King James Version

What Does Luke 4:7 Mean?

Luke 4:7 in the King James Version says “If thou therefore wilt worship me , all shall be thine. worship me: or, fall down before me” — study this verse from Luke chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“If thou therefore wilt worship me , all shall be thine. worship me: or, fall down before me”

Luke 4:7 · KJV

Context

5

And the devil, taking him up into an high mountain, shewed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.

6

And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory of them: for that is delivered unto me; and to whomsoever I will I give it.

7

If thou therefore wilt worship me , all shall be thine. worship me: or, fall down before me

8

And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

9

And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple, and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be thine. Satan's second temptation distills to its essence: proskyneō moi (προσκυνέω μοι, worship me). The verb proskyneō (προσκυνέω) means to bow down in reverence, pay homage, or worship—the exclusive prerogative of deity alone. Satan demands what belongs only to God, revealing his fundamental rebellion: the desire to usurp divine worship (Isaiah 14:13-14). The condition 'if thou therefore wilt' (ean oun sy proskynesēs, ἐὰν οὖν σὺ προσκυνήσῃς) makes the offer conditional on a single act of worship.

This temptation presents a Satanic shortcut to messianic dominion without the cross. All shall be thine (estai sou pasa, ἔσται σοῦ πᾶσα) promises immediate universal authority—what Psalm 2:8 and Daniel 7:13-14 already guarantee Christ will receive through suffering and resurrection. The essence of every false religion appears here: worshiping created things rather than the Creator (Romans 1:25). Satan offers Jesus His rightful inheritance through compromise, bypassing the Father's redemptive plan requiring substitutionary atonement.

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Historical & Cultural Context

First-century Jewish messianic expectations centered on political liberation from Rome and establishment of a Davidic kingdom. The Zealot movement advocated armed rebellion against Roman occupation. Satan's offer of immediate kingdoms without the 'scandal' of a crucified Messiah (1 Corinthians 1:23) would have seemed pragmatically attractive from a worldly perspective. Yet Jesus understood His mission required the cross—only through His death could redemption be accomplished and true dominion over sin, death, and Satan be secured. This temptation would recur when crowds sought to make Jesus king by force (John 6:15) and when Peter rebuked Jesus for predicting His death (Matthew 16:22-23).

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Satan's demand for worship reveal the ultimate goal behind all his temptations and schemes?
  2. In what ways are Christians tempted to pursue godly ends (influence, prosperity, success) through ungodly means (compromise, shortcuts, worldly methods)?
  3. Why was it necessary for Christ to obtain His kingdom through the cross rather than accepting Satan's offer of immediate dominion?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 9 words
σὺ1 of 9

“thou”

G4771

thou

οὖν2 of 9

“therefore”

G3767

(adverbially) certainly, or (conjunctionally) accordingly

ἐὰν3 of 9

“If”

G1437

a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.; often used in connection with other particles to denote indefiniteness or uncertainty

προσκυνήσῃς4 of 9

“wilt worship”

G4352

to fawn or crouch to, i.e., (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore)

ἐνώπιον5 of 9

“me”

G1799

in the face of (literally or figuratively)

μοῦ,6 of 9
G3450

of me

ἔσται7 of 9

“shall be”

G2071

will be

σοῦ8 of 9

“thine”

G4675

of thee, thy

πάντα9 of 9

“all”

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

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 4:7 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 4:7 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Luke 8:28Revelation 5:8Isaiah 45:14Matthew 2:11Luke 17:16Revelation 22:8

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