Luke 12:39
New International Version
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

New Living Translation
“Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.

English Standard Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

Berean Standard Bible
But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Berean Literal Bible
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief is coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

King James Bible
And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

New King James Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

New American Standard Bible
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

NASB 1995
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

NASB 1977
“And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

Legacy Standard Bible
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

Amplified Bible
“But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time the thief was coming, he [would have been awake and alert, and] would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

Christian Standard Bible
But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

American Standard Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“Know this, that if the owner of a house had known in which watch a thief would come, he would have been awakened and would not have allowed his house to be broken into.”

Contemporary English Version
You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open.

English Revised Version
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not have left his house to be broken through.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Of course, you realize that if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let him break into his house.

Good News Translation
And you can be sure that if the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, he would not let the thief break into his house.

International Standard Version
But be sure of this: if the homeowner had known at what time the thief were coming, he would have watched and would not have let his house be broken into.

Literal Standard Version
And know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief comes, he would have watched, and would not have permitted his house to be broken through;

Majority Standard Bible
But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

New American Bible
Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

NET Bible
But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

New Revised Standard Version
“But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

New Heart English Bible
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not have allowed his house to be broken into.

Webster's Bible Translation
And this know, that if the master of the house knew at what hour the thief would come, he would watch, and not suffer his house to be broken through.

Weymouth New Testament
Of this be sure, that if the master of the house had known what time the robber was coming, he would have kept awake and not have allowed his house to be broken into.

World English Bible
But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.

Young's Literal Translation
'And this know, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief doth come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken through;

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Be Ready for Service
38Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed. 39But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. 40You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”…

Cross References
Matthew 6:19
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.

Matthew 24:42
Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day on which your Lord will come.

Matthew 24:43
But understand this: If the homeowner had known in which watch of the night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.

Matthew 24:44
For this reason, you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.

2 Peter 3:10
But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know the hour when I will come upon you.

Revelation 16:15
"Behold, I am coming like a thief. Blessed is the one who remains awake and clothed, so that he will not go naked and let his shame be exposed."


Treasury of Scripture

And this know, that if the manager of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

Matthew 24:43,44
But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up…

1 Thessalonians 5:2,3
For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night…

2 Peter 3:10
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

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Allowed Awake Broken Dug Goodman Head Hour House Householder Kept Master Owner Robber Suffer Suffered Sure Thief Time Understand Watch Watched
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Allowed Awake Broken Dug Goodman Head Hour House Householder Kept Master Owner Robber Suffer Suffered Sure Thief Time Understand Watch Watched
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.














(39, 40) And this know, that if the goodman of the house . . .--Better, "if the master of the house." See Notes on Matthew 24:43-44, where the words are almost identical.

Verses 39, 40. - And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not. The Lord abruptly changes the scene of his parable imagery, and with another striking and vivid example enforces his teaching on the subject of the urgent necessity of his servants keeping a sleepless and diligent watch and ward against his coming again in judgment. Very deeply must this image of the Lord's sudden return, as a thief breaks into the house in the still hours of the night, have impressed itself on the hearts of the awe-struck, listening disciples, for we find in the case of SS. Paul and Peter the very words and imagery, and in the case of St. John the imagery again made use of (see 1 Thessalonians 5:1, 2; 1 Peter 3:10; Revelation 3:3; Revelation 16:15). The meaning of the simile is obvious. The disciples and all followers of Jesus would do well to remain always on the watch for the second advent of the Lord. The time of that awful return was unknown, never could be known; men, however, must not be deceived by the long tarrying; the clay of the Lord would surely come on the world as a thief in the night.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

understand
γινώσκετε (ginōskete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 1097: A prolonged form of a primary verb; to 'know' in a great variety of applications and with many implications.

this:
Τοῦτο (Touto)
Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Neuter Singular
Strong's 3778: This; he, she, it.

If
εἰ (ei)
Conjunction
Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc.

the
(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.

homeowner
οἰκοδεσπότης (oikodespotēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3617: A head of a household. From oikos and despotes; the head of a family.

had known
ᾔδει (ēdei)
Verb - Pluperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1492: To know, remember, appreciate.

at what
ποίᾳ (poia)
Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 4169: Of what sort. From the base of pou and hoios; individualizing interrogative what sort of, or which one.

hour
ὥρᾳ (hōra)
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5610: Apparently a primary word; an 'hour'.

the
(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.

thief
κλέπτης (kleptēs)
Noun - Nominative Masculine Singular
Strong's 2812: A thief. From klepto; a stealer.

was coming,
ἔρχεται (erchetai)
Verb - Present Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2064: To come, go.

he would not have let
ἀφῆκεν (aphēken)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 863: From apo and hiemi; to send forth, in various applications.

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.

house
οἶκον (oikon)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 3624: A dwelling; by implication, a family.

be broken into.
διορυχθῆναι (diorychthēnai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive
Strong's 1358: To dig through, break through. From dia and orusso; to penetrate burglariously.


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NT Gospels: Luke 12:39 But know this that if the master (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 12:38
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