Luke 13:23

King James Version

Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them,

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Lord,” someone asked him, “are only a few people going to be saved?”

King James Version (1611)
Then said one vnto him, Lord, are there few that be saued? And he said vnto them,

English Standard Version
And someone said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,

New American Standard Bible
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,

New Century Version
Someone said to Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Jesus said,

Amplified Bible
And someone asked Him, "Lord, will only a few be saved [from the penalties of the last judgment]?" And He said to them,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,

Legacy Standard Bible
And someone said to Him, "Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?" And He said to them,

Berean Standard Bible
"Lord," someone asked Him, "will only a few people be saved?" Jesus answered,

Contemporary English Version
Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?" Jesus answered:

Complete Jewish Bible
Someone asked him, "Are only a few people being saved?"

Darby Translation
And one said to him, Sir, [are] such as are to be saved few in number? But he said unto them,

Easy-to-Read Version
Someone said to him, "Lord, how many people will be saved? Only a few?" Jesus said,

Geneva Bible (1587)
Then saide one vnto him, Lorde, are there fewe that shalbe saued? And he said vnto them,

George Lamsa Translation
A man asked him, Are there only a few who are to be saved? Jesus said to them,

Good News Translation
Someone asked him, "Sir, will just a few people be saved?" Jesus answered them,

Lexham English Bible
And someone said to him, "Lord, are there only a few who are saved?" And he said to them,

Literal Translation
And one said to Him, Lord, are the ones being saved few? But He said to them,

American Standard Version
And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that are saved? And he said unto them,

Bible in Basic English
And someone said to him, Lord, will only a small number have salvation? And he said to them,

Hebrew Names Version
One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,

International Standard Version
Someone asked him, "Lord,Sir">[fn] are only a few people going to be saved?" He said to them,

Etheridge Translation
ONE had demanded (of) him if they are few who are saved. But Jeshu said to them,

Murdock Translation
And a person asked him, whether they were few who would have life?

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then sayde one vnto hym: Lorde, are there fewe that be saued? And he sayde vnto them:

English Revised Version
And one said unto him, Lord, are they few that be saved? And he said unto them,

World English Bible
One said to him, "Lord, are they few who are saved?" He said to them,

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that are saved?

Weymouth's New Testament
when some one asked Him, "Sir, are there but few who are to be saved?"

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And a man seide to hym, Lord, if there ben fewe, that ben saued? And he seide to hem,

Update Bible Version
And one said to him, Lord, are there few that are saved? And he said to them,

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said one to him, Lord, are there few that are saved? And he said to them,

New English Translation
Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" So he said to them,

New King James Version
Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them,

New Living Translation
Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He replied,

New Life Bible
Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, will only a few people be saved from the punishment of sin?" Jesus said to them,

New Revised Standard
Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few be saved?" He said to them,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And one said unto him - Lord! are they, few, who are being saved? And, he, said unto them -

Douay-Rheims Bible
And a certain man said to him: Lord, are they few that are saved? But he said to them:

Revised Standard Version
And some one said to him, "Lord, will those who are saved be few?" And he said to them,

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Then sayde one vnto him: Lorde are ther feawe that shalbe saved? And he sayde vnto them:

Young's Literal Translation
and a certain one said to him, `Sir, are those saved few?' and he said unto them,

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And one sayde vnto him: LORDE, are there few (thinkest thou) that shalbe saued? But he sayde vnto them:

Mace New Testament (1729)
and somebody ask'd him, Lord, will there be but few people saved? to which he answered,

THE MESSAGE
A bystander said, "Master, will only a few be saved?" He said, "Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you'll sit down to God's salvation banquet just because you've been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you're going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you'll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you're not on my guest list.'

Simplified Cowboy Version
Someone once asked him, "How many will end up on God's ranch?"He replied,

Contextual Overview

²³ Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, ²⁴ Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. ²⁵ When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: ²⁶ Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. ²⁷ But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. ²⁸ There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out. ²⁹ And they shall come from the east, and from the west, and from the north, and from the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. ³⁰ And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

are: Matthew 7:14, Matthew 19:25, Matthew 20:16, Matthew 22:14

And: Luke 12:13-15, Luke 21:7, Luke 21:8, Matthew 24:3-5, Mark 13:4, Mark 13:5, John 21:21, John 21:22, Acts 1:7, Acts 1:8

Reciprocal: 2 Kings 8:8 - inquire Proverbs 26:5 - a fool Ezekiel 5:3 - a few Mark 10:26 - Who Luke 18:26 - Who Philippians 2:12 - work

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then said one unto him,.... Not one of his disciples, but one of the company, in some one of the cities or villages he passed through, or as he was in the road to Jerusalem:

are there few that be saved? It is a received opinion among the Jews z, that all Israel shall have a part in the world to come; and this man might put the question to know whether Christ was of this sentiment or not. And by some things he had observed drop from him, and it may be the foregoing parables, which express the small beginnings of his kingdom, and seem to signify, that at first his Gospel should be received but by a few, though it should afterwards spread, he might collect, that his sense was, there would be but a few saved; or this might be a question of mere curiosity and speculation, as it seems to be, by Christ's treatment of it, who does not give a direct answer to it, but puts him and others upon showing a concern for their own salvation.

And he said unto them; not to the man only that put the question, but to the whole company; though the Persic and Ethiopic versions read, "he said unto him", as follows.

z Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 11. sect. 1.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Then said one - Who this was does not appear. It is probable that he was not one of the disciples, but one of the Jews, who came either to perplex him, or to involve him in a controversy with the Pharisees.

Are there few that be saved? - It was the prevalent opinion among the Jews that few would enter heaven. As but two of all the hosts that came out of Egypt entered into the land of Canaan, so some of them maintained that a proportionally small number would enter into heaven (Lightfoot). On this subject the man wished the opinion of Jesus. It was a question of idle curiosity. The answer to it would have done little good. It was far more important for the man to secure his own salvation, than to indulge in such idle inquiries and vain speculations. Our Lord therefore advised “him,” as he does “all, to strive” to enter into heaven.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 13:23. Are there few that be saved? — A question either of impertinence or curiosity, the answer to which can profit no man. The grand question is, Can I be saved? Yes. How? Strive earnestly to enter in through the strait gate - αγωνιζεσθε, agonize - exert every power of body and soul-let your salvation be the grand business of your whole life.