didn't prepare himself or do what was wanted will receive a severe beating.

Majority Standard Bible
That servant who knows his master?s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

NET Bible
That servant who knew his master's will but did not get ready or do what his master asked will receive a severe beating.

New Heart English Bible
That servant, who knew his lord's will, and did not prepare, nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,

Webster's Bible Translation
And that servant who knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Weymouth New Testament
And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.

World English Bible
That servant who knew his lord’s will, and didn’t prepare nor do what he wanted, will be beaten with many stripes,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And that servant, who having known his lord’s will, and having not prepared, nor having gone according to his will, will be beaten with many stripes,

Berean Literal Bible
Now that servant, the one having known the will of his master, and not having prepared nor having done according to his will, will be beaten with many blows.

Young's Literal Translation
'And that servant, who having known his lord's will, and not having prepared, nor having gone according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes,

Smith's Literal Translation
And that servant having known his lord's will, and not prepared, neither having done his will, shall be skinned with many.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And that servant who knew the will of his lord, and prepared not himself, and did not according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And that servant, who knew the will of his Lord, and who did not prepare and did not act according to his will, will be beaten many times over.

New American Bible
That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely;

New Revised Standard Version
That slave who knew what his master wanted, but did not prepare himself or do what was wanted, will receive a severe beating.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the servant who knows the wishes of his master, and does not make ready according to his wishes, will receive a severe beating.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“The servant who knew the will of his master and did not prepare for him according to his will, he shall be beaten many times.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And that servant who knew his lord's will, but made no preparation, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

Godbey New Testament
But that servant knowing the will of his lord, and not preparing or doing according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Haweis New Testament
And that servant, who knew his master?s will, and made no preparation for him, nor did according to his pleasure, shall be beaten with many stripes.

Mace New Testament
but the servant, who knows his master's will, and prepares not himself, nor executes his orders, shall receive many stripes.

Weymouth New Testament
And that servant who has been told his Master's will and yet made no preparation and did not obey His will, will receive many lashes.

Worrell New Testament
And that servant who knew his lord's will, and made not ready, nor did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

Worsley New Testament
And that servant, who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself to do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Be Ready for Service
46The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. 47 That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. 48But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.…

Cross References
Matthew 24:45-51
Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household, to give the others their food at the proper time? / Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. / Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ...

Matthew 25:14-30
For it is just like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted them with his possessions. / To one he gave five talents, to another two talents, and to another one talent—each according to his own ability. And he went on his journey. / The servant who had received the five talents went at once and put them to work and gained five more. ...

James 4:17
Anyone, then, who knows the right thing to do, yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.

1 Corinthians 4:2
Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.

Hebrews 10:26-31
If we deliberately go on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins remains, / but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume all adversaries. / Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ...

1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who disobey the gospel of God?

Romans 2:5-8
But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. / God “will repay each one according to his deeds.” / To those who by perseverance in doing good seek glory, honor, and immortality, He will give eternal life. ...

2 Peter 2:20-21
If indeed they have escaped the corruption of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, only to be entangled and overcome by it again, their final condition is worse than it was at first. / It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than to have known it and then to turn away from the holy commandment passed on to them.

Revelation 3:19
Those I love I rebuke and discipline. Therefore be earnest and repent.

John 9:41
“If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.”

Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Jeremiah 48:10
Cursed is the one who is remiss in doing the work of the LORD, and cursed is he who withholds his sword from bloodshed.

Proverbs 29:1
A man who remains stiff-necked after much reproof will suddenly be shattered beyond recovery.

Isaiah 1:3
The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.”

Amos 3:2
“Only you have I known from all the families of the earth; therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”


Treasury of Scripture

And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

knew.

Luke 10:12-15
But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city…

Numbers 15:30,31
But the soul that doeth ought presumptuously, whether he be born in the land, or a stranger, the same reproacheth the LORD; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people…

Matthew 11:22-24
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you…

shall.

Deuteronomy 25:2,3
And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten, that the judge shall cause him to lie down, and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number…

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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.














That servant
The phrase "that servant" refers to an individual who is in a position of responsibility or stewardship. In the context of Luke 12, Jesus is speaking about the faithful and wise manager. The Greek word for "servant" here is "δοῦλος" (doulos), which means a bond-servant or slave. This term emphasizes the servant's duty and obligation to his master, reflecting the Christian's duty to God. Historically, servants in biblical times were expected to manage their master's affairs with diligence and integrity, a principle that applies to believers as stewards of God's gifts and commands.

who knows his master’s will
This phrase underscores the importance of knowledge and awareness of the master's desires. The Greek word for "knows" is "γινώσκω" (ginōskō), which implies a deep, experiential understanding. In a spiritual sense, this knowledge represents the believer's understanding of God's will as revealed through Scripture and the Holy Spirit. The historical context suggests that a servant who knows his master's will is expected to act accordingly, highlighting the responsibility that comes with spiritual insight.

and does not get ready
The phrase "does not get ready" indicates a lack of preparation or action. The Greek word "ἑτοιμάζω" (hetoimazō) means to prepare or make ready. This reflects the biblical call for believers to be vigilant and prepared for the Lord's return. In the historical context, a servant who failed to prepare for his master's return would be considered negligent. Spiritually, this serves as a warning against complacency and the importance of living in a state of readiness for Christ's second coming.

or follow his instructions
This phrase highlights the failure to obey the master's commands. The Greek word for "follow" is "ποιέω" (poieō), meaning to do or to act. Obedience is a central theme in Scripture, and this phrase emphasizes the necessity of aligning one's actions with God's instructions. Historically, a servant's primary duty was to carry out the master's orders, and failure to do so would result in consequences. For Christians, this underscores the importance of living according to God's Word.

will be beaten with many blows
The phrase "will be beaten with many blows" signifies the consequences of disobedience and neglect. The Greek word for "beaten" is "δέρρω" (derō), which means to strike or scourge. This imagery reflects the severe discipline that would befall a servant who failed in his duties. In a spiritual context, it serves as a sobering reminder of the accountability believers have before God. The historical practice of disciplining servants was meant to correct and restore them to proper service, paralleling the divine discipline that aims to bring believers back to righteousness.

(47) And that servant, which knew his lord's will.--The verses that follow (Luke 12:47-50) are peculiar to St. Luke, and every word is full of profoundest interest. First there comes a warning to the disciples who knew their Lord's will, who had been told to watch for His coming, to prepare themselves and others for it. That "will" included the use of all gifts and opportunities, as in the parables of the Pounds and the Talents, with faithfulness and activity in using them. On those who, with their eyes open, were sinning against light and knowledge (our Lord's words had, we can scarcely doubt, a latent reference to Judas) there should come, in this world or in the world to come, a penalty proportionably severe.

Verses 47, 48. - And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. These verses are easy to understand. They explain the broad principles upon which the foregoing statements, in parable and in direct teaching, are based. Rewards and punishments will be allotted in the coming world with strict justice. To some, great knowledge of the Divine will is given and splendid opportunities of work are afforded; to such, if only they are faithful and true, will indeed a high place in the city of God be allotted; but alas for them in the life to come if they fail, if they miss the splendid chance of being true toilers with and for God! Their portion will be the many stripes. To others a knowledge of the Divine will, scanty compared with these just spoken of, is given, and opportunities of doing high and noble work are here comparatively few; if these use the little knowledge and seize the few opportunities, they will, while occupying a lower grade in the hierarchy of heaven, still enjoy the perfect bliss of friendship with God. The punishment for failure here is designated by the few stripes. In this solemn passage it is notable that degrees or grades in punishment as well as degrees or grades in glory are distinctly spoken of.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
That
Ἐκεῖνος (Ekeinos)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1565: That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.

servant
δοῦλος (doulos)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1401: (a) (as adj.) enslaved, (b) (as noun) a (male) slave. From deo; a slave.

who
(ho)
Article - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

knows
γνοὺς (gnous)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

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.

master’s
κυρίου (kyriou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 2962: Lord, master, sir; the Lord. From kuros; supreme in authority, i.e. controller; by implication, Master.

will
θέλημα (thelēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.

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

does not get ready
ἑτοιμάσας (hetoimasas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2090: To make ready, prepare. From hetoimos; to prepare.

[or]
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

follow
ποιήσας (poiēsas)
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 4160: (a) I make, manufacture, construct, (b) I do, act, cause. Apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do.

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.

instructions
θέλημα (thelēma)
Noun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 2307: An act of will, will; plur: wishes, desires. From the prolonged form of ethelo; a determination, i.e. choice or inclination.

will be beaten with
δαρήσεται (darēsetai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1194: To flay, flog, scourge, beat. A primary verb; properly, to flay, i.e. to scourge, or to thrash.

many [blows].
πολλάς (pollas)
Adjective - Accusative Feminine Plural
Strong's 4183: Much, many; often.


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NT Gospels: Luke 12:47 That servant who knew his lord's will (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 12:46
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