Luke 12:1
New International Version
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, saying: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

New Living Translation
Meanwhile, the crowds grew until thousands were milling about and stepping on each other. Jesus turned first to his disciples and warned them, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy.

English Standard Version
In the meantime, when so many thousands of the people had gathered together that they were trampling one another, he began to say to his disciples first, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Berean Standard Bible
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Berean Literal Bible
In these times, the myriads of the crowd having been gathered together so as to trample upon one another, He began to say to His disciples first, "Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

King James Bible
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

New King James Version
In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

New American Standard Bible
Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

NASB 1995
Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all,"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

NASB 1977
Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of the multitude had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Legacy Standard Bible
At this time, after so many thousands of the crowd had gathered together that they were trampling on one another, He began saying to His disciples first, “Be on your guard for the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Amplified Bible
In the meantime, after so many thousands of the people had gathered that they were stepping on one another, Jesus began speaking first of all to His disciples, “Be continually on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees [that is, their pervasive, corrupting influence and teaching], which is hypocrisy [producing self-righteousness].

Christian Standard Bible
Meanwhile, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to his disciples first, “Be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
In these circumstances, a crowd of many thousands came together, so that they were trampling on one another. He began to say to His disciples first: “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

American Standard Version
In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trod one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Contemporary English Version
As thousands of people crowded around Jesus and were stepping on each other, he told his disciples: Be sure to guard against the dishonest teaching of the Pharisees! It is their way of fooling people.

English Revised Version
In the mean time, when the many thousands of the multitude were gathered together, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Meanwhile, thousands of people had gathered. They were so crowded that they stepped on each other. Jesus spoke to his disciples and said, "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees. I'm talking about their hypocrisy.

Good News Translation
As thousands of people crowded together, so that they were stepping on each other, Jesus said first to his disciples, "Be on guard against the yeast of the Pharisees--I mean their hypocrisy.

International Standard Version
Meanwhile, the people had gathered by the thousands and were trampling on one another. Jesus began to speak first to his disciples. "Watch out for the yeast—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees!

Majority Standard Bible
In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: ?Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

NET Bible
Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, "Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

New Heart English Bible
Meanwhile, when a crowd of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Webster's Bible Translation
In the mean time, when there was gathered an innumerable multitude of people, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Weymouth New Testament
Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.

World English Bible
Meanwhile, when a multitude of many thousands had gathered together, so much so that they trampled on each other, he began to tell his disciples first of all, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
At which time the myriads of the multitude having been gathered together, so as to tread on one another, He began to say to His disciples, first, “Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy;

Berean Literal Bible
In these times, the myriads of the crowd having been gathered together so as to trample upon one another, He began to say to His disciples first, "Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Young's Literal Translation
At which time the myriads of the multitude having been gathered together, so as to tread upon one another, he began to say unto his disciples, first, 'Take heed to yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy;

Smith's Literal Translation
Upon which, myriads of the crowd having been gathered together, so as to tread upon one another, he began to speak to his disciples first, Keep yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
AND when great multitudes stood about him, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples: Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then, as great crowds were standing so close that they were stepping on one another, he began to say to his disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

New American Bible
Meanwhile, so many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. He began to speak, first to his disciples, “Beware of the leaven—that is, the hypocrisy—of the Pharisees.

New Revised Standard Version
Meanwhile, when the crowd gathered by the thousands, so that they trampled on one another, he began to speak first to his disciples, “Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is, their hypocrisy.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
WHEN a large number of people had gathered together, so as to tread on one another, Jesus began to say to his disciples, First of all, Beware you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And when multitudes of great crowds were gathered together so that they would tread on one another, Yeshua began to say to his disciples, “First, beware among yourselves of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is phoniness.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
In the mean time, when myriads of the people had come together, so that they trod one upon another, he began to say to his disciples first of all: Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Godbey New Testament
In the meantime, myriads of the multitude having gathered together, So that they trode on one another, He began to speak to His disciples first; Take heed unto yourselves from the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Haweis New Testament
MEANTIME myriads of people collecting, so that they trod on one another, he began to speak to his disciples, Take heed principally of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Mace New Testament
In the mean time thousands of people being gather'd about him, so as to trample upon one another, he first address'd himself thus to his disciples, beware of the corrupt doctrine of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Weymouth New Testament
Meanwhile the people had come streaming towards Him by tens of thousands, so that they were trampling one another under foot. And now He proceeded to say to His disciples first, "Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees, that is to say, beware of hypocrisy.

Worrell New Testament
In the meantime, the vast multitude having been gathered together, so as to tread one upon another, He began to say to His disciples, first, "Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

Worsley New Testament
In the mean time great multitudes of people being gathered together about Him, so that they trode upon one another, He began to say to his disciples, Beware of the leaven of the pharisees, which is hypocrisy: for there is nothing concealed,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Leaven of the Pharisees
1In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.…

Cross References
Matthew 16:6
“Watch out!” Jesus told them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.”

Mark 8:15
“Watch out!” He cautioned them. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod.”

Matthew 23:3
So practice and observe everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach.

Matthew 23:28
In the same way, on the outside you appear to be righteous, but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

1 Corinthians 5:6-8
Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? / Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. / Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.

Galatians 5:9
A little leaven works through the whole batch of dough.

Matthew 10:26
So do not be afraid of them. For there is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

Mark 12:38-40
In His teaching Jesus also said, “Watch out for the scribes. They like to walk around in long robes, to receive greetings in the marketplaces, / and to have the chief seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. / They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Matthew 7:15
Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.

2 Timothy 3:5
having a form of godliness but denying its power. Turn away from such as these!

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Ezekiel 33:31
So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain.

Jeremiah 23:11
“For both prophet and priest are ungodly; even in My house I have found their wickedness,” declares the LORD.

Hosea 7:4
They are all adulterers, like an oven heated by a baker who needs not stoke the fire from the kneading to the rising of the dough.

Amos 5:21-23
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies. / Even though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; for your peace offerings of fattened cattle I will have no regard. / Take away from Me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.


Treasury of Scripture

In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, so that they stepped one on another, he began to say to his disciples first of all, Beware you of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

an.

Luke 5:1,15
And it came to pass, that, as the people pressed upon him to hear the word of God, he stood by the lake of Gennesaret, …

Luke 6:17
And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

Acts 21:20
And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:

trode.

2 Kings 7:17
And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him.

first.

1 Corinthians 15:3
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;

James 3:17
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

Beware.

Matthew 16:6-12
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees…

Mark 8:15
And he charged them, saying, Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod.

1 Corinthians 5:7,8
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: …

which.

Luke 12:56
Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

Luke 11:44
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them.

Job 20:5
That the triumphing of the wicked is short, and the joy of the hypocrite but for a moment?

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Beware Circumstances Disciples First Foot Gathered Hypocrisy Innumerable Insomuch Mean Meanwhile Multitude Pharisees Stepping Streaming Tens Thousands Time Together Towards Trampled Trampling Trod Trode Yeast
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Beware Circumstances Disciples First Foot Gathered Hypocrisy Innumerable Insomuch Mean Meanwhile Multitude Pharisees Stepping Streaming Tens Thousands Time Together Towards Trampled Trampling Trod Trode Yeast
Luke 12
1. Jesus preaches to his apostles to avoid hypocrisy
13. and warns against covetousness, by the parable of the man who set up greater barns.
22. We must not worry about earthly things,
31. but seek the kingdom of God;
33. give alms;
35. be ready at a knock to open to our Lord whensoever he comes.
41. Jesus' disciples are to see to their charges,
49. and look for persecution.
54. The people must take this time of grace;
57. because it is a fearful thing to die without reconciliation.














In the meantime
This phrase sets the scene within the broader narrative of the Gospel of Luke. It indicates a continuation of events and teachings that Jesus was involved in. The Greek word used here, "ἐν οἷς," suggests a transition and connection to previous events, emphasizing the ongoing nature of Jesus' ministry. Historically, this period was marked by growing tension between Jesus and the religious leaders, as His teachings increasingly challenged their authority.

a crowd of many thousands had gathered
The Greek term "μυριάδων" (myriads) indicates an immense number, suggesting that Jesus' ministry had attracted significant attention. This reflects the widespread interest and curiosity about Jesus' teachings and miracles. Archaeological findings and historical records from the period show that such large gatherings were not uncommon, especially for charismatic leaders and teachers. This crowd's size underscores the impact Jesus was having on the people of Israel.

so that they were trampling one another
This vivid description highlights the intensity and fervor of the crowd. The Greek word "καταπατεῖν" (trampling) conveys a sense of chaos and urgency. It reflects the desperation and eagerness of the people to hear Jesus, perhaps driven by their spiritual hunger and the oppressive socio-political climate under Roman rule. This scene paints a picture of the physical and spiritual tumult surrounding Jesus' ministry.

Jesus began to speak first to His disciples
Here, the focus shifts to Jesus' inner circle, His disciples. The Greek word "πρῶτον" (first) indicates priority, suggesting that Jesus had a specific message for them before addressing the broader crowd. This highlights the importance of discipleship and the preparation of those who would carry on His mission. Historically, this reflects the rabbinic tradition of teaching one's closest followers to ensure the continuity of the message.

Be on your guard
The Greek word "προσέχετε" (be on guard) is a call to vigilance and awareness. It implies a proactive stance against potential dangers or deceptions. In the context of Jesus' teachings, it serves as a warning to His disciples to remain spiritually alert and discerning. This exhortation is timeless, reminding believers to be cautious of influences that could lead them astray from the truth.

against the yeast of the Pharisees
Yeast, or "ζύμη" in Greek, is often used metaphorically in Scripture to represent influence, usually of a corrupting nature. The Pharisees were a prominent religious group known for their strict adherence to the law and traditions. Jesus uses this metaphor to caution against their teachings and practices, which, though seemingly pious, were often hypocritical and spiritually misleading. This warning is a call to discernment, urging believers to evaluate teachings against the truth of God's Word.

which is hypocrisy
The Greek word "ὑπόκρισις" (hypocrisy) originally referred to acting or playing a part. In a religious context, it denotes a disconnect between outward appearance and inward reality. Jesus condemns the Pharisees for their pretense of righteousness while lacking genuine faith and integrity. This critique is a powerful reminder for believers to cultivate authenticity in their spiritual lives, ensuring that their actions align with their professed beliefs.

XII.

(1) In the mean time.--More literally, When the myriads of the multitude were gathered together. The words must be taken in immediate sequence with the close of the previous chapter. The dispute that had begun in the Pharisee's house, and had been carried on by the lawyers and scribes as they followed Jesus from it, attracted notice. As on the occasion of the "unwashed hands" (Matthew 15:10), He appeals from the scribes to the people, or rather to His own disciples, scattered among the people. The scene may be compared, in the vividness of its description, with the picture of the crowd at Capernaum (Mark 2:1-2).

Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees.--This again was obviously an expression that had become almost proverbial in our Lord's lips (Matthew 16:6). Here, however, the leaven is more definitely specified as "hypocrisy"--i.e., unreality, the simulation, conscious or unconscious, of a holiness which we do not possess. It does not follow that the Pharisees were deliberate impostors of the Tartuffe type. With them, as with other forms of religionism, it was doubtless true that the worst hypocrisy was that which did not know itself to be hypocritical. (See Note on Matthew 6:2.)

Verses 1-59. - The Lord, after leaving the Pharisee's house, speaks at great length to a numerous crowd waiting for him, addressing his words principally to his own disciples. The foregoing scene (ch. 11.), when the Master addressed his bitter reproaches to the learned and cultivated of the great Pharisee party, took place in a private house belonging to an apparently wealthy member of this, the dominant class. The name of the large village or provincial town where all this happened is unknown. The crowd who had been listening to the great Teacher before he accepted the Pharisee's invitation still lingered around the house. Many from the adjoining villages, hearing that Jesus was in this place and was publicly teaching, had arrived; so, when the Lord came out from the guest-chamber into the street or market-place, he found a vast crowd - literally, myriads of the multitude - waiting for him. The words descriptive of the crowd in ver. I indicate that a vast concourse was gathered together. His fame then was very great, though his popularity was on the wane. Verse 1. - Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. In dwelling on this and similar expressions used by our Lord in respect to the life and work of this famous section of the people who were generally so bitterly hostile to him and his teaching, we must not condemn their whole character with a condemnation more sweeping than the Master's. Utterly mistaken in their views of life and in their estimate of God, whom they professed to know, our Lord here scarcely charges them with dell-berate hypocrisy. These mistaken men dreamed that they possessed a holiness which was never theirs; unconscious hypocrites they doubtless were, without possibly even suspecting it themselves.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
In
Ἐν (En)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

the meantime,
οἷς (hois)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3739: Who, which, what, that.

a crowd
ὄχλου (ochlou)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Singular
Strong's 3793: From a derivative of echo; a throng; by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot.

of
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

many thousands
μυριάδων (myriadōn)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 3461: A myriad, group of ten thousand, a ten thousand. From murioi; a ten-thousand; by extension, a 'myriad' or indefinite number.

had gathered,
ἐπισυναχθεισῶν (episynachtheisōn)
Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Genitive Feminine Plural
Strong's 1996: To collect, gather together, assemble. From epi and sunago; to collect upon the same place.

so that
ὥστε (hōste)
Conjunction
Strong's 5620: So that, therefore, so then, so as to. From hos and te; so too, i.e. Thus therefore.

they were trampling
καταπατεῖν (katapatein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 2662: From kata and pateo; to trample down; figuratively, to reject with disdain.

one another.
ἀλλήλους (allēlous)
Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 240: One another, each other. Genitive plural from allos reduplicated; one another.

[Jesus] began
ἤρξατο (ērxato)
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 756: To begin. Middle voice of archo; to commence.

to speak
λέγειν (legein)
Verb - Present Infinitive Active
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

first
πρῶτον (prōton)
Adverb - Superlative
Strong's 4412: First, in the first place, before, formerly. Neuter of protos as adverb; firstly.

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
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
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.

disciples:
μαθητὰς (mathētas)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Plural
Strong's 3101: A learner, disciple, pupil. From manthano; a learner, i.e. Pupil.

“Beware
Προσέχετε (Prosechete)
Verb - Present Imperative Active - 2nd Person Plural
Strong's 4337: From pros and echo; to hold the mind towards, i.e. Pay attention to, be cautious about, apply oneself to, adhere to.

of
ἀπὸ (apo)
Preposition
Strong's 575: From, away from. A primary particle; 'off, ' i.e. Away, in various senses.

the
τῆς (tēs)
Article - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

yeast
ζύμης (zymēs)
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular
Strong's 2219: Leaven, ferment, both lit. and met. Probably from zeo; ferment.

of the
τῶν (tōn)
Article - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Pharisees,
Φαρισαίων (Pharisaiōn)
Noun - Genitive Masculine Plural
Strong's 5330: Of Hebrew origin; a separatist, i.e. Exclusively religious; a Pharisean, i.e. Jewish sectary.

which
ἥτις (hētis)
Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 3748: Whosoever, whichsoever, whatsoever.

is
ἐστὶν (estin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

hypocrisy.
ὑπόκρισις (hypokrisis)
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5272: From hupokrinomai; acting under a feigned part, i.e. deceit.


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NT Gospels: Luke 12:1 Meanwhile when a multitude of many thousands (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 11:54
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