Luke 13:30
New International Version
Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last.”

New Living Translation
And note this: Some who seem least important now will be the greatest then, and some who are the greatest now will be least important then.”

English Standard Version
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Berean Standard Bible
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Berean Literal Bible
And behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

King James Bible
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

New King James Version
And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

New American Standard Bible
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

NASB 1995
“And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

NASB 1977
“And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last.”

Amplified Bible
And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

Christian Standard Bible
Note this: Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Note this: Some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

American Standard Version
And behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.

Contemporary English Version
There the ones who are now least important will be the most important, and those who are now most important will be least important.

English Revised Version
And behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last."

Good News Translation
Then those who are now last will be first, and those who are now first will be last."

International Standard Version
You see, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.

Majority Standard Bible
And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.?

NET Bible
But indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last."

New Heart English Bible
And look, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last."

Webster's Bible Translation
And behold, there are last, who shall be first; and there are first who shall be last.

Weymouth New Testament
And I tell you that some now last will then be first, and some now first will then be last."

World English Bible
Behold, there are some who are last who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last.”

Berean Literal Bible
And behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

Young's Literal Translation
and lo, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And behold, they are last that shall be first; and they are first that shall be last.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And behold, those who are last will be first, and those who are first will be last.”

New American Bible
For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

New Revised Standard Version
Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And behold, there are some who are last, who will be first, and there are some who are first who will be last.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
“And behold, there are the last who shall be the first and there are the first who shall be the last.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And behold, there are last that shall be first, and there arc first that shall be last.

Godbey New Testament
And behold, the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

Haweis New Testament
And, behold, there are last who shall be first, and there are first who shall be last.

Mace New Testament
then you will see those, who were last, become first: and those who were first, become last.

Weymouth New Testament
And I tell you that some now last will then be first, and some now first will then be last."

Worrell New Testament
And, behold, there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last."

Worsley New Testament
And behold, there are some last who shall be first, and there are first that shall be last.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Narrow Door
29People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God. 30And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.” 31At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”…

Cross References
Matthew 19:30
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.

Matthew 20:16
So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Mark 10:31
But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.”

Matthew 8:11-12
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. / But the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Romans 9:30-31
What then will we say? That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; / but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it.

Romans 11:17-24
Now if some branches have been broken off, and you, a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others to share in the nourishment of the olive root, / do not boast over those branches. If you do, remember this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. / You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in.” ...

Matthew 21:31-32
Which of the two did the will of his father?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you. / For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.

Matthew 21:43
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.

Luke 14:11
For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 18:14
I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

1 Corinthians 1:27-29
But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. / He chose the lowly and despised things of the world, and the things that are not, to nullify the things that are, / so that no one may boast in His presence.

Isaiah 2:2-3
In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. / And many peoples will come and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. / For behold, darkness covers the earth, and thick darkness is over the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you, and His glory will appear over you. / Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

Isaiah 65:1
“I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me; I was found by those who did not seek Me. To a nation that did not call My name, I said, ‘Here I am! Here I am!’

Isaiah 66:18-21
“And I, knowing their deeds and thoughts, am coming to gather all nations and tongues, and they will come and see My glory. / I will establish a sign among them, and I will send survivors from among them to the nations—to Tarshish, Put, and the archers of Lud; to Tubal, Javan, and the islands far away who have not heard of My fame or seen My glory. So they will proclaim My glory among the nations. / And they will bring all your brothers from all the nations as a gift to the LORD on horses and chariots and wagons, on mules and camels, to My holy mountain Jerusalem,” says the LORD, “just as the Israelites bring an offering in a clean vessel to the house of the LORD.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Matthew 3:9,10
And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham…

Matthew 8:11,12
And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven…

Matthew 19:30
But many that are first shall be last; and the last shall be first.

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First Indeed Last
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First Indeed Last
Luke 13
1. Jesus preaches repentance upon the punishment of the Galilaeans and others.
6. The fruitless fig tree may not stand.
10. He heals the crooked woman;
18. shows the powerful working of the word, by the parable of the grain of mustard seed,
20. and of leaven;
22. exhorts to enter in at the strait gate;
31. and reproves Herod and Jerusalem.














And indeed
This phrase serves as an emphatic introduction, underscoring the certainty and importance of the statement that follows. In the Greek, the word "ἰδοὺ" (idou) is often used to draw attention, similar to "behold" in older translations. It signals the reader to pay close attention to the profound truth Jesus is about to reveal. This emphasis suggests that what follows is a divine principle that may challenge human expectations and societal norms.

some who are last
The term "last" in Greek is "ἔσχατοι" (eschatoi), which can mean the least, the lowest in rank, or those who are considered insignificant by worldly standards. Historically, this could refer to those marginalized in society, such as the poor, the sick, or the socially outcast. In a spiritual context, it may also refer to those who are humble or who come to faith later in life. This phrase challenges the cultural and religious assumptions of Jesus' time, where status and hierarchy were often equated with divine favor.

will be first
The Greek word for "first" is "πρῶτοι" (prōtoi), indicating those who are prominent, leading, or esteemed. This reversal of roles is a common theme in Jesus' teachings, emphasizing the kingdom of God's values over worldly values. It suggests that God's judgment and reward system are based on different criteria than human systems, often valuing humility, faith, and obedience over social status or wealth.

and some who are first
Here, "first" again refers to those who are currently in positions of power, privilege, or esteem. In the context of Jesus' audience, this could include religious leaders, the wealthy, or those who are outwardly righteous. The repetition of "first" and "last" highlights the radical nature of the kingdom of God, where external appearances and human accolades do not determine one's standing before God.

will be last
The phrase "will be last" completes the reversal theme. It serves as a warning to those who rely on their status, achievements, or self-righteousness. The Greek verb tense suggests a future certainty, indicating that this reversal is part of God's ultimate plan and justice. This teaching encourages believers to adopt a posture of humility and service, trusting that God sees and rewards the heart's true intentions.

(30) And, behold, there are last . . .--See Note on Matthew 19:30. In point of time, it may be noticed, this is the first utterance of the great law that God's judgment reverses man's. When it was uttered in reference to the young ruler, it was but a fresh application of the wider law. Here the application is primarily national. Israel had been the first of nations, but it should become, in its outward fortunes, the last, and the heathen who had been "without hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12) should gain the high pre-eminence of being the heirs of the kingdom. The individual application of the words grows naturally, however, out of the national.

Verse 30. - And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. This expression, which apparently was more than once used by the Lord, in this place clearly has an historical reference, and sadly predicts the rejection of Israel, not only in this present world.

"There above (on earth)
How many hold themselves for mighty kings,
Who here like swine shall wallow in the mire,
Leaving behind them horrible dispraise!"


(Dante, 'Inferno.')

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

indeed,
ἰδοὺ (idou)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 2400: See! Lo! Behold! Look! Second person singular imperative middle voice of eido; used as imperative lo!

some who are
εἰσὶν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

last
ἔσχατοι (eschatoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2078: Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.

will be
ἔσονται (esontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

first,
πρῶτοι (prōtoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.

and
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

some who are
εἰσὶν (eisin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

first
πρῶτοι (prōtoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 4413: First, before, principal, most important. Contracted superlative of pro; foremost.

will be
ἔσονται (esontai)
Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 1510: I am, exist. The first person singular present indicative; a prolonged form of a primary and defective verb; I exist.

last.”
ἔσχατοι (eschatoi)
Adjective - Nominative Masculine Plural
Strong's 2078: Last, at the last, finally, till the end. A superlative probably from echo; farthest, final.


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NT Gospels: Luke 13:30 Behold there are some who are last (Luke Lu Lk)
Luke 13:29
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