The Meaning of Luke 11:8 Explained

Luke 11:8

KJV: 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.

YLT: '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;

Darby: 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.

ASV: 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.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does Luke 11:8 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 11:5-13 - Encouragement To Persevering Prayer
The parable of the three friends is very encouraging. We, so to speak, are to act as mediators or intercessors between those who are in sore need and our great Heavenly Friend. They are always coming to us on their journey, and we feel that we have nothing to set before them. Whether their need is for body, mind or spirit, they find us poor and bankrupt. But, at such times, let us turn to God with earnest prayer. If persistence in prayer prevails over the churlish and self-indulgent, what will it not achieve with the One who is "rich unto all that call upon Him!" He will give us just as much as we need.
Notice that how much more! Count the stars scattered on the vault of night, or the daisies in the fields, or the myriads of living creatures, sustained as the pensioners of His bounty, and ask yourself if He cannot give enough good gifts, and His Spirit withal, to supply all your need. What would you not do for your helpless little child? "How much more"¦" See Philippians 4:19. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 11

1  Jesus teaches us to pray, and that instantly;
11  assuring us that God will give all good things to those who ask him
14  He, casting out a demon, rebukes the blasphemous Pharisees;
27  and shows who are blessed;
29  preaches to the people;
37  and reprimands the outward show of holiness

Greek Commentary for Luke 11:8

Though [ει και]
Και ει — Kai ei would be “Even if,” a different idea. [source]
Because he is his friend [δια το ειναι πιλον αυτου]
Δια — Dia and the accusative articular infinitive with accusative of general reference, a causal clause= “because of the being a friend of his.”Yet because of his importunity (δια γε την αναιδιαν αυτου — dia ge tēn anaidian autou). From αναιδης — anaidēs shameless, and that from α — a privative and αιδως — aidōs shame, shamelessness, impudence. An old word, but here alone in the N.T. Examples in the papyri. The use of γε — ge here, one of the intensive particles, is to be noted. It sharpens the contrast to “though” by “yet.” As examples of importunate prayer Vincent notes Abraham in behalf of Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33) and the Syro-Phoenician woman in behalf of her daughter (Matthew 15:22-28). [source]
Yet because of his importunity [δια γε την αναιδιαν αυτου]
From αναιδης — anaidēs shameless, and that from α — a privative and αιδως — aidōs shame, shamelessness, impudence. An old word, but here alone in the N.T. Examples in the papyri. The use of γε — ge here, one of the intensive particles, is to be noted. It sharpens the contrast to “though” by “yet.” As examples of importunate prayer Vincent notes Abraham in behalf of Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33) and the Syro-Phoenician woman in behalf of her daughter (Matthew 15:22-28). [source]
Importunity [ἀναίδειαν]
Only here in New Testament. A very striking word to describe persistence. Lit., shamelessn ess. As related to prayer, it is illustrated in the case of Abraham's intercession for Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33); and of the Syro-Phoenician woman (Matthew 15:22-28). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 11:8

Revelation 11:2 Leave without [εκβαλε εχωτεν]
Literally, “cast without” (second aorist active imperative of εκβαλλω — ekballō not measure it Prohibition with μη — mē and the first aorist active (ingressive) subjunctive of μετρεω — metreō This outer court is left to its fate. In Herod‘s temple the outer court was marked off from the inner by “the middle wall of partition” Future active of πατεω — pateō here to trample with contempt as in Luke 21:24, even the holy city (Matthew 4:5; Isaiah 48:2; Nehemiah 11:1). Charles thinks that only the heavenly city can be so called here (Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:10; Revelation 22:19) because of Luke 11:8 (Sodom and Gomorrah). But the language may be merely symbolical. See Daniel 9:24.Forty and two months Accusative of extent of time. This period in Daniel 7:25; Daniel 12:7. It occurs in three forms in the Apocalypse (forty-two months, here and Revelation 13:5; 1260 days, Revelation 11:3; Revelation 12:6; time, times and half a time or 3-1/2 years, Revelation 12:14 and so in Daniel). This period, however its length may be construed, covers the duration of the triumph of the Gentiles, of the prophesying of the two witnesses, of the sojourn of the woman in the wilderness. [source]
Revelation 11:2 They shall tread under foot [πατησουσιν]
Future active of πατεω — pateō here to trample with contempt as in Luke 21:24, even the holy city (Matthew 4:5; Isaiah 48:2; Nehemiah 11:1). Charles thinks that only the heavenly city can be so called here (Revelation 21:2, Revelation 21:10; Revelation 22:19) because of Luke 11:8 (Sodom and Gomorrah). But the language may be merely symbolical. See Daniel 9:24. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 11:8 mean?

I say to you if even not he will give to him having risen up because of - being friend of him because of yet the persistence having risen him as much as he needs
Λέγω ὑμῖν εἰ καὶ οὐ δώσει αὐτῷ ἀναστὰς διὰ τὸ εἶναι φίλον αὐτοῦ διά γε τὴν ἀναίδειαν ἐγερθεὶς αὐτῷ ὅσων χρῄζει

Λέγω  I  say 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
καὶ  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
δώσει  he  will  give 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διδῶ 
Sense: to give.
αὐτῷ  to  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ἀναστὰς  having  risen  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀναπηδάω 
Sense: to cause to rise up, raise up.
διὰ  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
τὸ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἶναι  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
φίλον  friend 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: φίλος  
Sense: friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
διά  because  of 
Parse: Preposition
Root: διά  
Sense: through.
γε  yet 
Parse: Particle
Root: γέ  
Sense: indeed, truly, at least.
ἀναίδειαν  persistence 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀναίδεια  
Sense: shamelessness, impudence.
ἐγερθεὶς  having  risen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
ὅσων  as  much  as 
Parse: Personal / Relative Pronoun, Genitive Neuter Plural
Root: ὅσος  
Sense: as great as, as far as, how much, how many, whoever.
χρῄζει  he  needs 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: χρῄζω  
Sense: to have need of, to be in want of.