Luke 12:15

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he said to them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἶπεν δὲ πρὸς αὐτούς, Ὁρᾶτε, καὶ φυλάσσεσθε ἀπὸ τῆς πλεονεξίας: ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῷ περισσεύειν τινὶ ἡ ζωὴ αὐτοῦ ἐστὶν ἐκ τῶν ὑπαρχόντων αὐτοῦ.

Transliteration

Eipen de pros them, Horate, and phylassesthe apo the pleonexias: for not in the perisseuein to anyone the zōē of him estin from the hyparchontōn of him.

Grammar Details

• *Eipen*: aorist active indicative, 3rd singular - said
• *de*: postpositive conjunction - but/and/now
• *pros*: preposition + accusative - to/toward
• *Horate*: present active imperative, 2nd plural - see/look/take heed
• *phylassesthe*: present middle imperative, 2nd plural - guard yourselves
• *apo*: preposition + genitive - from
• *pleonexias*: genitive singular feminine - greed/covetousness
• *perisseuein*: present active infinitive - to abound/have abundance
• *zōē*: nominative singular feminine - life
• *estin*: present active indicative, 3rd singular - is
• *hyparchontōn*: present active participle, genitive plural neuter - possessions/belongings

Word Meanings

• *Horate*: see/beware/take heed
• *phylassesthe*: guard yourselves/be on guard/watch out
• *pleonexias*: greed/covetousness/avarice
• *perisseuein*: having abundance/overflowing/having excess
• *zōē*: life/existence
• *hyparchontōn*: possessions/goods/belongings

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  Then He said to them, "Watch out, and be on guard against every form of greed, because one’s life is not defined by the abundance of possessions."

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's {G846} life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

• Tyndale Bible (1526/1534)

  Wherfore he sayde vnto them: take hede and beware of covetousnes. For no mannes lyfe stondeth in the aboundaunce of the thinges which he possesseth.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  And he sayde vnto them: Take hede, and bewarre of couetousnesse, for no man lyueth therof, that he hath abundaunce of goodes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Wherefore he said vnto them, Take heede, and beware of couetousnesse: for though a man haue abundance, yet his life standeth not in his riches.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he sayde vnto them, Take heede & beware of couetousnes: For no mans lyfe standeth in the aboundaunce of the thynges which he possesseth.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he said unto them, ‹Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.›

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And he said unto them, `Observe, and beware of the covetousness, because not in the abundance of one's goods is his life.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he said unto them, Take heed, and keep yourselves from all covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And he said to them, Take care to keep yourselves free from the desire for property; for a man's life is not made up of the number of things which he has.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  Then he said to them,“Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Referenced Verses

• 1 Tim 6:6-9 : 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and clothing, let us be content with that. 9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil: which while some coveted after, they have strayed from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• Heb 13:5 : 5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with what you have. For He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'
• Prov 16:16 : 16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding rather than silver!
• Jer 22:17-18 : 17 But your eyes and your heart are set only on your covetousness, and on shedding innocent blood, and on oppression, and on violence, to do it. 18 Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah; They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah my brother! or, Ah sister! they shall not lament for him, saying, Ah lord! or, Ah his glory!
• Ps 62:10 : 10 Trust not in oppression, and do not become vain in robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart upon them.
• Ps 119:36-37 : 36 Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to covetousness. 37 Turn away my eyes from looking at worthless things, and revive me in Your way.
• Prov 15:16 : 16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with trouble.
• 2 Tim 3:2 : 2 For people will be lovers of themselves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
• 2 Pet 2:3 : 3 And through covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; their judgment is long overdue, and their destruction does not slumber.
• Mic 2:2 : 2 They covet fields and take them by violence, and houses, and take them away; so they oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.
• Hab 2:9 : 9 Woe to him who covets an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil!
• Matt 6:25-26 : 25 Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
• Mark 7:22 : 22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
• Luke 8:14 : 14 And that which fell among thorns are they, who, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.
• Luke 16:14 : 14 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they ridiculed him.
• Luke 21:34 : 34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be burdened with surfeiting, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day comes upon you unexpectedly.
• 1 Cor 5:10-11 : 10 Yet not entirely with the sexually immoral of this world, or with the greedy, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. 11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone who is called a brother if he is sexually immoral, or greedy, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.
• 1 Cor 6:10 : 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
• Eph 5:3-5 : 3 But sexual immorality, and all impurity, or greed, let it not even be mentioned among you, as is proper for saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse joking, which are not fitting: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no sexually immoral, unclean, or greedy person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
• Col 3:5 : 5 Therefore, put to death your members which are upon the earth: fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
• Prov 23:4-5 : 4 Do not labor to be rich; cease from your own wisdom. 5 Will you set your eyes on that which is not? For riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven.
• Prov 28:16 : 16 The prince who lacks understanding is also a great oppressor, but he who hates covetousness shall prolong his days.
• Eccl 4:6-8 : 6 Better is a handful with quietness than both hands full, with toil and vexation of spirit. 7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun. 8 There is one alone, without a second; yes, he has neither child nor brother, yet there is no end to all his labor, nor is his eye satisfied with riches, nor does he ask, 'For whom do I labor and deprive my soul of good?' This is also vanity, yes, it is a grievous toil.
• Eccl 5:10-16 : 10 He who loves silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he who loves abundance with increase; this also is vanity. 11 When goods increase, they who eat them increase, and what good is there to the owners, except the beholding of them with their eyes? 12 The sleep of a laboring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much; but the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep. 13 There is a grievous evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the owners to their hurt. 14 But those riches perish through misfortune, and he begets a son, and there is nothing in his hand. 15 As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor which he may carry away in his hand. 16 And this also is a grievous evil, that in all points as he came, so shall he go; and what profit has he who has labored for the wind?
• Jer 6:13 : 13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them, everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest, everyone deals falsely.
• Josh 7:21 : 21 When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hidden in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
• Job 2:4 : 4 And Satan answered the LORD, and said, Skin for skin, yes, all that a man has will he give for his life.
• Job 31:24-25 : 24 If I have made gold my hope, or said to the fine gold, 'You are my confidence;' 25 If I rejoiced because my wealth was great, and because my hand had gotten much;
• Ps 10:3 : 3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire, and blesses the greedy, whom the LORD abhors.
• Ps 37:16 : 16 A little that the righteous has is better than the riches of many wicked.
• 2 Pet 2:14 : 14 Having eyes full of adultery and unable to cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. They have a heart trained in covetous practices and are accursed children.