The Meaning of Luke 3:11 Explained

Luke 3:11

KJV: He answereth and saith unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.

YLT: and he answering saith to them, 'He having two coats -- let him impart to him having none, and he having victuals -- in like manner let him do.'

Darby: And he answering says to them, He that has two body-coats, let him give to him that has none; and he that has food, let him do likewise.

ASV: And he answered and said unto them, He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath food, let him do likewise.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

He answereth  and  saith  unto them,  He that hath  two  coats,  let him impart  to him that hath  none;  and  he that hath  meat,  let him do  likewise. 

What does Luke 3:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 3:1-14 - A Preacher Of Righteousness
The evangelist sets an emperor, a governor, two high priests, and three tetrarchs in a few lines, as of very subordinate interest, compared with the one man, the child of the desert, whose coming dated a new era and to whom he devotes the remainder of the chapter. After all, it is religious men who really make the history of mankind.
"The word of God came unto John the Baptist"¦ and he came." That is the true order. Get your message and then come. It is often in the wilderness of life that God's words find us. The man who is going to master men must first master the appetites of his own body. If you seek popularity, you will lose it; if you seek to do God's will, men will almost certainly come to find you. Souls require a clear pane of glass, when they look out on the infinite expanse of the sky! Be real! Live at first-hand with eternal truth! Fear not the face of man! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 3

1  The preaching and baptism of John;
15  his testimony of Jesus;
19  Herod imprisons John;
21  Jesus, baptized, receives testimony from heaven
23  The age and genealogy of Jesus from Joseph upwards

Greek Commentary for Luke 3:11

Coats ( []
χιτωνας — chitōnas). The inner and less necessary undergarment. The outer indispensable ιματιον — himation is not mentioned. Note the specific and different message to each class. John puts his finger on the weaknesses of the people right before him. [source]
Coats [χιτῶνας]
See on Matthew 5:40. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 3:11

Romans 12:8 He that giveth [ὁ μεταδιδοὺς]
Earthly possessions. The preposition μετά indicates sharing with. He that imparteth. Compare Ephesians 4:28; Luke 3:11. [source]
Romans 1:11 Impart [μεταδω]
Second aorist active subjunctive of μεταδιδωμι — metadidōmi to share with one. See Luke 3:11; 1 Thessalonians 2:8. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 We were well pleased [διοτι αγαπητοι ημιν εγενητητε]
Imperfect active of διοτι — eudokeō common verb in later Greek and in N.T. (see Matthew 3:17), picturing Paul‘s idea of their attitude while in Thessalonica. Paul often has it with the infinitive as here. To impart (δια οτι — metadounai). Second aorist active infinitive of γινομαι — metadidōmi old verb to share with (see Luke 3:11). Possible zeugma with souls (ημιν — psuchas), though Lightfoot renders “lives.” Paul and his associates held nothing back. Because ye were become very dear to us Note dioti (double cause, diahoti for that), use of ginomai again for become, and dative hēmin with verbal agapētoi beloved and so dear. A beautiful picture of the growth of Paul‘s affection for them as should be true with every pastor. [source]
1 Thessalonians 2:8 To impart [δια οτι]
Second aorist active infinitive of γινομαι — metadidōmi old verb to share with (see Luke 3:11). Possible zeugma with souls (ημιν — psuchas), though Lightfoot renders “lives.” Paul and his associates held nothing back. [source]
1 Timothy 6:18 Ready to distribute [εὐμεταδότους]
N.T.oolxx, oClass. For the verb μεταδιδόναι toimpart to the poor, see Luke 3:11; Ephesians 4:28. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 3:11 mean?

Answering now he was saying to them The [one] having two tunics let him impart to the [one] none having and food likewise let him do
Ἀποκριθεὶς δὲ ἔλεγεν αὐτοῖς ἔχων δύο χιτῶνας μεταδότω τῷ μὴ ἔχοντι καὶ βρώματα ὁμοίως ποιείτω

Ἀποκριθεὶς  Answering 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
δὲ  now 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἔλεγεν  he  was  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
  The  [one] 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
δύο  two 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: δύο 
Sense: the two, the twain.
χιτῶνας  tunics 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: χιτών  
Sense: a tunic, an undergarment, usually worn next to the skin, a garment, a vestment.
μεταδότω  let  him  impart 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μεταδίδωμι  
Sense: to impart.
τῷ  to  the  [one] 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
μὴ  none 
Parse: Adverb
Root: μή 
Sense: no, not lest.
βρώματα  food 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: βρῶμα  
Sense: that which is eaten, food.
ὁμοίως  likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὁμοίως  
Sense: likewise, equally, in the same way.
ποιείτω  let  him  do 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ποιέω  
Sense: to make.