Luke 16:16

King James Version

The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

Parallel Translations

Simplified Cowboy Version
"Everything that was written by Moses and the other prophets was the contract to God's outfit. But ever since John the Baptizer started spreading the good news, everyone has been trying to force their way in to God's outfit.

Legacy Standard Bible
"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since that time the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Bible in Basic English
The law and the prophets were till John: but then came the preaching of the kingdom of God, and everyone makes his way into it by force.

Darby Translation
The law and the prophets [were] until John: from that time the glad tidings of the kingdom of God are announced, and every one forces his way into it.

New King James Version
"The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Christian Standard Bible®
"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is strongly urged to enter it.

World English Bible
The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
The law and the Prophets were until John: from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man forceth into it.

Weymouth's New Testament
The Law and the Prophets continued until John came: from that time the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been spreading, and all classes have been forcing their way into it.

King James Version (1611)
The law and the Prophets were vntill Iohn: since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.

Literal Translation
The Law and the Prophets were until John; from then the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is pressing into it.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The lawe and ye prophetes prophecied vnto Ihon, and from that tyme forth is ye kyngdome of God preached thorow ye Gospell, and euery man preasseth in to it by violence.

Mace New Testament (1729)
the law and the prophets were the only rule till John's time: since when, the kingdom of God has been proclaim'd, and all sorts of people strive to be members.

Amplified Bible
"The Law and the [writings of the] Prophets were proclaimed until John; since then the gospel of the kingdom of God has been and continues to be preached, and everyone tries forcefully to go into it.

American Standard Version
The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

Revised Standard Version
"The law and the prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and every one enters it violently.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
The lawe and the Prophetes raygned vntyll the tyme of Iohn: and sence that tyme the kyngdom of God is preached and every man stryveth to goo in.

Update Bible Version
The law and the prophets [were] until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man enters violently into it.

Webster's Bible Translation
The law and the prophets [were] until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.

New Century Version
"The law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were preached until John came. Since then the Good News about the kingdom of God is being told, and everyone tries to enter it by force.

New English Translation
"The law and the prophets were in force until John; since then, the good news of the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urged to enter it.

Contemporary English Version
Until the time of John the Baptist, people had to obey the Law of Moses and the Books of the Prophets. But since God's kingdom has been preached, everyone is trying hard to get in.

Complete Jewish Bible
Up to the time of Yochanan there were the Torah and the Prophets. Since then the Good News of the Kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is pushing to get in.

Geneva Bible (1587)
The Lawe and the Prophets endured vntill Iohn: and since that time the kingdome of God is preached, and euery man preasseth into it.

George Lamsa Translation
The law and prophets were until John; from that time the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone presses to enter into it.

Hebrew Names Version
The law and the prophets were until Yochanan. From that time the Good News of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

International Standard Version
"The law and the Prophets were prophesyingprophesying">[fn] until the time ofthe time of">[fn] John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is trying to enter it by force.Matthew 4:17; 11:12-13; Luke 7:29;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
The law and the prophets were until Juchanon; from thenceforth the kingdom of Aloha is preached, and every one presseth to enter.

Murdock Translation
The law and the prophets were until John: since then, the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and every one presseth it to enter in.

New Living Translation
"Until John the Baptist, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets were your guides. But now the Good News of the Kingdom of God is preached, and everyone is eager to get in.

New Life Bible
Until John came, you had the writings of the Law and of the early preachers. From that time until now the Good News of the holy nation of God has been preached. Everyone is pushing his way in.

English Revised Version
The law and the prophets were until John: from that time the gospel of the kingdom of God is preached, and every man entereth violently into it.

Berean Standard Bible
The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

New Revised Standard
"The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
The law and the prophets, were until John, - from that time, the good news of the kingdom of God, is being proclaimed, and, everyone, thereinto, is forcing his way.

Douay-Rheims Bible
The law and the prophets were until John. From that time the kingdom of God is preached: and every one useth violence towards it.

Lexham English Bible
"The law and the prophets were until John; from that time on the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone is urgently pressed into it.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
The lawe & the prophetes [raigned] vntyll Iohn, and sence that tyme, the kyngdome of God is preached, & euery man stryueth to go in.

Easy-to-Read Version
"Before John the Baptizer came, people were taught the Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets. But since the time of John, the Good News about God's kingdom is being told. And everyone is trying hard to get into it.

English Standard Version
"The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it.

New American Standard Bible
"The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John came; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Good News Translation
"The Law of Moses and the writings of the prophets were in effect up to the time of John the Baptist; since then the Good News about the Kingdom of God is being told, and everyone forces their way in.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
The lawe and prophetis til to Joon; fro that tyme the rewme of God is euangelisid, and ech man doith violence in to it.

Young's Literal Translation
the law and the prophets [are] till John; since then the reign of God is proclaimed good news, and every one doth press into it;

Contextual Overview

¹ And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. ² And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. ³ Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. ⁴ I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. ⁵ So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? ⁶ And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. ⁷ Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. ⁸ And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. ⁹ And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. ¹⁰ He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Law: Luke 16:29, Luke 16:31, Matthew 11:9-14, John 1:45, Acts 3:18, Acts 3:24, Acts 3:25

the kingdom: Luke 9:2, Luke 10:9, Luke 10:11, Matthew 3:2, Matthew 4:17, Matthew 10:7, Mark 1:14

and every: Luke 7:26-29, Matthew 21:32, Mark 1:45, John 11:48, John 12:19

Reciprocal: Exodus 19:24 - but let Matthew 3:5 - General Matthew 11:12 - from Matthew 12:28 - then Matthew 17:3 - Elias Luke 17:20 - when the John 5:4 - first Acts 20:25 - preaching Acts 24:14 - in the law Philippians 3:14 - press Hebrews 4:11 - Let Revelation 22:6 - the holy

Gill's Notes on the Bible

The law and the prophets were until John,.... Till the time that John the Baptist began his ministry; for till then, the law and the prophets, with the Hagiographa, or holy writings, for into these three parts the Jews divided the books of the Old Testament, were the only writings they had; and which contained the whole of the revelation granted to them; and which they wrested, and put false glosses on; and therefore it was no wonder that they derided Christ, and despised his ministry: and whereas spiritual things were promised in these writings, under the notion of temporal ones; which they not understanding, might imagine the doctrine of Christ, concerning the contempt of worldly riches, was contrary to: and since they valued themselves on having the law and the prophets, Christ observes, that

since that time, the kingdom of God is preached; the Gospel, and the mysteries of relating to the kingdom of the Messiah, his person, office, and grace; and to the kingdom of grace, which lies not in outward, but in inward and spiritual things; and to the kingdom of heaven, or glory hereafter; and which is a superior dispensation to that of the law and the prophets, and sets things in a clearer, plainer, and better light:

and every man presseth into it; the Gospel dispensation, the kingdom of the Messiah; "that he may enter into it", as the Syriac and Persic versions add; which the Scribes and Pharisees did all they could to hinder; see Matthew 23:13 large multitudes crowded the ministry of John, of Christ, and of his apostles; the people flocked in great numbers to hear the word, and seemed disposed to embrace the doctrines of the Gospel, and the ordinances of it; they pressed on one another to hear it, and through many difficulties, discouragements, and obstacles, the Pharisees threw in their way; there was scarce a man but seemed very desirous of attending upon the preaching of it, and pressed hard for it; and with much force and violence, with great eagerness and endeavour broke his way to it; though a different sense is given by others reading the words, and "every one suffers violence to himself for it", as the Arabic version; or "is oppressed for it", as the Ethiopic; that is, suffers reproach, contradiction, and persecution, for the sake of hearing it.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

See the notes at Matthew 11:12-14.

Every man - Many people, or multitudes. This is an expression that is very common, as when we say everybody is engaged in a piece of business, meaning that it occupies general attention.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Luke 16:16. The law and the prophets were until John — The law and the prophets continued to be the sole teachers till John came, who first began to proclaim the glad tidings of the kingdom of God: and now, he who wishes to be made a partaker of the blessings of that kingdom must rush speedily into it; as there will be but a short time before an utter destruction shall fall upon this ungodly race. They who wish to be saved must imitate those who take a city by storm - rush into it, without delay, as the Romans are about to do into Jerusalem. See also Clarke on "Matthew 11:12".