He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said therefore, “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
- BSB So He said, “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to lay claim to his kingship and then return.
- NKJV Therefore He said: “A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom and to return.
- NASB So He said, “A nobleman went to a distant country to receive a kingdom for himself, and then to return.
- NLT He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and then return.
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
A nobleman travels to a distant country to receive a kingdom and then return. The figure represents Christ, who ascends and will come again as King.
Overview
The picture of a nobleman going abroad to be granted royal authority would have been familiar to Jesus's hearers from Herodian history. In the parable it points to Christ's own departure through death, resurrection, and ascension, after which he receives his kingdom and will return. The long interval frames the responsibility of his servants in his absence.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 18
- Matt 25:14–30For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
- Luke 19:12–27He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.
- 1 Pet 3:22Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
- John 18:37Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.
- Luke 20:9Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time.
- Heb 9:28So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
- Rev 1:7Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.
- Mark 12:1And he began to speak unto them by parables. A certain man planted a vineyard, and set an hedge about it, and digged a place for the winefat, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.
- 1 Cor 15:25For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.
- Acts 17:31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
- Matt 21:38But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his inheritance.
- Eph 1:20–23Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
- Phil 2:9–11Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
- Mark 16:19So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
- Luke 24:51And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
- Acts 1:9–11And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.
- Mark 13:34–37For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch.
- Matt 28:18And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
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 19:12 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.