The Meaning of Luke 14:32 Explained

Luke 14:32

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

YLT: and if not so -- he being yet a long way off -- having sent an embassy, he doth ask the things for peace.

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

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Luke 14:32 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 14:25-35 - The Cost Of Discipleship
Here we have our Lord's use of the winnowing-fan. Amid the teeming crowds He knew that there were many light and superficial souls who had not realized the cost involved in discipleship. Mark the thrice-repeated words-cannot be my disciple.
Our love must be greater than the ties of family affection, Luke 14:26; must be greater than our love for our own way, which must be nailed to the Cross, Luke 14:27; must be greater than our love of possessions and property, Luke 14:33. Christ has done more than any other teacher to cement the relationships of human love, but He always asks that they should be subordinated to the claims of God. Oh, for the love that Paul had! See Philippians 3:8.
What a comfort it is to realize that God counted the cost before He set about the task of redemption, whether of a world or of us as individuals. He knew all that it would cost, and surely He did not begin what He cannot complete! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 14

1  Jesus heals the dropsy on the Sabbath;
7  teaches humility;
12  to feast the poor;
15  under the parable of the great supper,
23  shows how worldly minded men shall be shut out of heaven
25  Those who will be his disciples, to bear their cross must make their accounts beforehand,
31  lest with shame they revolt from him afterward;
34  and become altogether unprofitable, like salt that has lost its flavor

Greek Commentary for Luke 14:32

Or else [ει δε μηγε]
Same idiom in Luke 5:36. Luke is fond of this formula. [source]
An ambassage [πρεσβειαν]
Old and common word for the office of ambassador, composed of old men The use of ερωταω — erōtaō in this sense of beg or petition is common in the papyri and Koiné generally. The original use of asking a question survives also. The text is uncertain concerning προς ειρηνην — pros eirēnēn which means with ερωταω — erōtaō to ask negotiations for peace. In B we have εις — eis instead of προς — pros like Luke 14:28. Most MSS. have τα — ta before προς — pros or εις — eis but not in Aleph and B. It is possible that the τα — ta was omitted because of preceding ται — tai (ομοεοτελευτον — homoeoteleuton), but the sense is the same. See note on Romans 14:19 τα της ειρηνης — ta tēs eirēnēs the things of peace, which concern or look towards peace, the preliminaries of peace. [source]
Asketh conditions of peace [ερωται προς ειρηνην]
The use of ερωταω — erōtaō in this sense of beg or petition is common in the papyri and Koiné generally. The original use of asking a question survives also. The text is uncertain concerning προς ειρηνην — pros eirēnēn which means with ερωταω — erōtaō to ask negotiations for peace. In B we have εις — eis instead of προς — pros like Luke 14:28. Most MSS. have τα — ta before προς — pros or εις — eis but not in Aleph and B. It is possible that the τα — ta was omitted because of preceding ται — tai (ομοεοτελευτον — homoeoteleuton), but the sense is the same. See note on Romans 14:19 τα της ειρηνης — ta tēs eirēnēs the things of peace, which concern or look towards peace, the preliminaries of peace. [source]
Asketh [ἐρωτᾷ]
On a footing of equality: king treating with king. See on Luke 11:9. [source]
Conditions of peace [τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην]
Lit., this looking toward peace: preliminaries. Compare Romans 14:19, things which make for peace ( τὰ τῆς εἰρήνης , the things of peace)i1. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 14:32 mean?

If now not still of him far off being an embassy having sent he asks - for peace
εἰ δὲ μή¦γε ἔτι αὐτοῦ πόρρω ὄντος πρεσβείαν ἀποστείλας ἐρωτᾷ τὰ πρὸς εἰρήνην

δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἔτι  still 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ἔτι  
Sense: yet, still.
αὐτοῦ  of  him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
πόρρω  far  off 
Parse: Adverb
Root: πόρρω  
Sense: far, at a distance, a great way off.
ὄντος  being 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
πρεσβείαν  an  embassy 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: πρεσβεία  
Sense: age, dignity, right of the first born.
ἀποστείλας  having  sent 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποστέλλω 
Sense: to order (one) to go to a place appointed.
ἐρωτᾷ  he  asks 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐρωτάω  
Sense: to question.
τὰ  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἰρήνην  peace 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: εἰρήνη  
Sense: a state of national tranquillity.