Luke 21:16 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus warns that betrayal will come from parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and that some of his followers will be put to death.
What Does Luke 21:16 Mean?
The cost now turns intimate. Persecution will come not only from courts and kings but from parents, brothers, kinsfolk, and friends, and some disciples will be killed. The word for betrayed is the same word used of Jesus himself being handed over, soon, by one of his own table companions.
Jesus refuses to recruit with false promises; he names the worst before it comes. Faithfulness to him can cut across the closest bonds of blood and friendship, and for some it costs life itself. Yet he speaks as one walking the same road ahead of them. Every betrayed and suffering disciple follows a Lord who knows betrayal from the inside, and whose resurrection answers it.
Luke 21:16 in the Original Language
paradidomi (παραδίδωμι), 'betrayed' -- to hand over, the same verb used of Jesus being delivered up.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 21:16
What does Luke 21:16 mean?
Jesus warns that betrayal will come from parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and that some of his followers will be put to death.