King James Version

What Does Luke 12:18 Mean?

Luke 12:18 in the King James Version says “And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my ...” — study this verse from Luke chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.”

Luke 12:18 · KJV

Context

16

And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:

17

And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?

18

And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.

19

And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.

20

But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? thy: Gr. do they require thy soul

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. The decision is made: touto poieso (τοῦτο ποιήσω, "This will I do"). Seven first-person references saturate this verse—a relentless drumbeat of self-focus. The verb kathaireo (καθελῶ, I will pull down) means to demolish, destroy, or tear down—he will destroy functional buildings to construct monuments to his abundance.

The phrase build greater (oikodomeso meizonas, οἰκοδομήσω μείζονας) reveals expansionist thinking—bigger is better, more provides security. This quest for self-sufficiency through accumulation directly contradicts Jesus' teaching that life does not consist in abundance of possessions (v. 15). The repetition all my fruits and my goods (panta ton siton kai ta agatha mou, πάντα τὸν σῖτον καὶ τὰ ἀγαθά μου) emphasizes totalistic hoarding—every bit belongs to him and will be stored for him.

Theologically, this verse exposes the idolatry of wealth. The rich man trusts apothēkai (ἀποθῆκαι, barns/storehouses) rather than God. His building project mirrors Babel (Genesis 11:4)—human effort to secure the future apart from divine providence. He says psyche (ψυχή, soul) to his goods (v. 19), addressing his immortal soul as if material things could satisfy spiritual hunger. This is the essence of covetousness (pleonexia, πλεονεξία, v. 15)—the belief that more possessions equal more life.

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Historical & Cultural Context

In the ancient Near East, granaries symbolized wealth, power, and security. Egyptian pharaohs and Mesopotamian kings built massive storehouses as monuments to prosperity. Joseph's storage program saved Egypt during famine (Genesis 41:47-49), but he did so under divine direction for the sake of many nations. By contrast, this rich man builds solely for self-preservation with no thought of divine purpose or communal benefit. First-century listeners would recognize this as violating Torah principles of generosity—Proverbs 11:24-26 warns that hoarding leads to poverty while generosity brings blessing. The man's demolition of existing barns to build bigger ones shows wealth's insatiable nature.

Reflection Questions

  1. In what areas of life do you pursue 'bigger and better' rather than asking what God desires you to do with His blessings?
  2. How does the endless quest for security through accumulation reveal lack of trust in God's ongoing provision?
  3. What possessions or achievements have you addressed as if they could satisfy your soul's deepest needs?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 22 words
καὶ1 of 22

“And”

G2532

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

εἶπεν2 of 22

“he said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

Τοῦτο3 of 22

“This”

G5124

that thing

ποιήσω4 of 22

“will I do”

G4160

to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

καθελῶ5 of 22

“I will pull down”

G2507

to lower (or with violence) demolish (literally or figuratively)

μου6 of 22

“my”

G3450

of me

τὰς7 of 22
G3588

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

ἀποθήκας8 of 22

“barns”

G596

a repository, i.e., granary

καὶ9 of 22

“And”

G2532

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

μείζονας10 of 22
G3173

big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)

οἰκοδομήσω11 of 22

“build”

G3618

to be a house-builder, i.e., construct or (figuratively) confirm

καὶ12 of 22

“And”

G2532

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

συνάξω13 of 22

“will I bestow”

G4863

to lead together, i.e., collect or convene; specially, to entertain (hospitably)

ἐκεῖ14 of 22

“there”

G1563

there; by extension, thither

πάντα15 of 22

“all”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

τὰ16 of 22
G3588

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

γενήματά17 of 22

“fruits”

G1081

offspring; by analogy, produce (literally or figuratively)

μου18 of 22

“my”

G3450

of me

καὶ19 of 22

“And”

G2532

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

τὰ20 of 22
G3588

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

ἀγαθά21 of 22

“goods”

G18

"good" (in any sense, often as noun)

μου22 of 22

“my”

G3450

of me

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 12:18 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 12:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

James 3:15James 4:15Luke 12:21Luke 18:6Luke 18:4Psalms 17:14

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