Luke 12:39

 

Luke 12:39

(KJV) And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.

(1611 KJV) Luke 12:39 And this know, that if the good man of the house had knowen what houre the theefe would come, he would haue watched, and not haue suffred his house to be broken thorow.

(1587 Geneva Bible) Nowe vnderstand this, that if the good man of the house had knowen at what houre the theefe would haue come, he would haue watched, and would not haue suffered his house to be digged through.

(1526 Tyndale Bible) This vnderstonde that yf the good man of the housse knewe what houre ye these wolde come he wolde suerly watche: and not suffer his housse to be broken vp.

 

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) But know this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

(NIV) But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

(NASV) But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.

(NLT) “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into.

(ESV) But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

(CEV) You would surely not let a thief break into your home, if you knew when the thief was coming.

(NCV) "Remember this: If the owner of the house knew what time a thief was coming, he would not allow the thief to enter his house.

(HCSB) But know this: if the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

(NIRV) "But here is what you must understand. Suppose the owner of the house knew at what hour the robber was coming. He would not have let his house be broken into.

(RSV) But know this, that if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

(NAB-Roman Catholic) Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

 

Textus Receptus

touto de ginwskete oti ei hdei o oikodespothV poia wra o klepthV ercetai egrhgorhsen an kai ouk an ajhken diorughnai ton oikon autou

 

Hort-Westcott Critical Text

touto de ginwskete oti ei hdei o oikodespothV poia wra o klepthV ercetai ouk ajhken diorucqhnai ton oikon autou

 

Corrupted Manuscripts

This verse is corrupted in the following manuscripts:

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit
D 05 - Bezae Cantabrigiensis - Fifth century

P 75 - Third Century

 

Manuscripts which agree with the Textus Receptus for this verse

Byzantine (450-1450 AD)

Aleph 01 - Sinaiticus - Nineteenth Century Counterfeit (corrected)
A 02 - Alexandrinus - Fifth century

B 03 - Vaticanus - Fourth century

K 017 - Ninth century

L 019 - Seventh century

P 024 - Sixth century

Q 026 - Fifth century

W 032 - Fourth/fifth century

Gamma 036 - Ninth or Tenth century

Delta 037 - Ninth century

Theta 038 - Ninth century

1 (Minuscule) - Seventh century

13 (Minuscule) - Eighth century

33 (Minuscule) - Ninth Century

 

Published Critical Greek Texts with Corruptions

Omit “he would have watched”

Tischendorf, Constantine - 1869

Westcott and Hort - 1881

Nestle-Aland - 1979 - Twenty Sixth Edition

Nestle-Aland - 1993 - Twenty Seventh Edition

United Bible Societies - 1983 - Fourth Edition

 

Affected Teaching

The Lord Jesus gives a lesson to the Christian and the church that they must be ready for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. If a person has become saved, they are already ready. However, the Lord is beginning a discourse that the steward must be faithful, that is, the Christians are not to live a sloppy life but live a disciplined life in anticipation of the Lord’s return. The portion omitted in verse 39, “he would have watched” is important because the Lord expects His children to be watching for His return and while we are watching, we are to be busy with Kingdom business, which is sending forth the Gospel, training new Christians, and just being a testimony. We do not know when the Lord is returning and that is why there are quite a number of verses teaching us that we are to be ready by being busy. In verse 43, the Lord says that He commends the servant who is doing these things when He returns. (Eph 5:16 KJV) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. The modern versions seem to think that being busy in the Lord’s work is not a necessity or else they would have left that verse intact.

Back