Luke 13:24

King James Version

Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
“Make every effort to enter through the narrow door,

King James Version (1611)
Striue to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say vnto you, will seeke to enter in, and shall not be able.

English Standard Version
"Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

New American Standard Bible
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

New Century Version
"Try hard to enter through the narrow door, because many people will try to enter there, but they will not be able.

Amplified Bible
"Strive to enter through the narrow door [force aside unbelief and the attractions of sin]; for many, I tell you, will try to enter [by their own works] and will not be able.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Legacy Standard Bible
"Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Berean Standard Bible
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

Contemporary English Version
Do all you can to go in by the narrow door! A lot of people will try to get in, but will not be able to.

Complete Jewish Bible
He answered, "Struggle to get in through the narrow door, because — I'm telling you! — many will be demanding to get in and won't be able to,

Darby Translation
Strive with earnestness to enter in through the narrow door, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in and will not be able.

Easy-to-Read Version
"The door to heaven is narrow. Try hard to enter it. Many people will want to enter there, but they will not be able to go in.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Striue to enter in at the straite gate: for many, I say vnto you, will seeke to enter in, and shall not be able.

George Lamsa Translation
Strive to enter in through the narrow door; for I say to you, that many will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

Good News Translation
"Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able.

Lexham English Bible
"Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able to,

Literal Translation
Labor to enter in through the narrow gate, for I say to you that many will seek to enter in and will not have strength.

American Standard Version
Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Bible in Basic English
Do your best to go in by the narrow door, for I say to you, A number will make the attempt to go in, but will not be able to do so.

Hebrew Names Version
"Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

International Standard Version
"Keep on struggling to enter through the narrow door. For I tell you that many people will try to enter but won't be able to.Matthew 7:13; John 7:34; 8:21; 13:33; Romans 9:31;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for I say to you that many will seek to enter in, but shall not be able.

Murdock Translation
And Jesus said to them: Strive to enter the narrow gate: for I say to you, many will seek to enter, and will not be able.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Stryue to enter in at the strayte gate: for many I say vnto you, wyll seke to enter in, and shall not be able.

English Revised Version
Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say unto you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

World English Bible
"Strive to enter in by the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will seek to enter in, and will not be able.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
And he said to him, Strive to enter in thro' the strait gate; for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Weymouth's New Testament
"Strain every nerve to force your way in through the narrow gate," He answered; "for multitudes, I tell you, will endeavour to find a way in and will not succeed.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Stryue ye to entre bi the streite yate; for Y seie to you, many seken to entre, and thei schulen not mowe.

Update Bible Version
Strive to enter in by the narrow door: for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

Webster's Bible Translation
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say to you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.

New English Translation
"Exert every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.

New King James Version
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

New Living Translation
"Work hard to enter the narrow door to God's Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

New Life Bible
"Work hard to go in through the narrow door. I tell you, many will try to go in but will not be able to go in.

New Revised Standard
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Be striving to enter through the narrow door; for, many, I say unto you, will seek to enter, and will not be able, -

Douay-Rheims Bible
Strive to enter by the narrow gate: for many, I say to you, shall seek to enter and shall not be able.

Revised Standard Version
"Strive to enter by the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
stryve with youre selves to enter in at ye strayte gate: For many I saye vnto you will seke to enter in and shall not be able.

Young's Literal Translation
`Be striving to go in through the straight gate, because many, I say to you, will seek to go in, and shall not be able;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Stryue ye to entre in at the strayte gate, for many (I saye vnto you) shal seke to come in, and shal not be able.

Mace New Testament (1729)
strive to enter in at the narrow gate: for I declare unto you, that many shall try to get in, and shall not be able.

Simplified Cowboy Version
"You need to try hard to get on with God's outfit before it's too late. Many will want on, but only a few will be chosen.

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

Strive: Luke 21:36, Genesis 32:25, Genesis 32:26, Matthew 11:12, John 6:27, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Philippians 2:12, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 1:29, Hebrews 4:11, 2 Peter 1:10

the strait: Matthew 7:13, Matthew 7:14

for: Proverbs 1:24-28, Proverbs 14:6, Proverbs 21:25, Ecclesiastes 10:15, Isaiah 1:15, Isaiah 58:2-4, Ezekiel 33:31, Mark 6:18-20, John 7:34, John 8:21, John 13:33, Romans 9:31-33, Romans 10:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 19:15 - hastened Genesis 27:34 - he cried Genesis 32:24 - wrestled Exodus 19:24 - but let Joshua 7:3 - about two Psalms 27:4 - seek Psalms 63:8 - followeth Proverbs 9:6 - in Proverbs 14:12 - General Song of Solomon 3:1 - but Jeremiah 11:11 - cry Ezekiel 5:3 - a few Ezekiel 42:4 - a way Hosea 10:12 - time Zephaniah 2:2 - before the fierce Matthew 5:25 - whiles Matthew 18:3 - enter Matthew 19:25 - Who Matthew 22:14 - General Mark 8:34 - Whosoever Luke 11:9 - I say Luke 12:58 - the judge Luke 17:34 - I tell John 3:5 - cannot John 5:4 - first John 21:21 - Lord Acts 24:25 - when Romans 11:7 - Israel 1 Corinthians 9:26 - so Ephesians 6:12 - wrestle Colossians 1:13 - and 2 Timothy 2:5 - strive Hebrews 12:17 - he was 1 Peter 3:20 - wherein

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Strive to enter in at the strait gate,.... What is meant by the strait gate, and by entering in at it,

:-. To "strive", is to be diligent in the use of means; to search the Scriptures with care; to attend on the preaching of the word with constancy, neglecting no opportunity; to pray earnestly for spiritual light, knowledge, and grace; to contend with every enemy that opposes the salvation of the soul, as sin, Satan, and the world; to bear all reproaches and persecutions, and press through all difficulties, for the prize of the incorruptible crown: the metaphor seems to be taken from the striving, wrestling, and combat in the Olympic games, for a corruptible crown:

for many I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able: either when it is too late, when the door is shut; or else before, very faintly, in a superficial manner, from a mere natural affection, from a principle of self-love, which leads every one to desire happiness; and by very indirect and improper methods, by their own civility, morality, and righteousness; by works of the law, moral, or ceremonial; or by a profession of religion, and an outward compliance with the ordinances of the Gospel, and not by Christ, and faith in him.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Strive - Literally, “agonize.” The word is taken from the Grecian games. In their races, and wrestlings, and various athletic exercises, they “strove or agonized,” or put forth all their powers to gain the victory. Thousands witnessed them. They were long trained for the conflict, and the honor of victory was one of the highest honors among the people. So Jesus says that we should strive to enter in; and he means by it that we should be diligent, be active, be earnest; that we should make it our first and chief business to overcome our sinful propensities, and to endeavor to enter into heaven. This same figure or allusion to the Grecian games is often used in the New Testament, 1 Corinthians 9:24-26; Philippians 2:16; Hebrews 12:1.

Strait gate - See the notes at Matthew 7:13-14. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 32) says: “I have seen these strait gates and narrow ways, ‘with here and there a traveler.’ They are in retired corners, and must be sought for, and are opened only to those who knock; and when the sun goes down and the night comes on, they are shut and locked. It is then too late.”

Will seek to enter in - Many in various ways manifest some desire to be saved. They seek it, but do not agonize for it, and hence, they are shut out. But a more probable meaning of this passage is that which refers this “seeking” to a time that shall be “too late;” to the time when the master has risen up, etc. In this life they neglect religion, and are engaged about other things. At death, or at the judgment, they will seek to enter in; but it will be too late - the door will be shut; and because they did not make religion the chief business of their life, they cannot “then” enter in.

Shall not be able - This is not designed to affirm anything respecting the inability of the sinner, provided he seeks salvation in a proper time and manner. It means that at the time when many will seek - when the door is shut - they will not be able then to enter in, agreeable to Matthew 7:22. In the proper time, when the day of grace was lengthened out, they “might” have entered in; but there “will be” a time when it will be too late. The day of mercy will be ended, and death will come, and the doors of heaven barred against them. How important, then, to strive to enter in while we have opportunity, and before it shall be too late!

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 13:24. Many - will seek — They seek-wish and desire; but they do not strive; therefore, because they will not agonize - will not be in earnest, they shall not get in. See this subject more particularly explained on Matthew 7:13-14.