I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?
Parallel translations
- WEB “I came to throw fire on the earth. I wish it were already kindled.
- BSB I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
- NKJV “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
- NASB “I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!
- NLT “I have come to set the world on fire, and I wish it were already burning!
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 He came to cast fire on the earth and wishes it were already kindled. He speaks of the purifying, dividing crisis His coming brings.
Overview
The 'fire' likely pictures the refining judgment and division that Christ's mission ignites, separating those who receive Him from those who reject Him. His longing for it to be kindled shows His resolve to accomplish His saving and sifting work. This fire is inseparable from the cross, the baptism He must undergo to bring it about.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 12
- Mal 4:1For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch.
- Mal 3:2–3But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap:
- Luke 12:51–52Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
- Matt 3:10–12And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
- Isa 11:4But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.
- Joel 2:30–31And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of smoke.
- John 9:4I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
- Luke 13:31–33The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee.
- John 12:17–19The people therefore that was with him when he called Lazarus out of his grave, and raised him from the dead, bare record.
- Luke 19:39–40And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples.
- Luke 11:53–54And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
- John 11:8–10His disciples say unto him, Master, the Jews of late sought to stone thee; and goest thou thither again?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 12:49 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.