Luke 14:32

New King James Version

Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
If not, while the other is still far off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

King James Version (1611)
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, hee sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

King James Version
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

English Standard Version
And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

New American Standard Bible
"Otherwise, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and requests terms of peace.

New Century Version
If he can't, then while the other king is still far away, he will send some people to speak to him and ask for peace.

Amplified Bible
"Or else [if he feels he is not powerful enough], while the other [king] is still a far distance away, he sends an envoy and asks for terms of peace.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Legacy Standard Bible
Or else, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace.

Berean Standard Bible
And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

Contemporary English Version
If he thinks he won't be able to defend himself, he will send messengers and ask for peace while the other king is still a long way off.

Complete Jewish Bible
If he hasn't, then while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation to inquire about terms for peace.

Darby Translation
and if not, while he is yet far off, having sent an embassy, he asks for terms of peace.

Easy-to-Read Version
If he thinks he cannot defeat the other king, he will send some men to ask for peace while that king's army is still far away.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Or els while hee is yet a great way off, hee sendeth an ambassage, and desireth peace.

George Lamsa Translation
And if not, while he is far away from him, sends envoys and seeks peace.

Good News Translation
If he isn't, he will send messengers to meet the other king to ask for terms of peace while he is still a long way off.

Lexham English Bible
But if not, while the other is still far away, he sends an ambassador and asks for terms of peace.

Literal Translation
But if not, he being still far off, sending a delegation, he asks the things for peace.

American Standard Version
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.

Bible in Basic English
Or while the other is still a great distance away, he sends representatives requesting conditions of peace.

Hebrew Names Version
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of shalom.

International Standard Version
If he can't, he will send a delegation to ask for terms of peace while the other kingwhile he">[fn] is still far away.

Etheridge Translation
and if not, while he is distant from him, he may send legates, and pray for peace.

Murdock Translation
and if not; while he is yet far from him, he sendeth envoys, and sueth for peace.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Or els, whyle the other is yet a great way of, he sendeth an imbassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

English Revised Version
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and asketh conditions of peace.

World English Bible
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace.

Wesley's New Testament (1755)
If not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an embassage, and desireth conditions of peace.

Weymouth's New Testament
If not, while the other is still a long way off, he sends messengers and sues for peace.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Ellis yit while he is afer, he sendynge a messanger, preieth tho thingis that ben of pees.

Update Bible Version
Otherwise, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an ambassador, and asks the [conditions] of peace.

Webster's Bible Translation
Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an embassy, and desireth conditions of peace.

New English Translation
If he cannot succeed, he will send a representative while the other is still a long way off and ask for terms of peace.

New Living Translation
And if he can't, he will send a delegation to discuss terms of peace while the enemy is still far away.

New Life Bible
Or, he will send a soldier to the other king while he is still a long way off. He will ask what can be done to have peace.

New Revised Standard
If he cannot, then, while the other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for the terms of peace.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, if not, by any means, while he is yet afar off, he sendeth, an embassy, and requesteth the conditions of peace.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Or else, while the other is yet afar off, sending an embassy, he desireth conditions of peace.

Revised Standard Version
And if not, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an embassy and asks terms of peace.

Tyndale New Testament (1525)
Or els whyll ye other is yet a greate waye of he will sende embasseatours and desyre peace.

Young's Literal Translation
and if not so -- he being yet a long way off -- having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Or els, whyle the other is yet a greate waye of he sendeth embassage, and desyreth peace.

Mace New Testament (1729)
that in case he is not, he may send an embassy, and desire conditions of peace, before the other approaches.

Simplified Cowboy Version
If he sees that he can't win, wouldn't he try to negotiate peace before the war begins?

Contextual Overview

²⁵ Matthew 10:34-39">[xr] Now great multitudes went with Him. And He turned and said to them, ²⁶ "If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple. ²⁷ And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. ²⁸ For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it-- ²⁹ lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him, ³⁰ saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.' ³¹ Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? ³² Or else, while the other is still a great way off, he sends a delegation and asks conditions of peace. ³³ So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple. ³⁴ Matthew 5:13; Mark 9:50">[xr] "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

and desireth: Luke 12:58, 1 Kings 20:31-34, 2 Kings 10:4, 2 Kings 10:5, Job 40:9, Matthew 5:25, Acts 12:20, James 4:6-10

Reciprocal: Genesis 32:3 - sent Judges 20:3 - the children of Benjamin 2 Samuel 2:27 - unless 2 Kings 14:10 - why shouldest 2 Kings 18:14 - I have offended 1 Chronicles 5:22 - the war was of God Job 41:8 - General Proverbs 25:8 - hastily Isaiah 27:5 - let him Amos 4:12 - prepare

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Or else, while the other is a great way off,.... Upon his march, with resolution to come up and give battle, though as yet at a distance:

he sendeth an ambassage; or men, with an embassy to him:

and desireth conditions of peace; greatly to his disadvantage and reproach: so to give out, and leave off fighting with sin, Satan, and the world, and make peace with them, is shameful and scandalous; but on the other hand, such who have engaged in this war, should pursue it with rigour and courage; considering that God is on their side; that Christ is the captain of their salvation; that the Spirit of God that is in them, is greater than he that is in the world; that angels encamp around them; that it is a good cause they are engaged in; that they have good weapons, the whole armour of God provided for them; are sure of victory, and shall at last enjoy the crown of life, righteousness and glory.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Or else - If he is not able. If he is satisfied that he would be defeated.

An ambassage - Persons to treat with an enemy and propose terms of peace. These expressions are not to be improperly pressed in order to obtain from them a spiritual signification. The general scope of the parable is to be learned from the connection, and may be thus expressed:

1. Every man who becomes a follower of Jesus should calmly and deliberately look at all the consequences of such an act and be prepared to meet them.

2. Men in other things act with prudence and forethought. They do not begin to build without a reasonable prospect of being able to finish. They do not go to war when there is every prospect that they will be defeated.

3. Religion is a work of soberness, of thought, of calm and fixed purpose, and no man can properly enter on it who does not resolve by the grace of God to fulfil all its requirements and make it the business of his life.

4. We are to expect difficulties in religion. It will cost us the mortification of our sins, and a life of self-denial, and a conflict with our lusts, and the enmity and ridicule of the world. Perhaps it may cost us our reputation, or possibly our lives and liberties, and all that is dear to us; but we must cheerfully undertake all this, and be prepared for it all.

5. If we do not deliberately resolve to leave all things, to suffer all things that may be laid on us, and to persevere to the end of our days in the service of Christ, we cannot be his disciples. No man can be a Christian who, when he makes a profession, is resolved after a while to turn back to the world; nor can he be a true Christian if he “expects that he will” turn back. If he comes not with a “full” purpose “always” to be a Christian; if he means not to persevere, by the grace of God, through all hazards, and trials, and temptations; if he is not willing to bear his cross, and meet contempt, and poverty, and pain, and death, without turning back, he “cannot” be a disciple of the Lord Jesus.