Luke 21:14
New International Version
But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

New Living Translation
So don’t worry in advance about how to answer the charges against you,

English Standard Version
Settle it therefore in your minds not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

Berean Standard Bible
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.

Berean Literal Bible
Settle therefore in your minds not to premeditate to make a defense.

King James Bible
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:

New King James Version
Therefore settle it in your hearts not to meditate beforehand on what you will answer;

New American Standard Bible
So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

NASB 1995
“So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

NASB 1977
“So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

Legacy Standard Bible
So set in your hearts not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

Amplified Bible
So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves;

Christian Standard Bible
Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Therefore make up your minds not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

American Standard Version
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:

Contemporary English Version
Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves.

English Revised Version
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to answer:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
So make up your minds not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves.

Good News Translation
Make up your minds ahead of time not to worry about how you will defend yourselves,

International Standard Version
So purpose in your hearts not to prepare your defense ahead of time,

Majority Standard Bible
So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves.

NET Bible
Therefore be resolved not to rehearse ahead of time how to make your defense.

New Heart English Bible
Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,

Webster's Bible Translation
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer.

Weymouth New Testament
"Make up your minds, however, not to prepare a defence beforehand,

World English Bible
Settle it therefore in your hearts not to meditate beforehand how to answer,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
Settle, then, to your hearts, not to meditate beforehand to reply,

Berean Literal Bible
Settle therefore in your minds not to premeditate to make a defense.

Young's Literal Translation
'Settle, then, to your hearts, not to meditate beforehand to reply,

Smith's Literal Translation
Set therefore in your hearts, not to practise beforehand to justify yourselves:
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, set this in your hearts: that you should not consider in advance how you might respond.

New American Bible
Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand,

New Revised Standard Version
So make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance;
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Treasure it in your heart, and do not try to learn what to answer.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But settle in your hearts that you will not be taught to give an answer.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
Therefore, determine in your hearts not to meditate beforehand what you shall answer;

Godbey New Testament
Place it in your hearts, not to premeditate your defense:

Haweis New Testament
Therefore rest satisfied in your hearts, not to premeditate what apology to make:

Mace New Testament
fix it therefore in your mind, not to think beforehand about your defence.

Weymouth New Testament
"Make up your minds, however, not to prepare a defence beforehand,

Worrell New Testament
Settle it, therefore, in your hearts, not to meditate beforehand how to make a defense;

Worsley New Testament
Fix it therefore in your hearts not to premeditate a defence: for I will give you a mouth and wisdom,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Witnessing to All Nations
13This will be your opportunity to serve as witnesses. 14So make up your mind not to worry beforehand how to defend yourselves. 15For I will give you speech and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.…

Cross References
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.

Mark 13:11
But when they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand what to say. Instead, speak whatever you are given at that time, for it will not be you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Acts 4:8-13
Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! / If we are being examined today about a kind service to a man who was lame, to determine how he was healed, / then let this be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. ...

Acts 6:10
but they could not stand up to his wisdom or the Spirit by whom he spoke.

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,

2 Timothy 4:17
But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message would be fully proclaimed, and all the Gentiles would hear it. So I was delivered from the mouth of the lion.

Jeremiah 1:7-9
But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. / Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you,” declares the LORD. / Then the LORD reached out His hand, touched my mouth, and said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.

Exodus 4:12
Now go! I will help you as you speak, and I will teach you what to say.”

Isaiah 50:4
The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of discipleship, to sustain the weary with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning; He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple.

Ezekiel 3:27
But when I speak with you, I will open your mouth, and you are to tell them, ‘This is what the Lord GOD says.’ Whoever listens, let him listen; and whoever refuses, let him refuse, for they are a rebellious house.

Micah 3:8
As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.

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? ...

John 14:26
But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

John 16:13
However, when the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all truth. For He will not speak on His own, but He will speak what He hears, and He will declare to you what is to come.

Acts 7:55-56
But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked intently into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. / “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”


Treasury of Scripture

Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what you shall answer:

Luke 12:11,12
And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: …

Matthew 10:19,20
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak…

Mark 13:11
But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

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Answers Beforehand Care Defence Defend Hearts However Meditate Mind Minds Prepare Settle Time Troubled Worry Yourselves
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Answers Beforehand Care Defence Defend Hearts However Meditate Mind Minds Prepare Settle Time Troubled Worry Yourselves
Luke 21
1. Jesus commends the poor widow.
5. He foretells the destruction of the temple, and of the city Jerusalem;
25. the signs also which shall be before the last day.
34. He exhorts them to be watchful.














So make up your mind
This phrase calls for a deliberate and conscious decision. The Greek word used here is "τίθημι" (tithēmi), which means to set, place, or establish. In the context of this verse, it implies a firm resolve or determination. Jesus is instructing His followers to establish a mindset of trust and reliance on God rather than on their own abilities. This reflects a broader biblical principle of faith over fear, encouraging believers to set their hearts and minds on God's promises and sovereignty.

not to worry beforehand
The Greek word for "worry" is "μεριμνάω" (merimnaō), which means to be anxious or troubled with cares. Jesus is addressing the natural human tendency to be anxious about future events, especially those involving persecution or trials. The phrase "beforehand" emphasizes the futility of worrying about future challenges that are beyond one's control. Historically, this teaching would have been particularly poignant for early Christians facing persecution, reminding them to trust in God's provision and timing.

how to defend yourselves
The Greek term for "defend" is "ἀπολογέομαι" (apologeomai), which means to speak in one's defense or to make a defense. This is the root of the English word "apologetics," which refers to the reasoned defense of the Christian faith. In the context of this passage, Jesus is reassuring His disciples that they need not rely on their own eloquence or wisdom when facing opposition. Instead, they are to trust that God will provide the words and wisdom needed in those moments. This reflects a broader scriptural theme of divine empowerment, where God equips His people to stand firm in their faith amidst trials.

(14) Not to meditate before . . .--The word differs from that used in the parallel passage of Mark 13:11, "take no thought" (the addition of "premeditate" there is very doubtful), as involving less anxiety. It is not found elsewhere in the New Testament, but the uncompounded verb meets us, as used by St. Paul, in 1Timothy 4:15.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
So
οὖν (oun)
Conjunction
Strong's 3767: Therefore, then. Apparently a primary word; certainly, or accordingly.

make up
θέτε (thete)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 5087: To put, place, lay, set, fix, establish. A prolonged form of a primary theo to place.

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

mind
καρδίαις (kardiais)
Noun - Dative Feminine Plural
Strong's 2588: Prolonged from a primary kar; the heart, i.e. the thoughts or feelings; also the middle.

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.

to worry beforehand
προμελετᾶν (promeletan)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 4304: To meditate beforehand, prepare, get up, premeditate. From pro and meletao; to premeditate.

how to defend yourselves.
ἀπολογηθῆναι (apologēthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 626: To give a defense, defend myself (especially in a law court): it can take an object of what is said in defense.


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NT Gospels: Luke 21:14 Settle it therefore in your hearts not (Luke Lu Lk)
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