King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Complete Jewish Bible:
“Woe to you Torah experts! For you have taken away the key of knowledge! Not only did you yourselves not go in, you also have stopped those who were trying to enter!”
Berean Standard Bible:
Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”
American Standard Version:
Woe unto you lawyers! for ye took away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
Woe{G3759} unto you{G5213}, lawyers{G3544}! for{G3754} ye have taken away{G142} the key{G2807} of knowledge{G1108}: ye entered{G1525} not{G3756} in{G1525} yourselves{G846}, and{G2532} them that were entering in{G1525} ye hindered{G2967}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 23:13
- ¶ But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Malachi 2:7
- For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he [is] the messenger of the LORD of hosts.
Acts 4:17
- But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name.
Acts 4:18
- And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.
Luke 11:45
- Then answered one of the lawyers, and said unto him, Master, thus saying thou reproachest us also.
Luke 11:46
- And he said, Woe unto you also, [ye] lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers.
John 9:24
- Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Luke 11:52
Luke 11:52 is part of the Gospel of Luke, which is one of the four canonical Gospels in the New Testament. This verse is situated within a series of woes that Jesus pronounces upon the Pharisees and the experts in the law (often translated as "lawyers" in some versions). These individuals were well-versed in religious law and were responsible for interpreting it for the people.
In the historical context of first-century Palestine, the Pharisees and lawyers were influential religious leaders who held significant authority over the Jewish population. They were expected to guide the people in understanding and applying the Torah (the Law of Moses).
The specific verse, Luke 11:52, condemns the lawyers for two primary reasons: first, they have "taken away the key of knowledge," which implies that they have withheld or obscured the true understanding of the law, preventing others from accessing the spiritual insight and wisdom that God intended through the law. Second, not only did they fail to enter the "kingdom of God" themselves, a metaphorical way of saying they did not live according to God's will, but they also obstructed others ("them that were entering in") from doing so.
The themes of this verse include the importance of true knowledge and understanding, the responsibility of religious leaders to guide people correctly, and the danger of hypocrisy and obstructionism in religious matters. Jesus criticizes these leaders for their legalism and for prioritizing the letter of the law over its spirit and intent, thus failing to embody the compassion and mercy that the law was meant to promote. This verse reflects a broader theme in the Gospels where Jesus challenges the religious establishment of his time, calling for a more authentic and inwardly transformed approach to faith and righteousness.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: G3759
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐαί
Transliteration: ouaí
Pronunciation: oo-ah'-ee
Description: a primary exclamation of grief; "woe":--alas, woe. - Strong's Number: G5213
There are 567 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὑμῖν
Transliteration: hymîn
Pronunciation: hoo-min'
Description: irregular dative case of ὑμεῖς; to (with or by) you:--ye, you, your(-selves). - Strong's Number: G3544
There are 9 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: νομικός
Transliteration: nomikós
Pronunciation: nom-ik-os'
Description: from νόμος; according (or pertaining) to law, i.e. legal (ceremonially); as noun, an expert in the (Mosaic) law:--about the law, lawyer. - Strong's Number: G3754
There are 1189 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: ὅτι
Transliteration: hóti
Pronunciation: hot'-ee
Description: neuter of ὅστις as conjunction; demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because:--as concerning that, as though, because (that), for (that), how (that), (in) that, though, why. - Strong's Number: G142
There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αἴρω
Transliteration: aírō
Pronunciation: ah'-ee-ro
Description: a primary root; to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e. weigh anchor); by Hebraism (compare נָשָׂא) to expiate sin:--away with, bear (up), carry, lift up, loose, make to doubt, put away, remove, take (away, up). - Strong's Number: G2807
There are 6 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κλείς
Transliteration: kleís
Pronunciation: klice
Description: from κλείω; a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively:--key. - Strong's Number: G1108
There are 28 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: γνῶσις
Transliteration: gnōsis
Pronunciation: gno'-sis
Description: from γινώσκω; knowing (the act), i.e. (by implication) knowledge:--knowledge, science. - Strong's Number: G1525
There are 186 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: εἰσέρχομαι
Transliteration: eisérchomai
Pronunciation: ice-er'-khom-ahee
Description: from εἰς and ἔρχομαι; to enter (literally or figuratively):--X arise, come (in, into), enter in(-to), go in (through). - Strong's Number: G3756
There are 1328 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: οὐ
Transliteration: ou
Pronunciation: ookh
Description: a primary word; the absolute negative (compare μή) adverb; no or not:--+ long, nay, neither, never, no (X man), none, (can-)not, + nothing, + special, un(-worthy), when, + without, + yet but. See also οὐ μή, μῆκος. - Strong's Number: G846
There are 3776 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: αὐτός
Transliteration: autós
Pronunciation: ow-tos'
Description: from the particle (perhaps akin to the base of ἀήρ through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative ἑαυτοῦ) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which. Compare αὑτοῦ. - Strong's Number: G2532
There are 5212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: καί
Transliteration: kaí
Pronunciation: kahee
Description: apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet. - Strong's Number: G2967
There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: κωλύω
Transliteration: kōlýō
Pronunciation: ko-loo'-o
Description: from the base of κολάζω; to estop, i.e. prevent (by word or act):--forbid, hinder, keep from, let, not suffer, withstand.