Luke 12:51 Meaning and Explanation
“Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus asks whether they suppose He came to give peace on earth, and answers no — rather division.
What Does Luke 12:51 Mean?
The question anticipates their assumption: was not Messiah to bring peace? Angels sang of peace at His birth (Luke 2:14), and Isaiah named Him Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). Yet here He says Nay, but rather division — because His coming forces a decision that no one can make for another, and decisions divide.
The peace Christ gives is real — peace with God, peace within — but it is not the false peace of avoided choices. Where some in a household follow Him and others refuse, the house no longer agrees about the deepest thing there is. Jesus states the cost soberly, preparing His followers. Division is not His delight; it is the honest price of a truth too important to trade away.
Luke 12:51 in the Original Language
diamerismos (διαμερισμός), 'division' -- a dividing or parting asunder.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 12:51
What does Luke 12:51 mean?
Jesus asks whether they suppose He came to give peace on earth, and answers no — rather division.