Bible Strands
Luke 14:8
“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses invited guests who are actively selecting the places of honor at a wedding banquet. He delivers this instruction immediately after observing their competitive seating choices.
The words — The Greek verb κατακλιθῇς (kataklithēas) literally means "may recline," denoting the formal dining posture of the era. Jesus couples it with the negative particle μὴ (mē) to forbid the invited guests from claiming that elevated position.
The thread — The warning against claiming honored seats aligns with Proverbs 25:6, which prohibits exalting oneself in the presence of a king. Both passages address the social risk of presuming upon rank in formal gatherings.
Why it lands — The text requires guests to choose a lower seat to avoid the public humiliation of being ordered to yield to a more distinguished arrival. A reader must deliberately decline status rather than compete for it.
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
When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room; lest a more honourable man than thou be bidden of him;
Cross-references
- Proverbs 25:6 Do not exalt yourself in the presence of the king, and do not stand in the place of great men;