Luke 4:11

And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

And {G2532}{G3754} in {G1909} their hands {G5495} they shall bear {G142} thee {G4571} up {G142}, lest at any time {G3379} thou dash {G4350} thy {G4675} foot {G4228} against {G4314} a stone {G3037}.

They will support you with their hands, so that you will not hurt your feet on the stones.'"

and they will lift You up in their hands, so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

and, On their hands they shall bear thee up, Lest haply thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Context

This verse is spoken by the devil to Jesus during the second of three major temptations in the wilderness, as recorded in Luke 4:1-13 (and also in Matthew 4:1-11). After Jesus had fasted for forty days, the devil first tempted Him to turn stones into bread. Here, the devil takes Jesus to the pinnacle of the temple in Jerusalem and challenges Him to throw Himself down, promising divine protection based on this scripture. The verse itself is a direct quote from Psalm 91:12, which speaks of God's angels preserving the righteous.

Key Themes

  • Misuse of Scripture: The devil's quotation of Psalm 91:12 is a classic example of twisting God's Word out of context. He omits the preceding phrase from Psalm 91:11, "to keep thee in all thy ways," which implies protection within God's appointed path, not for reckless self-initiated acts designed to test God.
  • Divine Protection vs. Presumption: While God indeed promises protection to His faithful, this verse highlights the difference between trusting in God's care and presumptuously testing Him. True faith does not demand a miracle or put God to the test; it trusts His sovereignty and wisdom.
  • Jesus' Obedience and Trust: Jesus' response to this temptation is crucial. He does not fall for the devil's manipulation but counters with another scripture: "Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (from Deuteronomy 6:16). This demonstrates His perfect reliance on the true and full counsel of God's Word, refusing to put God in a position where He must rescue Him from a self-inflicted danger.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "And in [their] hands they shall bear thee up" directly translates the Hebrew from Psalm 91:12. The "they" refers to God's angels, as mentioned in the preceding verse, Psalm 91:11. The devil's subtle but significant omission of "to keep thee in all thy ways" from Psalm 91:11 fundamentally alters the promise. It transforms a promise of protection within God's providential care into an invitation for reckless behavior, suggesting that God is obligated to intervene regardless of the circumstances.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful lesson for believers today:

  • Discernment of Truth: We must be vigilant against the misuse of scripture, even when it comes from seemingly authoritative sources. Understanding the full context of a verse is paramount to avoid being misled or misapplying God's promises.
  • Resisting Temptation: Temptation often comes disguised as spiritual opportunity or a promise of immediate gratification. Like Jesus, we are called to resist by standing firm on the truth of God's Word, correctly understood and applied.
  • Trusting God Wisely: While we can confidently trust in God's divine protection, this does not grant us license for foolish or presumptuous actions. True faith involves wisdom, obedience, and a refusal to put God to the test unnecessarily. Our trust should be in God's character and His revealed will, not in our ability to force His hand.
Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Psalms 91:12

    They shall bear thee up in [their] hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
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