I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
I tell {G3004} you {G5213}, Nay {G3780}: but {G235}, except {G3362} ye repent {G3340}, ye shall {G622} all {G3956} likewise {G3668} perish {G622}.
No, I tell you. Rather, unless you turn from your sins, you will all die similarly.”
No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
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Ezekiel 18:30
¶ Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn [yourselves] from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. -
Luke 13:3
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. -
Isaiah 28:10
For precept [must be] upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little: -
Isaiah 28:13
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, [and] there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.
Luke 13:5 KJV Commentary: The Urgency of Repentance
Context of Luke 13:5
This powerful verse is part of Jesus' response to two contemporary tragedies: the slaughter of some Galileans by Pontius Pilate, and the collapse of the tower in Siloam, which killed eighteen people. The common belief of the time, and often today, was that such calamities were direct punishments for specific, greater sins committed by the victims. Jesus directly challenges this notion. In Luke 13:2-3, He states that these victims were not "sinners above all men." Instead, He uses these events as a stark warning, shifting the focus from judging the victims to the urgent need for personal introspection and repentance for all. The phrase "likewise perish" serves as a sobering reminder of the universal consequences of failing to turn to God.
Key Themes and Messages
Linguistic Insights
The Greek word for "repent" is metanoeō (μετανοέω), from which we get metanoia. It means much more than simply feeling sorry for one's sins. It signifies a profound "change of mind," a complete reorientation of one's thoughts, attitudes, and life direction. It's a turning away from sin and toward God. The word "perish" is apollymi (ἀπόλλυμι), which means to be utterly ruined, destroyed, or lost. In this context, it refers to spiritual ruin and eternal separation from God, contrasting sharply with the promise of eternal life offered through faith in Christ.
Practical Application
Luke 13:5 serves as a timeless warning and a pressing invitation.