Luke 11:8

Mace New Testament

I tell you, tho' he will not rise, to supply him, out of friendship: yet out of regard to his importunity, he will rise, and lend him whatever he has occasion for.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
I tell you, even though he won’t get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his friend’s shameless boldness,

King James Version (1611)
I say vnto you, Though he will not rise, and giue him, because he is his friend: yet because of his importunitie, hee will rise and giue him as many as he needeth.

King James Version
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

English Standard Version
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

New American Standard Bible
"I tell you, even if he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his shamelessness he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

New Century Version
I tell you, if friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread, your boldness will make him get up and give you whatever you need.

Amplified Bible
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything just because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence and boldness he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Legacy Standard Bible
I tell you, even though he will not arise and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Berean Standard Bible
I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man's persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Contemporary English Version
He may not get up and give you the bread, just because you are his friend. But he will get up and give you as much as you need, simply because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.

Complete Jewish Bible
But I tell you, even if he won't get up because the man is his friend, yet because of the man's hutzpah he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

Darby Translation
—I say to you, Although he will not get up and give [them] to him because he is his friend, because of his shamelessness, at any rate, he will rise and give him as many as he wants.

Easy-to-Read Version
I tell you, maybe friendship is not enough to make him get up to give you the bread. But he will surely get up to give you what you need if you continue to ask.

Geneva Bible (1587)
I say vnto you, Though he would not arise and giue him, because he is his friende, yet doubtlesse because of his importunitie, hee woulde rise, and giue him as many as he needed.

George Lamsa Translation
I say to you, that if because of friendship he will not give him, yet because of his persistence, he will rise and give him as much as he wants.

Good News Translation
Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.

Lexham English Bible
I tell you, even if he does not give him anything after he gets up because he is his friend, at any rate because of his impudence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

Literal Translation
I say to you, Even if rising up he will not give to him because he is a friend, yet because of his shameless insisting, rising up he will give him as many as he needs.

American Standard Version
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

Bible in Basic English
I say to you, Though he will not get up and give to him, because he is his friend, still, if he keeps on making his request, he will get up and give him as much as he has need of.

Hebrew Names Version
I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

International Standard Version
I tell you, even though he doesn't want to get up and give him anything because he is his friend, he will get up and give him whatever he needs because of his persistence.Luke 18:1;">[xr]

Etheridge Translation
I tell you if for friendship's sake he will not give him, (yet) because of importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

Murdock Translation
I say to you: If he give him not, on account of friendship, yet on account of [fn] importunity, he will arise and give [fn] as much as he asketh.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
I saye vnto you, though he wyll not ryse and geue hym, because he is his friende: yet because of his importunitie he wyll ryse, and geue hym as many as he needeth.

English Revised Version
I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needeth.

World English Bible
I tell you, although he will not rise and give it to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence, he will get up and give him as many as he needs.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
I tell you, though he will not rise and give him,

Weymouth's New Testament
"I tell you that even if he will not rise and give him the loaves because he is his friend, at any rate because of his persistency he will rouse himself and give him as many as he requires.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And if he schal dwelle stil knockynge, Y seie to you, thouy he schal not rise, and yyue to him, for that that he is his freend, netheles for his contynuel axyng he schal ryse, and yyue to hym, as many as he hath nede to.

Update Bible Version
I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will arise and give him as many as he needs.

Webster's Bible Translation
I say to you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

New English Translation
I tell you, even though the man inside will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of the first man's sheer persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

New King James Version
I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

New Living Translation
But I tell you this—though he won't do it for friendship's sake, if you keep knocking long enough, he will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence.

New Life Bible
I say to you, he may not get up and give him bread because he is a friend. Yet, if he keeps on asking, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

New Revised Standard
I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
I say unto you - Even though he will not give him, rising because of his being a friend of his, because, at least, of his importunity, he will rouse himself, and give him as many as he needeth.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Yet if he shall continue knocking, I say to you, although he will not rise and give him because he is his friend; yet, because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Revised Standard Version
I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him whatever he needs.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
I saye vnto you though he wold not aryse and geve him because he is his frede: yet because of his importunite he wold rise and geve him as many as he neded.

Young's Literal Translation
`I say to you, even if he will not give to him, having risen, because of his being his friend, yet because of his importunity, having risen, he will give him as many as he doth need;

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
I saye vnto you: and though he wolde not aryse and geue him, because he is his frende, Yet because of his vnshamefast begginge he wolde aryse, and geue him as many as he neded.

THE MESSAGE
"But let me tell you, even if he won't get up because he's a friend, if you stand your ground, knocking and waking all the neighbors, he'll finally get up and get you whatever you need.

Simplified Cowboy Version
But I'll say this, if you keep knocking on that door, he will give you a bag of beans just to make you go away. Persistence and boldness are the keys to prayer.

Contextual Overview

¹ One day Jesus had been praying in a certain place, and as soon as he had done, one of his disciples said to him, instruct us about prayer, as John the baptist instructed his disciples. ² he said therefore to them, when ye pray, say, "our father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. thy kingdom come. thy will be done, on earth, as in heaven. ³ give us every day our portion of bread. ⁴ and forgive us our sins: since we forgive every one that has offended us. and leave us not under temptation, but deliver us from the evil one." ⁵ Then he said to them, suppose any of you should go to his friend at midnight; and say to him, friend, lend me three loaves: ⁶ for a friend of mine, a traveller, is come to my house, and I have nothing to entertain him with. ⁷ and he within should give this answer, don't trouble me now: the door is made fast, and my family are all in bed: I can't get up to supply you. ⁸ I tell you, tho' he will not rise, to supply him, out of friendship: yet out of regard to his importunity, he will rise, and lend him whatever he has occasion for. ⁹ I tell you likewise, ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and the door shall be opened. ¹⁰ for every one that asketh, receives: he that seeketh, finds: and he that knocks has admittance.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

because of: Luke 18:1-8, Genesis 32:26, Matthew 15:22-28, Romans 15:30, 2 Corinthians 12:8, Colossians 2:1, Colossians 4:12

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:31 - General Genesis 19:3 - pressed Genesis 19:21 - I Judges 14:17 - she lay Judges 16:16 - she pressed 1 Samuel 1:12 - continued praying 1 Kings 18:37 - Hear me 2 Kings 2:17 - they urged Psalms 86:3 - for I Daniel 9:19 - forgive Matthew 15:25 - came Matthew 20:31 - but they cried Matthew 21:22 - General Luke 18:5 - because Luke 18:39 - but John 4:10 - thou wouldest

Cross-References

Luke 1:51
he hath displayed the strength of his arm, and has confounded the proud by the devices of their hearts.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

I say unto you,.... This is the accommodation of the parable; to these words are premised, in the Vulgate Latin version, the following, "if he continue knocking":

though he will not rise and give him, because he is a friend; though mere friendship will not influence and engage him to rise from his bed, at such an unseasonable time, and fulfil the request of his friend;

yet because of his importunity, he will rise and give him as many as he needeth: as he asks for, or more, if necessary: the design of this parable, is the same with that of the widow and the unjust judge, in Luke 18:1 which is to show the force of importunity, where friendship, as here, and the fear of God, and regard of men, which were wanting there, have no influence; and so to encourage to constancy and perseverance in prayer, with earnestness; taking no denial at the hand of God, but still continuing to make pressing instances.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

I tell you - The Latin Vulgate here adds, “if he shall continue knocking.” Though this is not in the Greek, yet it is indispensable that it should be understood in order to the sense. Knocking “once” would not denote “importunity,” but it was because he “continued” knocking.

His importunity - His troublesome perseverance; his continuing to disturb the man, and refusing to take any denial. The word “importunity” denotes perseverance in an object, without any regard to time, place, or circumstances - an improper perseverance. By this the man was influenced. Rather than be disturbed he would rise and give what was asked. This is to be applied to God in no other sense than that he often hears prayers and grants blessings even “long after” they appear to be unanswered or withheld. He does not promise to give blessings “at once.” He promises only that he will do it, or “will answer” prayer. But he often causes his people long to wait. He tries their faith. He leaves them to persevere for months or years, until they “feel” entirely their dependence on him, until they see that they can obtain the blessing in no other way, and until they are “prepared” to receive it. Often they are not prepared to receive it when they ask it at first. They may be proud, or have no just sense of their dependence, or they would not value the blessing, or it may “at that time” not be best for them to obtain it. But let no one despair. If the thing is for “our” good, and if it is proper that it “should” be granted, God will give it. Let us first ask aright; let us see that our minds are in a proper state; let us feel our need of the blessing; let us inquire whether God has “promised such” a blessing, and “then” let us persevere until God gives it. Again: people, when they ask anything of God, often give over seeking. They go “once,” and if it is not granted they are discouraged. It is not so when we ask anything of people. “Then” we persevere; we take no denial; we go again, and “press” the matter until we obtain it. So we should of God. We should go again and again, until the prayer is heard, and God grants what we ask of him.