Luke 14:11

Greek (Tischendorf 8th ed.)

English Translation

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."

World English Bible · Public Domain

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ταπεινωθήσεται

tapeinóō

G5013

“to humble”

Verb, Future, Passive, Indicative, 3rd person, Singular

Appears 14× in the Greek New Testament
First appears at Matthew 18:4

Full Thayer's Definition

Origin: from G5011

TDNT: 08:01,1

1. to make low, bring low a. to level, reduce to a plain b. metaph. to bring into a humble condition, reduce to meaner circumstances 1. to assign a lower rank or place to 2. to abase 3. to be ranked below others who are honoured or rewarded 4. to humble or abase myself by humble living c. to lower, depress 1. of one's soul bring down one's pride 2. to have a modest opinion of one's self 3. to behave in an unassuming manner 4. devoid of all haughtiness

About this verse

These counts appear in no published source. They are computed here, from the morphology-tagged text and Lemma’s own curated glosses. What Lemma adds →

11: words
7: distinct lemmas
Gospels: section

Notable vocabulary

The rarest word here is ταπεινωθήσεται to humble G5013 — appearing just 14 times in the whole Greek New Testament.

Shared distinctive vocabulary

ταπεινωθήσεται to humble G5013 occurs in 11 verses of the Greek New Testament. Also found in:

Repetition

Words recur within this verse:

ὑψῶν to exalt G5312 ×2
ἑαυτὸν himself G1438 ×2
ταπεινωθήσεται to humble G5013 ×2
ὁ the G3588 ×2

Cross-references

Topical passages linked to Luke 14:11 in the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — connected by theme and wording, ordered by reader-vote popularity; previews shown in the World English Bible.

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
Luke 18:14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."
Proverbs 29:23 A man's pride brings him low, But one of lowly spirit gains honor.
James 4:6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Psalms 138:6 For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; But the proud, he knows from afar.
1 Peter 5:5 Likewise, you younger ones, be subject to the elder. Yes, all of you gird yourselves with humility, to subject yourselves to one another; for "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, But before honor is humility.
James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Isaiah 2:17 The loftiness of man shall be bowed down, And the haughtiness of men shall be brought low; And Yahweh alone shall be exalted in that day.
Psalms 18:27 For you will save the afflicted people, But the haughty eyes you will bring down.
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of Yahweh teaches wisdom. Before honor is humility.
Job 22:29 When they cast down, you shall say, 'be lifted up.' He will save the humble person.
Isaiah 2:11 The lofty looks of man will be brought low, The haughtiness of men will be bowed down, And Yahweh alone will be exalted in that day.
1 Samuel 15:17 Samuel said, "Though you were little in your own sight, weren't you made the head of the tribes of Israel? Yahweh anointed you king over Israel;
Isaiah 57:15 For thus says the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also who is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.
Job 40:10–12 "Now deck yourself with excellency and dignity. Array yourself with honor and majesty.

Luke 1:51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart.

Cross-references courtesy of OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0).

Commentary

Notes on Luke 14:11 from classic Christian and Jewish commentators (each source and its license shown beneath its notes). The classic Christian expositions comment on the surrounding passage and are grouped to its opening verse, so a note may address several verses; the Jewish commentaries on the Tanakh (Rashi and others) are per-verse, so they appear only where the commentator wrote on this verse.

Lemma curates 59 commentaries, every one of them public domain or Creative Commons licensed, each selected and text-cleaned for this edition rather than reprinted as found. About our sources →

Commentary source

Bengel's Gnomon

Johann Albrecht Bengel

Luk 14:11. Πᾶς, every one) A weighty word. [An axiom very often repeated, and that with the most impressive force; ch. Luk 18:14; Mat 23:12.—V. g.]

Bengel's Gnomon of the New Testament — English translation (T&T Clark, Edinburgh, 1860) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Geneva Bible (1599)

Geneva Bible translators

Luke 28:14; Matt. 23:12

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown

whosoever, &c.--couching them in a chaste simplicity and proverbial terseness of style which makes them "apples of gold in a setting of silver." (See on Luk 18:14).

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 11. For whosoever exalteth himself, &c.] This is the unchangeable conduct of God: he is ever abasing the proud, and giving grace, honour, and glory to the humble.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(11) Whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased.—The reproduction of the teaching in words which are almost an echo of these, in 1Pe_5:5, is interesting as showing the impression which it had made on the minds of the disciples.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne

11. whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased] Rather, humbled. See on Luk_1:52, Luk_13:30, and Mat_23:12. A similar lesson is prominent in the Book of Proverbs (Pro_15:33, Pro_16:18-19, Pro_29:23), and is strongly enforced by St Peter (1Pe_5:5).

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

John Gill's Exposition

Then said he also to him that bad him,.... As he had given advice and instructions to the guests, so he likewise thought fit to give some to the master of the house, that had given both him and them an invitation to the present meal; observing, very likely, that his guests consisted of such persons as are hereafter described.

When thou makest a dinner, or a supper; any entertainment for other persons, at what time of the day soever, whether sooner or later, at noon, or at night, on sabbath days, or others:

call not thy friends, nor thy brethren, neither thy kinsmen, nor thy rich neighbours: that is, do not invite thy rich friends, rich brethren, and rich kinsmen, as well as not rich neighbours: not that our Lord's meaning is, that such should not be invited at all; which would be to destroy friendship and sociable conversation among persons in such a relation, and of such rank and fortune: but his sense is, that not these only should be invited, to the neglect of poor friends, poor brethren, poor kinsmen, and poor neighbours; and who, comparatively speaking, should rather be invited than the former, as being what would be more serviceable to them, and of a greater advantage in the issue to the master of the feast himself.

Lest they also bid thee again; and thee only, and not the poor, to as grand an entertainment, which is commonly done:

and a recompense be made thee: one feasting bout for another, so that there will be no obligation on either side; and this will be all the advantage that will be gained; the return is made here, and there will be no reward hereafter.

John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.

Trapp's Complete Commentary

John Trapp

11 For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

Ver. 11. For whosoever] {See Trapp on "Mat 23:12"}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Whosoever exalteth ... - This is universal among people, and it is also the way in which God will deal with people. “Men” will perpetually endeavor to bring down those who endeavor to exalt themselves; and it is a part of God’s regular plan to abase the proud, to bring down the lofty, to raise up those that be bowed down, and show “his” favors to those who are poor and needy.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible

Daniel D. Whedon

11. Whosoever exalteth himself—Men do indeed often act on the reverse o this maxim. They often take the humble man at his word and increase the insignificance he admits of himself. On the contrary, impudence and assumption often have their rewards from men, by securing a consideration of their claims. And yet history warns the proud man and the proud nation to beware. The Greek philosopher, Chilo, being asked what Jupiter is doing, replied, “Abasing the lofty and exalting the lowly.” And Jesus here warns us that we shall find the same law of Jehovah verified in eternity.

Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

John Wesley's Explanatory Notes

Matt. xxiii, 12.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges

11. ταπεινωθήσεται. Shall be ‘humbled.’ The ‘abased’ of the A. V[287] is a needless and enfeebling variation. See on Luk 1:52, Luk 13:30, and Mat 23:12. A similar lesson is prominent in the Book of Proverbs (Pro 15:33, Pro 16:18-19, Pro 29:23), and is strongly enforced by St Peter (1Pe 5:5).

[287] A. V. Authorised Version.

Cambridge Greek Testament for Schools and Colleges (Cambridge University Press, 1896; 21 vols, various authors incl. Carr, Maclear, Plummer, Farrar, Lumby, Moule, M. R. James, Simcox) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Alford’s Greek Testament

Henry Alford

11.] As an example of the first clause, see Isa 14:13-15; of the second, Php 2:5-11.

Henry Alford, The Greek Testament (1849–1861) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

International Critical Commentary

11. πᾶς ὁ ὑψῶν ἑαυτόν. One of our Lord’s repeated utterances: 18:14; Mat 23:12. In all three places AV. spoils the antithesis by varying the translation of ταπεινόω, “abase,” “humble.” The saying here guards against the supposition that Christ is giving mere prudential rules of conduct or of good taste. Humility is the passport to promotion in the Kingdom of God. Comp. for the first half 10:15; and for the second half Jas 4:10; 1Pe 5:6. Note that while Lk. in both places has πᾶς with the participle (see on 1:66), Mt. has ὅστις.

International Critical Commentary — older volumes (1896–1929), various authors — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament

Marvin R. Vincent

Humbled. See on lowly, Mt 7:29.

Marvin R. Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament (1887–1900) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Lesson kit

Teaching starters — assembled from the data on this page, not authored interpretation. Every prompt links to the verse data it draws on. Edit before teaching.

Luke, in the Gospels, opens this verse with 11 words (7 distinct Greek lemmas). Its most distinctive word is tapeinóō (“to humble”). A historical commentator’s framing appears above. Read the whole chapter for the surrounding context.

Discussion questions

How does “to humble” (tapeinóō) shape what this verse is saying?
Matthew 18:4 shares the word «to humble» with this verse. How do the two illuminate each other?
“to exalt” occurs 2× in this one verse. What is the effect of the repetition?
The translations on this page render this verse differently — a whole-verse word diff, not a word-by-word alignment. What might account for the different wordings?
Reading how Bengel's Gnomon and Geneva Bible (1599) read this verse, where do the two commentators agree and where do they part?

Things to notice

These translations choose different wording for 15 words in this verse.
“to exalt” occurs 2× in this single verse.
7 distinct Greek lemmas span 11 words in this verse.