King James Version

What Does Luke 16:3 Mean?

Luke 16:3 in the King James Version says “Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to...” — study this verse from Luke chapter 16 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.”

Luke 16:3 · KJV

Context

1

And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods.

2

And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.

3

Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.

4

I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.

5

So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?

Read Luke 16 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. The steward's internal deliberation reveals his desperate situation. The phrase "within himself" (ἐν ἑαυτῷ, en heautō) indicates this is private calculation, not conversation—he's weighing options without counsel. His question "What shall I do?" (τί ποιήσω, ti poiēsō) expresses urgency; he must act immediately while he still has authority. The aorist participle "taketh away" (ἀφαιρεῖται, aphaireitai) confirms the decision is final—there's no appealing or reversing the termination.

His self-assessment—"I cannot dig" (σκάπτειν οὐκ ἰσχύω, skaptein ouk ischyō, "I lack strength to dig") and "to beg I am ashamed" (ἐπαιτεῖν αἰσχύνομαι, epaitein aischynomai)—reveals both physical limitation and social pride. Manual labor is beyond his capacity (perhaps due to age, soft living, or lack of training), and begging would destroy his social status. This crisis forces creativity: if he cannot work with his hands or depend on charity, he must use his wits. His predicament illustrates the human condition: we face certain judgment, lack resources to save ourselves, and must urgently use whatever means God has given to secure our eternal future. The steward's shrewdness lies in recognizing his crisis and acting decisively—a pattern Jesus commends for believers facing eschatological urgency.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

In first-century Palestinian society, estate managers occupied a middle social position—above manual laborers but dependent on their employer's favor. Losing such a position meant social descent into manual labor (shameful for educated managers) or begging (utterly degrading). The steward's predicament reflects ancient economic vulnerability—no unemployment benefits, retirement plans, or social services. His reference to digging (σκάπτειν, hard agricultural labor) and begging (ἐπαιτεῖν, dependence on charity) represents the binary of desperate options. His scheme to secure future hospitality by reducing debtors' obligations exploits his final moments of authority.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the steward's urgent calculation in the face of certain judgment mirror the urgency believers should feel about eternal realities?
  2. What 'resources' has God entrusted to you that could be strategically invested for eternal rather than temporal outcomes?
  3. How does pride (the steward's shame at begging) sometimes prevent people from seeking help or acknowledging their true spiritual condition?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 22 words
εἶπεν1 of 22

“said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

δὲ2 of 22

“Then”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐν3 of 22

“within”

G1722

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

ἑαυτῷ4 of 22

“himself”

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

ὁ5 of 22
G3588

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

οἰκονόμος6 of 22

“the steward”

G3623

a house-distributor (i.e., manager), or overseer, i.e., an employee in that capacity; by extension, a fiscal agent (treasurer); figuratively, a preach

Τί7 of 22

“What”

G5101

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

ποιήσω8 of 22

“shall I do”

G4160

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

ὅτι9 of 22

“for”

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ὁ10 of 22
G3588

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

κύριός11 of 22

“lord”

G2962

supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)

μου12 of 22

“my”

G3450

of me

ἀφαιρεῖται13 of 22

“taketh away”

G851

to remove (literally or figuratively)

τὴν14 of 22
G3588

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

οἰκονομίαν15 of 22

“the stewardship”

G3622

administration (of a household or estate); specially, a (religious) "economy"

ἀπ'16 of 22

“from”

G575

"off," i.e., away (from something near), in various senses (of place, time, or relation; literal or figurative)

ἐμοῦ17 of 22

“me”

G1700

of me

σκάπτειν18 of 22

“dig”

G4626

to dig

οὐκ19 of 22

“I cannot”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἰσχύω20 of 22
G2480

to have (or exercise) force (literally or figuratively)

ἐπαιτεῖν21 of 22

“to beg”

G1871

to ask for

αἰσχύνομαι22 of 22

“I am ashamed”

G153

to feel shame (for oneself)

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 16:3 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 16:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Proverbs 26:13-16Isaiah 10:3Proverbs 13:4Luke 16:22Esther 6:6Proverbs 21:25-26

Test Your Knowledge

Luke 16 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapterLuke Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

Continue Your Study

Read Luke 16 with CommentaryAll Luke ChaptersComplete Luke QuizBible CharactersNave's Topical BibleAll Bible Quizzes