Luke 16:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Heaven and earth would sooner pass away than the smallest stroke of the law fail.
What Does Luke 16:17 Mean?
Lest anyone mishear verse 16 as setting the Scriptures aside, Jesus affirms their permanence in the strongest terms available. A tittle is the tiniest stroke of a written letter — a flick of the scribe's pen. Even that, He says, is more durable than the universe.
The kingdom does not cancel God's earlier word; it keeps every syllable of it. Promise, command, and prophecy all arrive at their intended weight in what God is now doing — 'I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil' (Matthew 5:17). For the reader, this is the bedrock under every act of trust: the God whose smallest written stroke outlasts heaven and earth can be relied on to keep the largest promises of the gospel.
Luke 16:17 in the Original Language
keraia (κεραία), 'tittle' -- the small horn or stroke of a written letter, the tiniest mark of the pen.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 16:17
What does Luke 16:17 mean?
Heaven and earth would sooner pass away than the smallest stroke of the law fail.