Luke 19:23 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At the very least, the king says, the money could have been placed with the bankers to earn interest.
What Does Luke 19:23 Mean?
The bank was the table of the money changers, and the interest would have returned the deposit with increase at no cost beyond a single errand. The king names the floor of faithfulness, the smallest step even the most fearful servant could have taken.
There is no effortless discipleship, but there is also no excuse of inability. Where bold trading feels beyond us, humble means still lie at hand: a small kindness, a quiet word, a gift placed where others can multiply it. Doing nothing is itself a decision, and it is the only indefensible one.
Luke 19:23 in the Original Language
tokos (τόκος), 'usury' -- interest on money; the word means offspring, what a sum gives birth to.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 19:23
What does Luke 19:23 mean?
At the very least, the king says, the money could have been placed with the bankers to earn interest.