But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
Parallel translations
- WEB I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sodom than for that city.
- BSB I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.
- NKJV But I say to you that it will be more tolerable in that Day for Sodom than for that city.
- NASB I say to you, it will be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that city.
- NLT I assure you, even wicked Sodom will be better off than such a town on judgment day.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Jesus says it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for a town that rejects His messengers. Greater light brings greater accountability in judgment.
Overview
By comparing the rejecting town unfavorably to notoriously wicked Sodom, Jesus underscores the seriousness of refusing the gospel. Those who hear the kingdom's message and reject it bear heavier responsibility than those who never had such light. The verse warns that privilege spurned increases judgment.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 10:15Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
- Matt 11:24But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
- Lam 4:6For the punishment of the iniquity of the daughter of my people is greater than the punishment of the sin of Sodom, that was overthrown as in a moment, and no hands stayed on her.
- Mark 6:11And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
- Ezek 16:48–50As I live, saith the Lord GOD, Sodom thy sister hath not done, she nor her daughters, as thou hast done, thou and thy daughters.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 10:12 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.