For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Parallel translations
- WEB For everyone who asks receives. He who seeks finds. To him who knocks it will be opened.
- BSB For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
- ESV For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
- NKJV For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.
- NASB For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, it will be opened.
- NLT For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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 affirms that everyone who asks receives, seeks finds, and knocks is answered. God reliably responds to earnest prayer.
Overview
This restates the promise as a settled principle of God's dealings with his people. The assurance is not a blank check but a pledge that the Father answers genuine, persistent prayer for good. It builds confidence to approach God boldly through the access Christ provides.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Jas 4:3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.
- Lam 3:18And I said, My strength and my hope is perished from the LORD:
- Lam 3:54–58Waters flowed over mine head; then I said, I am cut off.
- Luke 18:1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
- Jas 5:11Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
- Ps 31:22For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee.
- Jonah 2:2–8And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
- Lam 3:8Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 11:10 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.