Luke 11:8
◄  Luke 11:8  ►
New International Version (©2011)
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

New Living Translation (©2007)
But I tell you this--though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

English Standard Version (©2001)
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
I tell you, even though he won't get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend's persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

International Standard Version (©2012)
I tell you, even though that man doesn't want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.

NET Bible (©2006)
I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man's sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English (©2010)
“I say to you that if because of friendship he will not give to him, because of his persistence he will arise and he will give him as much as he needs.”

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
I can guarantee that although he doesn't want to get up to give you anything, he will get up and give you whatever you need because he is your friend and because you were so bold.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give to him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

American King James Version
I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

American Standard Version
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise, and give him as many as he needeth.

Darby Bible Translation
I say to you, Although he will not get up and give them to him because he is his friend, because of his shamelessness, at any rate, he will rise and give him as many as he wants.

English Revised Version
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

Webster's Bible Translation
I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Weymouth New Testament
"I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.

World English Bible
I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

Young's Literal Translation
'I say to you, even if he will not give to him, having risen, because of his being his friend, yet because of his importunity, having risen, he will give him as many as he doth need;

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

I say unto you,.... This is the accommodation of the parable; to these words are premised, in the Vulgate Latin version, the following, "if he continue knocking":

continued...

Vincent's Word Studies

Importunity (ἀναίδειαν)

Only here in New Testament. A very striking word to describe persistence. Lit., shamelessness. As related to prayer, it is illustrated in the case of Abraham's intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33); and of the Syro-Phoenician woman (Matthew 15:22-28).

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I tell you - The Latin Vulgate here adds, "if he shall continue knocking." Though this is not in the Greek, yet it is indispensable that it should be understood in order to the sense. Knocking "once" would not denote "importunity," but it was because he "continued" knocking.

continued...

Geneva Study Bible

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his {b} importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

(b) Literally, impudence: but that impudency which is spoken of here is not to be found fault with, but is very commendable before God, for he is well pleased by such importunity.

People's New Testament

11:8 Because of his importunity. When he should continue knocking and asking. How much more will the loving Father yield to the importunity of his children. Compare Ge 32:28 Ps 55:17 1Th 3:10 5:17 1Ti 5:5 2Ti 1:3.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

8. importunity-The word is a strong one-"shamelessness"; persisting in the face of all that seemed reasonable, and refusing to take a denial.

as many, &c.-His reluctance once overcome, all the claims of friendship and necessity are felt to the full. The sense is obvious: If the churlish and self-indulgent-deaf both to friendship and necessity-can after a positive refusal, be won over, by sheer persistency, to do all that is needed, how much more may the same determined perseverance in prayer be expected to prevail with Him whose very nature is "rich unto all that call upon Him" (Ro 10:12).

Luke 11:8 Parallel Commentaries
Bible Hub: Online Parallel Bible


Ask, Seek, Knock
…7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you. 8I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs. 9And I say to you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you. …

Luke 11:7 And suppose the one inside answers, 'Don't bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can't get up and give you anything.'
Luke 18:1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Luke 18:5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually come and attack me!'"