Logos Bible Study

Luke 11:8–9

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11:8I tell you, even though the man inside23 will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man’s24 sheer persistence25 he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

11:9“So26 I tell you: Ask,27 and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door28 will be opened for you.

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Footnotes

  1. 23 Grk “he”; the referent (the man in bed in the house) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  2. 24 Grk “his”; the referent (the first man mentioned) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  3. 25 The term ἀναίδεια (anaideia) is hard to translate. It refers to a combination of ideas, a boldness that persists over time, or “audacity,” which comes close. It most likely describes the one making the request, since the unit’s teaching is an exhortation about persistence in prayer. Some translate the term “shamelessness” which is the term’s normal meaning, and apply it to the neighbor as an illustration of God responding for the sake of his honor. But the original question was posed in terms of the first man who makes the request, not of the neighbor, so the teaching underscores the action of the one making the request.
  4. 26 Here καί (kai, from καγώ [kagō]) has been translated as “so” to indicate the conclusion drawn from the preceding parable.
  5. 27 The three present imperatives in this verse (Ask … seek … knock) are probably intended to call for a repeated or continual approach before God.
  6. 28 Grk “it”; the referent (a door) is implied by the context and has been specified in the translation for clarity.

In other versions

ESVEnglish Standard Version

I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

NIVNew International Version (2011)

I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

CSBChristian Standard Bible

I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you.

NLTNew Living Translation

But I tell you this—though he won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

“And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

LEBThe Lexham English Bible

I tell you, even if he does not give him anything after he gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

And I tell you, ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you.

KJV 1900King James Version

I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.