Luke 11:52
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.
Original Language Analysis
τοῖς
G3588
τοῖς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
νομικοῖς
lawyers
G3544
νομικοῖς
lawyers
Strong's:
G3544
Word #:
4 of 17
according (or pertaining) to law, i.e., legal (ceremonially); as noun, an expert in the (mosaic) law
ὅτι
! for
G3754
ὅτι
! for
Strong's:
G3754
Word #:
5 of 17
demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because
ἤρατε
ye have taken away
G142
ἤρατε
ye have taken away
Strong's:
G142
Word #:
6 of 17
to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh
τὴν
G3588
τὴν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
7 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κλεῖδα
the key
G2807
κλεῖδα
the key
Strong's:
G2807
Word #:
8 of 17
a key (as shutting a lock), literally or figuratively
τῆς
G3588
τῆς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
9 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γνώσεως·
of knowledge
G1108
γνώσεως·
of knowledge
Strong's:
G1108
Word #:
10 of 17
knowing (the act), i.e., (by implication) knowledge
αὐτοὶ
yourselves
G846
αὐτοὶ
yourselves
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
11 of 17
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
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 17
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τοὺς
G3588
τοὺς
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
15 of 17
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Matthew 23:13But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.Malachi 2:7For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts.Acts 5:40And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
Historical Context
The lawyers' role was biblical interpretation and teaching—they held 'the key' to understanding Scripture. Yet their interpretive framework (Pharisaic tradition, scribal glosses, oral law) obscured rather than illuminated biblical meaning. They approached Scripture seeking validation for their system rather than submission to God's revelation, becoming gatekeepers preventing access to truth.
Questions for Reflection
- How might wrong interpretive frameworks ('keys') unlock wrong meanings and lock people out of genuine biblical understanding?
- In what ways do Christian traditions sometimes obscure rather than illuminate Scripture's testimony to Christ?
- What is your responsibility as a Bible reader to ensure you're not hindering others' access to scriptural knowledge and salvation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered (ὅτι ἤρατε τὴν κλεῖδα τῆς γνώσεως· αὐτοὶ οὐκ εἰσήλθατε καὶ τοὺς εἰσερχομένους ἐκωλύσατε)—the sixth woe condemns removing the kleida tēs gnōseōs (key of knowledge). The 'key' represents correct biblical interpretation that unlocks salvific knowledge. The lawyers' distorted hermeneutic both prevented their own entry and ekōlusate (hindered, prevented) others eiserchomai (entering) God's kingdom.
They possessed Scripture yet missed its message—the Law and Prophets testified to Christ (Luke 24:44), but their interpretive tradition obscured this testimony. They 'searched the scriptures' yet refused to 'come to Christ' for life (John 5:39-40). This represents ultimate intellectual bankruptcy: custodians of God's Word who use it to prevent salvation. Their traditions made God's Word 'of none effect' (Mark 7:13).