Luke 12:37

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

Blessed [are] those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Happy the slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes! Yes! I tell you he will put on his work clothes, seat them at the table, and come serve them himself!

Berean Standard Bible:

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

American Standard Version:

Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and shall come and serve them.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

Blessed^{G3107} are those^{G1565} servants^{G1401}, whom^{G3739} the lord^{G2962} when he cometh^{G2064} shall find^{G2147} watching^{G1127}: verily^{G281} I say^{G3004} unto you^{G5213}, that^{G3754} he shall gird himself^{G4024}, and^{G2532} make^{G347} them^{G846} to sit down to meat^{G347}, and^{G2532} will come forth^{G3928} and serve^{G1247} them^{G846}.

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Commentary for Luke 12:37

Luke 12:37 is part of the synoptic gospels, which include the books of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, and is attributed to the author Luke. This verse is situated within a larger discourse where Jesus is instructing his disciples on the importance of vigilance and faithfulness in anticipation of his return. The historical context of this verse is rooted in the first century when Jesus was teaching in Judea, and there was an expectation among early Christians of an imminent eschatological event—the second coming of Christ.

The themes present in Luke 12:37 revolve around readiness, service, and divine reward. In this verse, Jesus uses the metaphor of a master returning from a wedding banquet to emphasize the blessed state of servants who remain alert and dutiful while awaiting their master's return. The word "blessed" indicates a state of spiritual favor and happiness. The image of the lord finding his servants "watching" suggests a posture of active anticipation and preparedness.

The verse highlights the reversal of typical social roles; the master, upon his return, does not demand service from his servants but rather honors them by girding himself and serving them. This act of service by the master to his servants is a powerful illustration of Jesus' teachings on humility and servant leadership, a motif that is consistent throughout the Gospels (e.g., John 13:1-17). It also reflects the eschatological banquet, a symbol of the fulfillment of God's kingdom, where the faithful will be rewarded with intimate fellowship with God.

In summary, Luke 12:37 encapsulates the expectations of early Christian discipleship, emphasizing vigilance and faithful service. It promises divine blessing and reverses the roles of master and servant to illustrate the upside-down values of the kingdom of God, where the greatest are those who serve. This verse reassures believers that their faithful anticipation and readiness for Christ's return will be recognized and richly rewarded in the divine economy.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: G3107
   There are 49 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: μακάριος
   Transliteration: makários
   Pronunciation: mak-ar'-ee-os
   Description: a prolonged form of the poetical (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off:-- blessed, happy(X -ier).
   
2. Strong's Number: G1565
   There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἐκεῖνος
   Transliteration: ekeînos
   Pronunciation: ek-i'-nos
   Description: from ἐκεῖ; that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed:--he, it, the other (same), selfsame, that (same, very), X their, X them, they, this, those. See also οὗτος.
   
3. Strong's Number: G1401
   There are 119 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: δοῦλος
   Transliteration: doûlos
   Pronunciation: doo'-los
   Description: from δέω; a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency):--bond(-man), servant.
   
4. Strong's Number: G3739
   There are 1215 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ὅς
   Transliteration: hós
   Pronunciation: ho
   Description: probably a primary word (or perhaps a form of the article ὁ); the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that:--one, (an-, the) other, some, that, what, which, who(-m, -se), etc. See also οὗ.
   
5. Strong's Number: G2962
   There are 687 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: κύριος
   Transliteration: kýrios
   Pronunciation: koo'-ree-os
   Description: from (supremacy); supreme in authority, i.e. (as noun) controller; by implication, Master (as a respectful title):-- God, Lord, master, Sir.
   
6. Strong's Number: G2064
   There are 604 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἔρχομαι
   Transliteration: érchomai
   Pronunciation: el'-tho
   Description: middle voice of a primary verb (used only in the present and imperfect tenses, the others being supplied by a kindred (middle voice) , or (active) , which do not otherwise occur); to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively):--accompany, appear, bring, come, enter, fall out, go, grow, X light, X next, pass, resort, be set.
   
7. Strong's Number: G2147
   There are 168 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: εὑρίσκω
   Transliteration: heurískō
   Pronunciation: hyoo-reh'-o
   Description: a prolonged form of a primary , which (together with another cognate form) is used for it in all the tenses except the present and imperfect; to find (literally or figuratively):--find, get, obtain, perceive, see.
   
8. Strong's Number: G1127
   There are 23 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: γρηγορεύω
   Transliteration: grēgoreúō
   Pronunciation: gray-gor-yoo'-o
   Description: from ἐγείρω; to keep awake, i.e. watch (literally or figuratively):--be vigilant, wake, (be) watch(-ful).
   
9. Strong's Number: G281
   There are 208 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: ἀμήν
   Transliteration: amḗn
   Pronunciation: am-ane'
   Description: of Hebrew origin (אָמֵן); properly, firm, i.e. (figuratively) trustworthy; adverbially, surely (often as interjection, so be it):--amen, verily.
   
10. Strong's Number: G3004
    There are 1244 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: λέγω
    Transliteration: légō
    Pronunciation: leg'-o
    Description: a primary verb; properly, to "lay" forth, i.e. (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas ἔπω and φημί generally refer to an individual expression or speech respectively; while ῥέω is properly to break silence merely, and λαλέω means an extended or random harangue)); by implication, to mean:--ask, bid, boast, call, describe, give out, name, put forth, say(-ing, on), shew, speak, tell, utter.
    
11. 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).
    
12. 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.
    
13. Strong's Number: G4024
    There are 7 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: περιζώννυμι
    Transliteration: perizṓnnymi
    Pronunciation: per-id-zone'-noo-mee
    Description: from περί and ζώννυμι; to gird all around, i.e. (middle voice or passive) to fasten on one's belt (literally or figuratively):--gird (about, self).
    
14. 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.
    
15. Strong's Number: G347
    There are 129 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: ἀνακλίνω
    Transliteration: anaklínō
    Pronunciation: an-ak-lee'-no
    Description: from ἀνά and κλίνω; to lean back:--lay, (make) sit down.
    
16. 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.
    
17. Strong's Number: G3928
    There are 27 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: παρέρχομαι
    Transliteration: parérchomai
    Pronunciation: par-er'-khom-ahee
    Description: from παρά and ἔρχομαι; to come near or aside, i.e. to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert:--come (forth), go, pass (away, by, over), past, transgress.
    
18. Strong's Number: G1247
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: διακονέω
    Transliteration: diakonéō
    Pronunciation: dee-ak-on-eh'-o
    Description: from διάκονος; to be an attendant, i.e. wait upon (menially or as a host, friend, or (figuratively) teacher); technically, to act as a Christian deacon:--(ad-)minister (unto), serve, use the office of a deacon.