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Luke Intro C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7 C8 C9 C10 C11 C12 C13 C14 C15 C16 C17 C18 C19 C20 C21 C22 C23 C24
Luke 12 V1 V3 V5 V7 V9 V11 V13 V15 V17 V19 V21 V23 V25 V29 V31 V33 V35 V37 V39 V41 V43 V45 V47 V49 V51 V53 V55 V57 V59
Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible—click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations—the older translations are further down the page (so you can read up from the bottom to trace the English translation history). The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible—please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=small word differences Clarity of original=clear Importance to us=normal (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV) [ref]Look at how the lilies grow. They don’t go to work or make fabric, yet even King Solomon at the height of his fame wasn’t dressed as well as one of them.
OET-LV Observe the lilies how it_is_growing, neither it_is_labouring nor it_is_spinning, but I_am_saying to_you_all, not_even Solomōn/(Shəlmoh) in all the glory of_him, clothed as one of_these.
SR-GNT Κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει, οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ, περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων. ‡
(Katanoaʸsate ta krina pōs auxanei, ou kopia oude naʸthei; legō de humin, oude Solomōn en pasaʸ taʸ doxaʸ autou, periebaleto hōs hen toutōn.)
Key: khaki:verbs, light-green:nominative/subject, orange:accusative/object, pink:genitive/possessor, cyan:dative/indirect object, red:negative.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
ULT Consider the lilies—how they grow. They do not labor, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.
UST Think about the way that flowers grow. They do not work to earn money, and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that King Solomon, who lived long ago and wore glorious clothes, never dressed as beautifully as a single flower.
BSB Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor [or] spin.[fn] Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
12:27 NE and Tischendorf Consider the lilies: They do not spin or weave.
MSB Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor [or] spin.[fn] Yet[fn] I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
12:27 NE and Tischendorf Consider the lilies: They do not spin or weave.
12:27 F35 does not include Yet.
BLB Consider the lilies, how they grow: They do not labor, nor do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these.
AICNT “Consider the lilies [[of the field]],[fn] how [they grow;][fn] they neither toil nor spin; yet I say to you [[that]],[fn] even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
12:27, Of the field: Some manuscripts include. Latin(a b e i)
12:27, they grow: Absent from some manuscripts. D(05) Latin(a) Syriac(sys syc)
12:27, that: Some manuscripts include. ℵ(01) A(02) D(05) Latin(a b e ff2 i it) ‖ Absent from 𝔓45 𝔓75 B(03) W(032) BYZ TR NA28 SBLGNT THGNT.
OEB Think of the lilies, and how they grow. They neither toil nor spin; yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his splendour was not robed like one of these.
WEBBE Consider the lilies, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
WMBB (Same as above)
NET Consider how the flowers grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these!
LSV Consider the lilies, how do they grow? They do not labor, nor do they spin, and I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these;
FBV Think of the lilies and how they grow. They don't work, and they don't spin thread for clothes, but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was as beautifully dressed as one of them.
TCNT Consider the lilies, how they grow: They do not toil or [fn]spin, yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
12:27 spin, yet ¦ spin. I PCK
T4T Think about the way that flowers grow in the fields. They do not work to earn money, and they do not make their own clothes. But I tell you that even though King Solomon, who lived long ago, wore very beautiful clothes, his clothes were not as beautiful as one of those flowers.
LEB Consider the lilies, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these.
BBE Give thought to the flowers: they do no work, they make no thread; and still I say to you, Even Solomon, in all his glory, was not clothed like one of these.
Moff Look how the lilies neither spin nor weave;
⇔ and yet, I tell you, even Solomon in all his grandeur was never robed like one of them.
Wymth Observe the lilies, how they grow. They neither labour nor spin. And yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was as beautifully dressed as one of these.
ASV Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
DRA Consider the lilies, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. But I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these.
YLT 'Consider the lilies, how do they grow? they labour not, nor do they spin, and I say to you, not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these;
Drby Consider the lilies how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I say unto you, Not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these.
RV Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, neither do they spin; yet I say unto you, Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
SLT Consider the white lilies, how they grow; they are not wearied, neither do they spin; and I say to you, neither was Solomon in all his glory clothed as one of these.
Wbstr Consider the lilies how they grow: They toil not, they spin not; and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
KJB-1769 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
KJB-1611 Consider the Lillies how they growe, they toile not; they spinne not: and yet I say vnto you, that Solomon in all his glory, was not arayed like one of these.
(Consider the Lillies how they grow, they toile not; they spinne not: and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these.)
Bshps Consider the Lylies how they growe, they labour not, they spinne not: and yet I say vnto you, that Solomon in al his royaltie was not clothed lyke one of these.
(Consider the Lylies how they grow, they labour not, they spinne not: and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of these.)
Gnva Consider the lilies howe they growe: they labour not, neither spin they: yet I say vnto you, that Salomon himselfe in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of these.
(Consider the lilies how they growe: they labour not, neither spin they: yet I say unto you, that Solomon himself in all his royaltie was not clothed like one of these. )
Cvdl Considre the lilies vpo the felde, how they growe: they laboure not, they spynne not. But I saye vnto you: that euen Salomen in all his royalte was not clothed like one of these.
(Consider the lilies upon the field, how they growe: they labour not, they spynne not. But I say unto you: that evening Salomen in all his royalte was not clothed like one of these.)
TNT Considre the lylies how they growe: They laboure not: they spyn not: and yet I saye vnto you that Salomon in all this royalte was not clothed lyke to one of these.
(Consider the lilies how they growe: They labour not: they spyn not: and yet I say unto you that Solomon in all this royalte was not clothed like to one of these. )
Wycl Biholde ye the lilies of the feeld, hou thei wexen; thei trauelen not, nethir spynnen. And Y seie to you, that nethir Salomon in al his glorie was clothid as oon of these.
(Behold ye/you_all the lilies of the field, how they wexen; they travelen not, neither spynnen. And I say to you, that neither Solomon in all his glory was clothed as one of these.)
Luth Nehmet wahr der Lilien auf dem Felde, wie sie wachsen; sie arbeiten nicht, so spinnen sie nicht. Ich sage euch aber, daß auch Salomo in aller seiner Herrlichkeit nicht ist bekleidet gewesen als der eine.
(Nehmet true the/of_the Lilien on/in/to to_him field, as/like they/she/them grown; they/she/them work(v) not, so spinnen they/she/them not. I said you but, that also Salomo in all his glory/splendour not is clothed been as the/of_the a/one.)
ClVg Considerate lilia quomodo crescunt: non laborant, neque nent: dico autem vobis, nec Salomon in omni gloria sua vestiebatur sicut unum ex istis.[fn]
(Considerate lilies how crescunt: not/no they_work_hard, nor nent: I_mean/say however to_you(pl), but_not Salomon in/into/on all glory his_own vestiebatur like one from to_these. )
12.27 Considerate lilia. Aperta comparatio. Lilia non sicut cæteri fructus aliquem agricolarum cultum requirunt. Solet etiam per lilium cœlestis beatitudo significari, ad quam nos invitat Dominus. Lilia non silvis sed in hortis nascuntur, sic et nos in hortis virtutum nasci debemus. Nec Salomon. AMBR. Salomon et hic vestitus, et alibi coopertus gloria dicitur, qui infirmitatem corporeæ naturæ veluti quadam virtute mentis adopertam, operum gloria vestiebat. Vestiebat sicut unum. Quæ purpura regum, quæ pictura textricum potest floribus comparari? Ipse color dicitur vestimentum floris, sicut dicitur: Operuit istum rubor.
12.27 Considerate lilies. Aperta comparison. Lilia not/no like the_rest fruit someone farmerrum worship requirunt. Solet also through lily heavenly happiness to_be_signified, to how us invites Master. Lilia not/no silvis but in/into/on the_garden they_are_born, so and us in/into/on the_garden virtues to_be_born we_must. Neither Salomon. AMBR. Salomon and this/here vestitus, and alibi coopertus glory it_is_said, who/which weakness bodyæ of_nature like/asi quadam by_virtue of_the_mind adopertam, works glory vestiebat. Vestiebat like one. Which purple of_kings, which pictura textricum can floribus comparari? Exactly_that colour it_is_said clothing floris, like it_is_said: He_covered_it that rubor.
UGNT κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει, οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει; λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ, περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
(katanoaʸsate ta krina pōs auxanei, ou kopia oude naʸthei; legō de humin, oude Solomōn en pasaʸ taʸ doxaʸ autou, periebaleto hōs hen toutōn.)
SBL-GNT κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ οὐδὲ νήθει· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
(katanoaʸsate ta krina pōs auxanei; ou kopia oude naʸthei; legō de humin, oude Solomōn en pasaʸ taʸ doxaʸ autou periebaleto hōs hen toutōn.)
RP-GNT Κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ, οὐδὲ νήθει· λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
(Katanoaʸsate ta krina pōs auxanei; ou kopia, oude naʸthei; legō de humin, oude Solomōn en pasaʸ taʸ doxaʸ autou periebaleto hōs hen toutōn.)
TC-GNT Κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει· οὐ κοπιᾷ, οὐδὲ νήθει· λέγω [fn]δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἓν τούτων.
(Katanoaʸsate ta krina pōs auxanei; ou kopia, oude naʸthei; legō de humin, oude Solomōn en pasaʸ taʸ doxaʸ autou periebaleto hōs hen toutōn. )
12:27 δε ¦ — PCK
Key for above GNTs: yellow:punctuation differs (from our SR-GNT base).
12:27 Solomon was among the richest kings of the world in his day (see 2 Chr 9:13-22).
In the previous section Jesus told the crowd a parable to teach them not to be greedy. In this section he turned again to his disciples and taught them not to worry about the things they needed. Instead, they should think about the things that were important to God and share their possessions with the poor. God would provide what they needed.
Some other possible headings for this section are:
God’s Care For Those Who Trust In Him
Trust in God (GNT)
Do not Worry (NIV)
There is a parallel passage for this section in Matthew 6:25–34.
In 12:22, Jesus told his disciples not to worry about food or clothing. In 12:24 he used ravens as an example of how God provided food for insignificant birds. Here in 12:27–28, he used lilies as a parallel example of how God provided beautiful “clothing” for wildflowers.
Consider how the lilies grow:
¶ “Look at the/those wild flowers. Think about the way they grow.
¶ “Think about how wild flowers grow.
Consider how the lilies grow: The word Consider is the same word that was used in 12:24a. Since this is a parallel example, you may want to use similar wording here. In some languages it may be more natural to make lilies the direct object of Consider:
Consider the lilies. You know how they grow.
the lilies: Scholars are uncertain about the meaning of the Greek word that the BSB translates as lilies. It may refer to a specific flower, but it may also refer generally to any of the beautiful wildflowers that grew in Palestine (Israel). So you may want to use a general expression. For example:
the wild flowers (GNT)
the flowers (NJB)
As with “the ravens” (12:24a), consider whether or not the definite article (“the”) is natural here in your language. It is probable that Jesus pointed to some nearby flowers as he said these words. In some languages it may be appropriate to indicate that in some way. For example:
these/those wildflowers
They do not labor or spin.
They do not labor/work in the fields, and they do not spin thread to make clothes.
They do no hard work. They do not make their own clothes.
labor: The Greek word that the BSB translates as labor refers to hard physical work, such as digging in the ground or gathering the harvest.
spin: The word spin refers to twisting fibers together to make thread for weaving cloth. If in your culture people do not spin thread, you may wish to translate the function of this work:
make clothes
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.
But in spite of this, I want you(plur) to know that even King Solomon, who was extremely rich, did not have clothes as beautiful as one of these wild flowers.
But I assure you(plur) that one of these flowers is more beautiful than the most beautiful of all King Solomon’s expensive clothes.
Yet I tell you: The Greek phrase that the BSB translates as Yet I tell you introduces a statement that Jesus wanted to emphasize. It was surprising and unexpected. People did not expect him to say that ordinary wildflowers had greater beauty than the clothes of King Solomon. Some other ways to emphasize this statement are:
As a phrase before Jesus’ statement. For example:
But let me tell you this
Yet I assure you
As an emphatic word within Jesus’ statement. For example:
But Solomon in all his splendor was certainly not dressed like one of these
If you have another way in your language to emphasize a statement or to alert people to listen with special attention, consider using it here.
The phrase I tell you was used in a different context in 12:4a and 12:8a. It was used in a similar context in 10:12. Be sure to evaluate the context carefully before you decide what expression to use here.
Solomon: Jesus referred here to King Solomon, the richest of all Israel’s kings. He lived long before Jesus’ time.
in all his glory: The Greek word that the BSB translates as glory in this context refers to all the ways in which Solomon displayed his wealth and power. This included the expensive and beautiful robes that he wore as king, as well as his luxurious palace and his other possessions. Some versions focus on Solomon’s clothing. For example:
in all his royal robes (NJB)
Most versions use a word that refers more generally to Solomon’s riches. For example:
with all his wealth (GNT)
in all his majesty (GW)
In some languages a single term may not be adequate to express the meaning of glory. In that case, consider using more than one term. For example:
who was very rich and wore expensive clothes (TRT)
was adorned like one of these: In this context the phrase was adorned like means “was dressed as well as” or “wore clothes as beautiful as.” Jesus was saying that even Solomon’s best clothes were not as beautiful as the wildflowers. The NCV makes this explicit:
even Solomon with his riches was not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers
The phrase adorned like one of these is a figurative comparison, since flowers do not literally wear clothes. If this figure is not natural in your language, you may translate this meaning directly. For example:
Solomon’s magnificent robes were not as beautiful as one of these flowers.
κατανοήσατε τὰ κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατανοήσατε τά κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει οὒ κοπιᾷ οὐδέ νήθει λέγω δέ ὑμῖν οὐδέ Σολομῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἕν τούτων)
Alternate translation: [Think about how the lilies grow]
Note 1 topic: translate-unknown
τὰ κρίνα
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατανοήσατε τά κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει οὒ κοπιᾷ οὐδέ νήθει λέγω δέ ὑμῖν οὐδέ Σολομῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἕν τούτων)
The word lilies describes beautiful flowers that grow wild in the fields. If your language does not have a word for this flower, you can use the name of a similar flower that your readers would recognize, or you can use a general term. Alternate translation: [the flowers]
Note 2 topic: translate-unknown
οὐδὲ νήθει
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατανοήσατε τά κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει οὒ κοπιᾷ οὐδέ νήθει λέγω δέ ὑμῖν οὐδέ Σολομῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἕν τούτων)
In this context, to spin means to make thread or yarn for cloth. It does not mean to turn in a circle while standing in one place. If your readers might be confused by the term, you could explain the meaning with a phrase. Alternate translation: [and they do not make thread for cloth] or [and they do not make yarn for cloth]
λέγω δὲ ὑμῖν, οὐδὲ Σολομὼν
˱I˲_˓am˒_saying (Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατανοήσατε τά κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει οὒ κοπιᾷ οὐδέ νήθει λέγω δέ ὑμῖν οὐδέ Σολομῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἕν τούτων)
Jesus says this to emphasize what he is about to tell his disciples. Alternate translation: [I can assure you that not even Solomon]
Note 3 topic: figures-of-speech / abstractnouns
Σολομὼν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ
(Some words not found in SR-GNT: Κατανοήσατε τά κρίνα πῶς αὐξάνει οὒ κοπιᾷ οὐδέ νήθει λέγω δέ ὑμῖν οὐδέ Σολομῶν ἐν πάσῃ τῇ δόξῃ αὐτοῦ περιεβάλετο ὡς ἕν τούτων)
The abstract noun glory could mean: (1) “Solomon, who had great wealth.” (2) “Solomon, who wore beautiful clothes.”
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