King James Version

What Does Luke 11:31 Mean?

Luke 11:31 in the King James Version says “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came fro... — study this verse from Luke chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

Luke 11:31 · KJV


Context

29

And when the people were gathered thick together, he began to say, This is an evil generation: they seek a sign; and there shall no sign be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet.

30

For as Jonas was a sign unto the Ninevites, so shall also the Son of man be to this generation.

31

The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.

32

The men of Nineve shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas is here.

33

No man, when he hath lighted a candle, putteth it in a secret place, neither under a bushel, but on a candlestick, that they which come in may see the light.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with the men of this generation, and condemn them: for she came from the utmost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here (βασίλισσα νότου ἐγερθήσεται...καὶ κατακρινεῖ αὐτούς...ἰδοὺ πλεῖον Σολομῶντος ὧδε)—Jesus invokes the Queen of Sheba (1 Kings 10:1-13) as eschatological witness against his contemporaries. She will witness against Jewish unbelief at final judgment. Her condemnation derives from comparative advantage: she traveled vast distances for Solomon's wisdom, while they reject a greater than Solomon despite his presence.

The neuter pleion (greater thing) suggests Jesus refers not merely to his person but the entire Christ-event—his teaching, miracles, redemptive work surpass Solomon's glory. The queen's expensive journey contrasts with Israel's casual dismissal of divine wisdom incarnate.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon became legendary in Jewish tradition. She represented the ultimate Gentile seeker—royalty from earth's end pursuing wisdom. Jesus's audience would recognize the implicit rebuke: Gentile nobility traveled months to hear Solomon, yet they, possessing temple and Torah, reject God's ultimate revelation standing before them.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the Queen of Sheba's costly journey expose our casual approach to spiritual truth?
  2. In what ways does Jesus claim to exceed Solomon—what does 'greater than Solomon' encompass?
  3. How will unfulfilled privilege increase condemnation at judgment—what responsibility accompanies exposure to Christ?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 31 words
βασίλισσα1 of 31

The queen

G938

a queen

νότου2 of 31

of the south

G3558

the south(-west) wind; by extension, the southern quarter itself

ἐγερθήσεται3 of 31

shall rise up

G1453

to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from

ἐν4 of 31

in

G1722

"in," at, (up-)on, by, etc

τῇ5 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κρίσει6 of 31

the judgment

G2920

decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law)

μετὰ7 of 31

with

G3326

properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)

τῶν8 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἀνδρῶν9 of 31

the men

G435

a man (properly as an individual male)

τῆς10 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γενεᾶς11 of 31

generation

G1074

a generation; by implication, an age (the period or the persons)

ταύτης12 of 31
G3778

the he (she or it), i.e., this or that (often with article repeated)

καὶ13 of 31

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

κατακρινεῖ14 of 31

condemn

G2632

to judge against, i.e., sentence

αὐτούς15 of 31

them

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

ὅτι16 of 31

for

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἦλθεν17 of 31

she came

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

ἐκ18 of 31

from

G1537

a primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence action or motion proceeds), from, out (of place, time, or cause literal or figurative; direct

τῶν19 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

περάτων20 of 31

the utmost parts

G4009

an extremity

τῆς21 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

γῆς22 of 31

of the earth

G1093

soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)

ἀκοῦσαι23 of 31

to hear

G191

to hear (in various senses)

τὴν24 of 31
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

σοφίαν25 of 31

the wisdom

G4678

wisdom (higher or lower, worldly or spiritual)

Σολομῶντος26 of 31

Solomon

G4672

solomon (i.e., shelomoh), the son of david

καὶ27 of 31

and

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

ἰδού,28 of 31

behold

G2400

used as imperative lo!

πλεῖον29 of 31

a greater than

G4119

more in quantity, number, or quality; also (in plural) the major portion

Σολομῶντος30 of 31

Solomon

G4672

solomon (i.e., shelomoh), the son of david

ὧδε31 of 31

is here

G5602

in this same spot, i.e., here or hither


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 11:31 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 11:31 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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