Luke 12:53 Meaning and Explanation
“The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Father against son, mother against daughter, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law: the division runs through the closest bonds in both directions.
What Does Luke 12:53 Mean?
Jesus traces the fracture lines through every relationship in the house, in words that echo the prophet Micah's dark day, when a man's enemies are the men of his own house (Mic 7:6). Generation is set against generation, and the division runs both ways — no side is spared the grief of it.
For the first readers of Luke this was lived experience: believing children of unbelieving parents, households divided over Christ, converts counted as traitors at their own tables. The verse dignifies that pain by showing Jesus foresaw it. A divided family is not proof of failed faith. The Savior who predicted these wounds knew them — His own brethren did not at first believe (John 7:5) — and He remains Lord and lover of both sides of the table.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 12:53
What does Luke 12:53 mean?
Father against son, mother against daughter, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law: the division runs through the closest bonds in both directions.