King James Version

What Does Luke 12:22 Mean?

Luke 12:22 in the King James Version says “And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for ...” — study this verse from Luke chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.”

Luke 12:22 · KJV

Context

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

21

So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.

22

And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.

23

The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

24

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

Read Luke 12 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. Jesus transitions from warning about greed to teaching about anxiety. The connecting word Therefore (dia touto, διὰ τοῦτο) links the parable of the rich fool to this discourse—since earthly treasure cannot secure your soul, stop obsessing over material provision. Take no thought (me merimnate, μὴ μεριμνᾶτε) means stop being anxious, cease worrying, don't be divided in mind. The verb merimnao (μεριμνάω) comes from merizo (to divide) and nous (mind)—anxiety fractures mental focus and spiritual peace.

The command addresses your life (te psyche, τῇ ψυχῇ)—the same psyche God required from the rich fool (v. 20). But where the fool trusted possessions, disciples must trust providence. Jesus specifies two fundamental needs: what ye shall eat (ti phagete, τί φάγητε) and what ye shall put on (ti endysesthe, τί ἐνδύσησθε)—food and clothing, the basics of survival. The prohibition is not against planning or working but against merimna (μέριμνα, anxious worry) that betrays lack of trust in God's provision.

This teaching directly challenges worldly values. The nations seek these things (v. 30), but disciples of the kingdom operate differently. Paul later echoes this: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Philippians 4:6).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jesus spoke to disciples who faced genuine economic vulnerability—fishermen, tax collectors, and others who left occupations to follow Him (Luke 5:11, 28). Unlike modern Western contexts with social safety nets, first-century Palestine offered no unemployment benefits, food stamps, or welfare programs. Missing a harvest or losing employment could mean starvation. In this context, Jesus' command to stop worrying was radical and countercultural. It required trusting that the Father who feeds sparrows and clothes lilies would provide for His children. This teaching must have seemed especially challenging given the economic realities of subsistence-level existence in Roman-occupied Judea.

Reflection Questions

  1. What specific anxieties about provision dominate your thought life, and how do they reveal areas where you struggle to trust God?
  2. How does Jesus' teaching challenge both the hoarding of the rich fool and the anxious worry He prohibits here?
  3. In what ways does consumer culture encourage the very anxiety Jesus forbids, and how can you resist those messages?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 22 words
Εἶπεν1 of 22

“he said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

δὲ2 of 22

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

πρὸς3 of 22

“unto”

G4314

a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,

τοὺς4 of 22
G3588

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

μαθητὰς5 of 22

“disciples”

G3101

a learner, i.e., pupil

αὐτοῦ6 of 22
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

Διὰ7 of 22

“Therefore”

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

τοῦτο8 of 22
G5124

that thing

ὑμῖν·9 of 22

“unto you”

G5213

to (with or by) you

λέγω10 of 22

“I say”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

μὴ11 of 22

“no”

G3361

(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether

μεριμνᾶτε12 of 22

“Take”

G3309

to be anxious about

τῇ13 of 22
G3588

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

ψυχῇ14 of 22

“life”

G5590

breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh

ὑμῶν,15 of 22

“for your”

G5216

of (from or concerning) you

τί16 of 22

“what”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

φάγητε17 of 22

“ye shall eat”

G5315

to eat (literally or figuratively)

μηδὲ18 of 22

“neither”

G3366

but not, not even; in a continued negation, nor

τῷ19 of 22
G3588

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

σώματι20 of 22

“for the body”

G4983

the body (as a sound whole), used in a very wide application, literally or figuratively

τί21 of 22

“what”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

ἐνδύσησθε22 of 22

“ye shall put on”

G1746

to invest with clothing (literally or figuratively)

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 12:22 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 12:22 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Philippians 4:6Matthew 6:25-34Hebrews 13:51 Corinthians 7:32Luke 12:29

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