Luke 3:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Soldiers ask the same question, and John tells them to do violence to no man, accuse no one falsely, and be content with their wages.
What Does Luke 3:14 Mean?
A third group steps forward, men who carry weapons for a living. Soldiers could turn strength into income: shaking down civilians, lodging false charges for a cut of the fine, treating low pay as a license to plunder.
John again reforms the post rather than abolishing it: no extortion, no false accusing, contentment with wages. Contentment is the root of the other two, for the man at peace with his pay has no motive to squeeze or to slander. Power joined to discontent breeds oppression; power joined to contentment can protect the weak. Whatever strength we hold over others, the question is the same: will it serve our appetite, or our God?
Luke 3:14 in the Original Language
opsonion (ὀψώνιον), 'wages' -- a soldier's pay or ration money; Paul later uses the same word when he calls death the wages of sin.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 3:14
What does Luke 3:14 mean?
Soldiers ask the same question, and John tells them to do violence to no man, accuse no one falsely, and be content with their wages.