Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; New Living Translation Then, teaching them more about prayer, he used this story: “Suppose you went to a friend’s house at midnight, wanting to borrow three loaves of bread. You say to him, English Standard Version And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, Berean Standard Bible Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Berean Literal Bible And He said to them, "Who among you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, King James Bible And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; New King James Version And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; New American Standard Bible And He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, NASB 1995 Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; NASB 1977 And He said to them, “Suppose one of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; Legacy Standard Bible Then He said to them, “Which of you has a friend and will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, Amplified Bible Then He said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and goes to him at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves [of bread]; Christian Standard Bible He also said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Holman Christian Standard Bible He also said to them: “Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him at midnight and says to him, Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, American Standard Version And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Contemporary English Version Then Jesus went on to say: Suppose one of you goes to a friend in the middle of the night and says, "Let me borrow three loaves of bread. English Revised Version And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; GOD'S WORD® Translation Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you has a friend. Suppose you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. Good News Translation And Jesus said to his disciples, "Suppose one of you should go to a friend's house at midnight and say, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. International Standard Version Then he told them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, let me borrow three loaves of bread. NET Bible Then he said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, New Heart English Bible He said to them, "Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight, and tell him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Webster's Bible Translation And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves: Weymouth New Testament And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say, "'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThen Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, World English Bible He said to them, “Which of you, if you go to a friend at midnight and tell him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd He said to them, “Who of you will have a friend, and will go on to him at midnight, and may say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, Berean Literal Bible And He said to them, "Who among you will have a friend, and will go to him at midnight and say to him, 'Friend, lend me three loaves, Young's Literal Translation And he said unto them, 'Who of you shall have a friend, and shall go on unto him at midnight, and may say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves, Smith's Literal Translation And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and should say to him. Friend, lend me three loaves; Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and shall say to him: Friend, lend me three loaves, Catholic Public Domain Version And he said to them: “Which of you will have a friend and will go to him in the middle of the night, and will say to him: ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, New American Bible And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend to whom he goes at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, New Revised Standard Version And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd he said to them, Who is among you who has a friend, and he should go to him at midnight, and say to him, My friend, loan me three loaves, Aramaic Bible in Plain English And he said to them, “Who among you has a friend and will go to him at midnight and will say to him, “My friend, lend me three loaves”, NT Translations Anderson New TestamentAnd he said to them: Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Godbey New Testament And He said to them, Haweis New Testament And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and he shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Mace New Testament Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves: Weymouth New Testament And He said to them, "Which of you shall have a friend and shall go to him in the middle of the night and say, "'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; Worrell New Testament And He said to them, Worsley New Testament And He said unto them, Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Ask, Seek, Knock4And forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” 5Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, 6because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’… Cross References Matthew 7:7-11 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. / Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ... James 1:5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. Matthew 6:9-13 So then, this is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. / Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. / Give us this day our daily bread. ... Luke 18:1-8 Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: / “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. / And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ... Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. 1 John 5:14-15 And this is the confidence that we have before Him: If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. / And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him. Proverbs 3:27-28 Do not withhold good from the deserving when it is within your power to act. / Do not tell your neighbor, “Come back tomorrow and I will provide”—when you already have the means. Isaiah 65:24 Even before they call, I will answer, and while they are still speaking, I will hear. Psalm 50:15 Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” Jeremiah 33:3 Call to Me, and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. John 14:13-14 And I will do whatever you ask in My name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. / If you ask Me for anything in My name, I will do it. John 15:7 If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. John 16:23-24 In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you. / Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. Treasury of Scripture And he said to them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go to him at midnight, and say to him, Friend, lend me three loaves; Jump to Previous Bread Cakes Friend Goes Lend Middle Midnight Night Suppose ThreeJump to Next Bread Cakes Friend Goes Lend Middle Midnight Night Suppose ThreeLuke 11 1. Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;11. assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him. 14. He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees; 27. and shows who are blessed; 29. preaches to the people; 37. and reprimands the outward show of holiness. Then Jesus said to them, This phrase introduces a teaching moment from Jesus, often referred to as a parable. Jesus frequently used parables to convey spiritual truths through everyday situations. This method was effective in engaging His audience and making complex ideas more relatable. “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, Persons / Places / Events 1. JesusThe central figure in this passage, teaching His disciples about prayer and persistence through a parable. 2. The Friend Represents someone in need, seeking help from another friend at an inconvenient time. 3. The Neighbor The person being asked for help, symbolizing God in the parable, who responds to persistent requests. 4. Midnight A time indicating urgency and inconvenience, highlighting the persistence needed in prayer. 5. Three Loaves of Bread Symbolizes a basic need, representing the requests we bring to God in prayer. Teaching Points Persistence in PrayerJesus teaches that persistence is key in our prayer life. Just as the friend continues to ask despite the inconvenience, we should persistently bring our needs before God. God's Readiness to Respond The parable illustrates that God is willing to respond to our needs, even if it seems inconvenient. Our persistence is not about changing God's mind but aligning our hearts with His will. Community and Support The request for bread at midnight underscores the importance of community and supporting one another in times of need. We are called to be available and responsive to the needs of others. Faith and Trust Trusting in God's provision is crucial. The friend’s boldness in asking reflects a deep trust that his neighbor will respond. Similarly, we should have faith that God hears and answers our prayers. Urgency in Spiritual Matters The midnight setting suggests urgency. We should approach our spiritual needs with the same urgency, recognizing the importance of timely prayer and action. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Luke 11:5?2. How does Luke 11:5 illustrate the importance of persistence in prayer? 3. What cultural context in Luke 11:5 enhances our understanding of neighborly relationships? 4. How does Luke 11:5 connect with Jesus' teachings on love and community? 5. In what ways can we apply the lesson of persistence in our prayer life? 6. How does Luke 11:5 encourage us to rely on God for our needs? 7. What does Luke 11:5 teach about persistence in prayer? 8. How does Luke 11:5 illustrate God's response to human needs? 9. What cultural context is necessary to understand Luke 11:5? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Luke 11? 11. What does 'importunity' mean in the Bible? 12. Why do biblical genealogies contradict each other? 13. Did Jesus weep? 14. Have you shared your requests with God? What Does Luke 11:5 Mean Then Jesus said to them– Jesus has just finished giving the pattern of prayer (Luke 11:2-4). Now He immediately applies it with a parable, showing that His teaching is meant for real-life use, not theory. – The speaker is the Lord Himself; therefore the instruction carries divine authority (Matthew 7:24-25). – “Them” points to the disciples, but Luke records it so every believer can take the lesson personally (John 17:20). – This bridge from the Lord’s Prayer to the parable ties asking God for “daily bread” (Luke 11:3) to the confidence we should have in doing so (Hebrews 4:16). Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight – Midnight is inconvenient; the story begins with need at the worst possible hour. That underscores persistence (Luke 18:1-8) and reminds us that God is never off duty (Psalm 121:4). – The seeker approaches “his friend,” highlighting relationship. We come to a Father who “knows what you need before you ask Him” (Matthew 6:8). – In first-century homes the whole family slept on a single mat; disturbance meant everyone woke up. The detail magnifies the cost of answering and, by contrast, the willingness of God to attend to His children (Isaiah 65:24). – Practical takeaways: • When needs arise at the worst time, pray anyway. • Friendship with God is intended to be used, not admired from afar (James 2:23). and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread’ – “Lend” shows reliance. The petitioner has nothing suitable on hand—mirroring our dependence on God for every good gift (James 1:17). – “Three loaves” is an ordinary request, not a banquet. God invites us to bring everyday needs, not just emergencies (Philippians 4:6). – Bread echoes the Lord’s Prayer (“Give us each day our daily bread,” Luke 11:3) and ultimately points to Christ Himself, “the bread of life” (John 6:35). – The unfailing supply behind the friend’s pantry pictures the Father’s readiness: “If you then…know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give…” (Luke 11:13). summary Luke 11:5 begins a parable meant to assure believers that God welcomes bold, persistent prayer. The midnight visit stresses urgency; the friendship highlights access; the request for simple bread underlines daily dependence. Taken literally and at face value, the verse sets the stage for Jesus to show that, far from being an irritated neighbor, the heavenly Father is eager to meet the needs of His children—no matter how late the hour or how small the request. (5) Which of you shall have a friend . . .?--The illustration, we can hardly call it a parable, is peculiar to St. Luke, and, as setting forth the power of prayer, is specially characteristic of him. (See Introduction.) The familiar tone, as of one appealing to each man's natural good-will, and the dramatic vividness of the dialogue, make it almost unique in our Lord's teaching. "Midnight" is chosen as being the time at which, above all others, men expect to be left to their repose. The unexpected visitor asks for "three loaves," one for himself, one for the guest, one as a reserve; and he so far trusts his friend as to hope that he will recognise the claims of his friendship for another. So, the implied lesson is, should the man who prays think that God will care for those for whom he pleads, and will give them also their "daily bread" in both the higher and the lower senses of the word.Verses 5-13. - Prayer continued. The wisdom of perseverance in prayer is pressed. The Lord introduces his argument by the short parable of the selfish neighbor. Verse 5. - And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves. This whole passage follows naturally the Lord's own formula of prayer. The teaching contained in vers. 1-13 may be well summarized as the Master's lesson on prayer. The disciples, when they heard Jesus pray, asked him to instruct them in the holy art. The Lord then suggested to them a series of short subjects for constant prayer, and further gave them words in which they could embody these subjects, and then proceeded to press upon them that this constant seeking help from God should never be interrupted; no discouragements were ever to prevent their praying. "See," said the Master, "this" (telling them the little parable) "is what God appears to be when prayer receives no answer." Of course, he is not what he appears to be (see ver. 9). The truth concerning God does not really come out before the words of ver. 9; but the parable, grotesque and quaint, and picturing a common scene of everyday life, arrested the attention then as it has done in many a million cases since, and told men out of heart and despairing of receiving any answer to their prayers, to think. Well, here is a case in point; but is God like this? The Lord replies shortly to this mute heart-query. At midnight. The whole picture is drawn from a poor man's house - children and parents sleeping in one room. "With me in bed" probably suggests what is common in an Eastern house, where a divan or raised platform (rendered here "bed") often filled well-nigh half the room. The hour midnight has nothing strained in it - it was frequently the practice in the East to travel by night, and so to escape the great heat of the day.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek ThenΚαὶ (Kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. [Jesus] said εἶπεν (eipen) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. to πρὸς (pros) Preposition Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. them, αὐτούς (autous) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. “[Suppose one] Τίς (Tis) Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun - Nominative Masculine Singular Strong's 5101: Who, which, what, why. Probably emphatic of tis; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what. of ἐξ (ex) Preposition Strong's 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out. you ὑμῶν (hymōn) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. goes πορεύσεται (poreusetai) Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 4198: To travel, journey, go, die. to πρὸς (pros) Preposition Strong's 4314: To, towards, with. A strengthened form of pro; a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e. Toward. [his] friend φίλον (philon) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular Strong's 5384: Friendly; subst: a friend, an associate. Properly, dear, i.e. A friend; actively, fond, i.e. Friendly. at midnight μεσονυκτίου (mesonyktiou) Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular Strong's 3317: Midnight, the middle of the period between sunset and sunrise. Neuter of compound of mesos and nux; midnight. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. says, εἴπῃ (eipē) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 3rd Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. ‘Friend, Φίλε (Phile) Noun - Vocative Masculine Singular Strong's 5384: Friendly; subst: a friend, an associate. Properly, dear, i.e. A friend; actively, fond, i.e. Friendly. lend χρῆσόν (chrēson) Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular Strong's 5531: To lend. Probably the same as the base of chraomai; to loan. me μοι (moi) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Singular Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I. three τρεῖς (treis) Adjective - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 5140: Three. Or neuter tria a primary number; 'three'. loaves [of bread], ἄρτους (artous) Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf. Links Luke 11:5 NIVLuke 11:5 NLT Luke 11:5 ESV Luke 11:5 NASB Luke 11:5 KJV Luke 11:5 BibleApps.com Luke 11:5 Biblia Paralela Luke 11:5 Chinese Bible Luke 11:5 French Bible Luke 11:5 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: Luke 11:5 He said to them Which of you (Luke Lu Lk) |
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