Bible Strands
Luke 18:25
Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses his disciples and the surrounding crowd while observing the wealthy ruler’s sadness over his possessions (Luke 18:24). He delivers the statement during that direct encounter, not after the man departs.
The words — The Greek εὐκοπώτερον (eukopōteron) literally means “easier,” paired with διὰ (dia) “through” and τρήματος βελόνης (trēmatos belonēs) “eye of a needle.” The text states a direct comparison of impossibility without qualifying the metaphor.
The thread — The camel imagery recurs in Matthew 23:24 to highlight the danger of ignoring major obligations while obsessing over minor ones. Luke 18:26 records the hearers’ immediate response to this teaching on human inability.
Why it lands — The text asserts that wealth creates a barrier to salvation that human effort cannot overcome. It demands the reader abandon reliance on material security and recognize the necessity of divine intervention.
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
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle’s eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Cross-references
- Matthew 23:24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.