Luke 22:31 Meaning and Explanation
“And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Jesus warns Peter that Satan has demanded to sift the disciples like wheat.
What Does Luke 22:31 Mean?
The doubled name - 'Simon, Simon' - carries the gravity of love alarmed (compare 'Martha, Martha,' Luke 10:41). The 'you' is plural: Satan has asked for all of them, as he once asked concerning Job (Job 1-2), to shake them violently and see what falls.
The verse draws back the curtain on the night's true conflict. Behind Judas' bargain and Peter's coming denials stands the adversary - who must ask permission, for he can do nothing without it. The sifting is real, but it is bounded, and the sifted are already being prayed for (verse 32). A shaking meant to destroy faith can, in God's hand, end by refining it (1 Peter 1:7).
Luke 22:31 in the Original Language
siniazo (σινιάζω), 'sift' -- to shake grain through a sieve; found only here in the New Testament.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 22:31
What does Luke 22:31 mean?
Jesus warns Peter that Satan has demanded to sift the disciples like wheat.