Luke - 12:54

  1. Bible
  2. Luke
  3. 12
  4. 54
  1. In-Depth
  2. Discusion

54 He said to the multitudes also, "When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 12:54.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And he said to the multitudes also, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it cometh to pass.
And he said also to the multitudes: When you see a cloud rising from the west, presently you say: A shower is coming: and so it happeneth:
And he said also to the crowds, When ye see a cloud rising out of the west, straightway ye say, A shower is coming; and so it happens.
And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud rising in the west, immediately ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
And he said also to the multitudes, 'When ye may see the cloud rising from the west, immediately ye say, A shower doth come, and it is so;
Then He said to the people also, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, 'There is to be a shower;' and it comes to pass.
Then he said to the people, When you see a cloud coming up in the west, straight away you say, There will be rain; and so it is.
He said to the crowds also, 'When you see a cloud rising from the west, immediately you say, 'A shower is coming,' and so it happens.
And he also said to the crowds: "When you see a cloud rising from the setting of the sun, immediately you say, 'A rain cloud is coming.' And so it does.
And to the people Jesus said, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once 'There is a storm coming,' and come it does.

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

See the notes at Matthew 16:2-3.
South wind - To the south and southwest of Judea were situated Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, all warm or hot regions, and consequently the air that came from those quarters was greatly heated.
How is it that ye do not discern this time! - You see a cloud rise, and predict a shower; a south wind, and expect heat. These are regular events. So you see my miracles; you hear my preaching; you have the predictions of me in the prophets; why do you not, in like manner, infer that "this is the time" when the Messiah should appear?

A cloud rise - See on Matthew 16:2, Matthew 16:3 (note).

(14) And he said also to the people, When ye see a cloud (n) rise out of the west, straightway ye say, There cometh a shower; and so it is.
(14) Men who are very quick to see with regard to earthly things are blind with regard to those things which pertain to the heavenly life, and this through their own malice.
(n) Which appears, and gathers itself together in that part of the air.

And he said also to the people,.... For what Christ had before said, were chiefly, if not solely, directed to his disciples; but now he turned himself to the innumerable multitude that were about him, and particularly addressed himself to the Scribes and Pharisees that were among them:
when ye see a cloud rise out of the west; the watery vapours being attracted by the heat of the sun, out of the Mediterranean Sea, which lies west of the land of Judea, and formed into a cloud, and drove by the wind:
straightway ye say there comes a shower; as soon as it is seen, it is presently concluded and affirmed, that a very heavy shower will soon fall, it having been frequently observed so to do, when this has been the case:
and so it is; for the most part, there commonly follows a large shower on such an appearance, and they were seldom mistaken in their conclusions.

Christ would have the people to be as wise in the concerns of their souls as they are in outward affairs. Let them hasten to obtain peace with God before it is too late. If any man has found that God has set himself against him concerning his sins, let him apply to him as God in Christ reconciling the world to himself. While we are alive, we are in the way, and now is our time.

NOT DISCERNING THE SIGNS OF THE TIME. (Luke 12:54-59)
to the people--"the multitude," a word of special warning to the thoughtless crowd, before dismissing them. (See on Matthew 16:2-3).

When ye see a cloud rising. See notes on Matthew 16:2-3.
Why even of yourselves? Why not judge what is right without any external signs?

And he said to the people also - In the preceding verses he speaks only to his disciples. From the west - In Judea, the west wind, blowing from the sea, usually brought rain: the south wind, blowing from the deserts of Arabia, occasioned sultry heat. Matthew 16:2.

*More commentary available at chapter level.

Discussion on Luke 12:54

User discussion of the verse.





*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.