Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division.
Parallel translations
- WEB Do you think that I have come to give peace in the earth? I tell you, no, but rather division.
- KJV Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
- NKJV Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division.
- NASB Do you think that I came to provide peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division;
- NLT Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other!
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 not to bring peace on earth but division. His coming forces a decision that separates people.
Overview
Though Christ is the Prince of Peace, the response to Him inevitably divides those who believe from those who do not. The peace He ultimately brings is peace with God, but in this age allegiance to Him provokes opposition, even within families. This sober word prepares disciples for the cost of following Christ in a world that rejects Him.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Matt 10:34–36Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
- Luke 12:49I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!
- Matt 24:7–10Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
- Zech 11:10–11Next I took my staff called Favor and cut it in two, revoking the covenant I had made with all the nations.
- Zech 11:14Then I cut in two my second staff called Union, breaking the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.
- Zech 11:7–8So I pastured the flock marked for slaughter, especially the afflicted of the flock. Then I took for myself two staffs, calling one Favor and the other Union, and I pastured the flock.
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 12:51 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.