Luke 4:6 Meaning and Explanation
“And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The devil offers Jesus all the power and glory of the kingdoms, claiming they have been delivered to him to give as he pleases.
What Does Luke 4:6 Mean?
The tempter names his inventory: power and glory, which he claims were delivered unto him to distribute at will. Scripture elsewhere calls him the prince of this world, a usurper whose sway over fallen humanity is real but neither rightful nor final.
The offer conceals what God has already promised. The Father will give the Son the nations for his inheritance, as Psalm 2 declares; what is dangled here as a shortcut is already pledged as a gift. That is the shape of most temptation: it offers on easy terms, and with strings attached, what God means to give freely in his own way and time. Whatever power evil wields is borrowed, bounded, and expiring.
Luke 4:6 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'power' -- authority, the right to rule.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 4:6
What does Luke 4:6 mean?
The devil offers Jesus all the power and glory of the kingdoms, claiming they have been delivered to him to give as he pleases.