Luke 12:48

46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers.

47 And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.

But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

49 I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled?

50 But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished!

Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.
KJV
But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
WEB
but he who didn’t know, and did things worthy of stripes, will be beaten with few stripes. To whomever much is given, of him will much be required; and to whom much was entrusted, of him more will be asked.
ASV
but he that knew not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few [stripes]. And to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom they commit much, of him will they ask the more.
DARBY
but he who knew [it] not, and did things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few. And to every one to whom much has been given, much shall be required from him; and to whom [men] have committed much, they will ask from him the more.
BLB
But the one not having known but having done [things] worthy of stripes will be beaten with few. And of everyone to whom much was given, much will be required; and from him to whom much was committed, more will they ask of him.
ÅB
men den som ikke kjente den, men gjorde det som er slag verd, han skal få færre. Hver den som meget er gitt, av ham skal meget kreves, og den som meget er overgitt, av ham skal dess mere fordres.
OTB
Men den som ikke vet og gjør ting som fortjener straff, vil bli slått med få slag. Fra alle som har fått mye, vil mye bli krevd; og fra den som har fått mye betrodd, vil enda mer bli bedt om.
B1930
men den som ikke kjente den, men gjorde det som er slag verd, han skal få færre. Hver den som meget er gitt, av ham skal meget kreves, og den som meget er overgitt, av ham skal dess mere fordres.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • James 3:1

    My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

    Read in context
  • Leviticus 5:17

    And if a soul sin, and commit any of these things which are forbidden to be done by the commandments of the LORD; though he wist it not, yet is he guilty, and shall bear his iniquity.

    Read in context
  • Luke 16:10–12

    He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 25:14–29

    For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 13:12

    For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

    Read in context
  • John 15:22

    If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

    Read in context
  • 1 Timothy 1:13

    Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

    Read in context
  • Romans 2:12–16

    For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

    Read in context