¶ And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And {G1161} he said {G3004} also {G2532} to the people {G3793}, When {G3752} ye see {G1492} a cloud {G3507} rise {G393} out of {G575} the west {G1424}, straightway {G2112} ye say {G3004}, There cometh {G2064} a shower {G3655}; and {G2532} so {G3779} it is {G1096}.
Then to the crowds Yeshua said, “When you see a cloud-bank rising in the west, at once you say that a rainstorm is coming;
Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.
And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.
-
Matthew 16:2
He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, [It will be] fair weather: for the sky is red. -
Matthew 16:4
A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed. -
1 Kings 18:44
And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare [thy chariot], and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. -
1 Kings 18:45
And it came to pass in the mean while, that the heaven was black with clouds and wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode, and went to Jezreel.
Luke 12:54 is part of a discourse by Jesus to the crowds, immediately following his warnings about hypocrisy and exhortations to settle matters quickly and be ready. Here, Jesus pivots to challenge their ability to interpret the spiritual significance of the present time.
Context
Leading up to this verse, Jesus has been teaching about various aspects of discipleship, including fear, confession, reliance on the Holy Spirit, and addressing greed and anxiety. He then tells the parable of the rich fool and speaks about seeking the kingdom of God. The passage just before this verse discusses being ready for the Master's return and settling disputes on the way to court (Luke 12:58-59). In Luke 12:54-56, Jesus directly confronts the crowd about their lack of spiritual discernment, contrasting it with their ability to interpret natural signs.
Key Themes
Linguistic Insights
The KJV phrase "straightway ye say" translates the Greek word euthéōs (εὐθέως), meaning "immediately" or "at once." This emphasizes the quick and confident conclusion people draw from the natural sign. The word for "shower" is ombros (ὄμβρος), specifically referring to heavy rain or a downpour. The simplicity of the language used by Jesus highlights how straightforward the natural observation is, contrasting with the difficulty people have in seeing the equally clear spiritual reality.
Reflection
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that we can often be very astute in worldly matters – reading trends, predicting outcomes based on observable data – yet be blind to the spiritual realities unfolding around us. Jesus calls us to develop a spiritual sensitivity, using our capacity for observation and interpretation not just for earthly things, but more importantly, for understanding God's work, recognizing the times we live in, and responding appropriately to the signs He provides.