Luke 4:6

“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The devil speaks to Jesus at a high place immediately after displaying all the world's kingdoms in an instant.

The words — The devil asserts δώσω (dōsō), literally "I will give," and claims that worldly authority has been relinquished to him.

The thread — This assertion of earthly dominion parallels John 12:31 and John 14:30, which name him the prince of this world, and 1 John 5:19, which states the whole world lies under his power.

Why it lands — The text states that a fallen figure claims the right to transfer political power and glory to anyone. The reader must evaluate whether to accept a bargain that trades spiritual allegiance for temporal control.

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

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

Cross-references

John 12:31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the prince of this world will be cast out.
1 John 5:19 We know that we are of God, and that the whole world is under the power of the evil one.
John 14:30 I will not speak with you much longer, for the prince of this world is coming, and he has no claim on Me.
Ephesians 2:2 in which you used to walk when you conformed to the ways of this world and of the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit who is now at work in the sons of disobedience.
Revelation 20:2 He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years.
1 Peter 1:24 For, “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall,
Revelation 13:2 The beast I saw was like a leopard, with the feet of a bear and the mouth of a lion. And the dragon gave the beast his power and his throne and great authority.
Revelation 13:7 Then the beast was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them, and it was given authority over every tribe and people and tongue and nation.
Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.