Bible Strands
Luke 14:32
And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to a large crowd following Him while traveling toward Jerusalem, immediately after illustrating a king's military calculation. He addresses every listener considering discipleship with a practical warning about commitment.
The words — The text supplies ἔτι (eti) meaning "still" and πόρρω (porrō) meaning "far off" to mark the timing of the peace mission. These terms literally describe the opposing army's position while the delegation is dispatched.
The thread — The narrative of sending envoys to negotiate terms appears in 1 Kings 20:31 and Acts 12:20. The underlying principle of calculating odds before engagement mirrors the military reasoning in 2 Kings 10:4.
Why it lands — The verse states that a defeated king requests terms while the enemy remains distant, then applies this to discipleship. It requires the reader to abandon self-sufficiency and acknowledge that following Christ demands surrendering all personal resources.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Cross-references
- Acts 12:20 Now Herod was in a furious dispute with the people of Tyre and Sidon, and they convened before him. Having secured the support of Blastus, the king’s chamberlain, they asked for peace, because their region depended on the king’s country for food.
- 1 Kings 20:31 Then the servants of Ben-hadad said to him, “Look now, we have heard that the kings of the house of Israel are merciful. Let us go out to the king of Israel with sackcloth around our waists and ropes around our heads. Perhaps he will spare your life.”
- 2 Kings 10:4 But they were terrified and reasoned, “If two kings could not stand against him, how can we?”
- Job 40:9 Do you have an arm like God’s? Can you thunder with a voice like His?
- Luke 12:58 Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.
- James 4:6 But He gives us more grace. This is why it says: “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
- Matthew 5:25 Reconcile quickly with your adversary, while you are still on the way to court. Otherwise, he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.