Luke 12:46
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.
Original Language Analysis
ἥξει
will come
G2240
ἥξει
will come
Strong's:
G2240
Word #:
1 of 28
to arrive, i.e., be present (literally or figuratively)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
2 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
κύριος
The lord
G2962
κύριος
The lord
Strong's:
G2962
Word #:
3 of 28
supreme in authority, i.e., (as noun) controller; by implication, master (as a respectful title)
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
4 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
δούλου
servant
G1401
δούλου
servant
Strong's:
G1401
Word #:
5 of 28
a slave (literal or figurative, involuntary or voluntary; frequently, therefore in a qualified sense of subjection or subserviency)
ἐκείνου
of that
G1565
ἐκείνου
of that
Strong's:
G1565
Word #:
6 of 28
that one (or (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed
ἡμέρᾳ
a day
G2250
ἡμέρᾳ
a day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
8 of 28
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
ᾗ
when
G3739
ᾗ
when
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
9 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
προσδοκᾷ
for
G4328
προσδοκᾷ
for
Strong's:
G4328
Word #:
11 of 28
to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
12 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ᾗ
when
G3739
ᾗ
when
Strong's:
G3739
Word #:
15 of 28
the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that
γινώσκει
aware
G1097
γινώσκει
aware
Strong's:
G1097
Word #:
17 of 28
to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed)
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
18 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
διχοτομήσει
in sunder
G1371
διχοτομήσει
in sunder
Strong's:
G1371
Word #:
19 of 28
to bisect, i.e., (by extension) to flog severely
αὐτοῦ
him
G846
αὐτοῦ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
20 of 28
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 #:
21 of 28
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὸ
G3588
τὸ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
22 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μέρος
portion
G3313
μέρος
portion
Strong's:
G3313
Word #:
23 of 28
a division or share (literally or figuratively, in a wide application)
αὐτοῦ
him
G846
αὐτοῦ
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
24 of 28
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
μετὰ
with
G3326
μετὰ
with
Strong's:
G3326
Word #:
25 of 28
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τῶν
G3588
τῶν
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
26 of 28
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Cross References
Luke 12:40Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.Revelation 16:15Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.Psalms 94:14For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.Psalms 11:5The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth.Psalms 37:9For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth.Job 20:29This is the portion of a wicked man from God, and the heritage appointed unto him by God.Matthew 24:51And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Historical Context
This severe language reflects both literal ancient punishments (bisection was practiced in some ancient cultures) and metaphorical description of final judgment's horror. Jesus consistently warned that profession without transformation, position without faithfulness, and knowledge without obedience lead to condemnation (Matthew 7:21-23, 25:30). The early church recognized that apostasy from the faith proves one was never truly regenerated (1 John 2:19). Judas Iscariot exemplified this—close proximity to Jesus, entrusted with position, yet ultimately revealed as unregenerate and condemned.
Questions for Reflection
- What does the unfaithful servant's unexpected judgment teach about the danger of presuming upon God's patience?
- How does being assigned a portion with unbelievers demonstrate that outward position doesn't guarantee salvation?
- In what ways does this warning challenge nominal Christianity and religious profession without genuine transformation?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
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 (ἥξει ὁ κύριος τοῦ δούλου ἐκείνου ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷ καὶ ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει, hēxei ho kyrios tou doulou ekeinou en hēmera hē ou prosdoka kai en hōra hē ou ginōskei)—The future tense hēxei (ἥξει, will come) assures the master's certain return despite the servant's presumption of delay. The temporal clauses emphasize unexpectedness: en hēmera hē ou prosdoka (ἐν ἡμέρᾳ ᾗ οὐ προσδοκᾷ, in a day when he expects not) and en hōra hē ou ginōskei (ἐν ὥρᾳ ᾗ οὐ γινώσκει, at an hour when he knows not). The unfaithful servant's ignorance isn't innocent—he willfully abandoned watchfulness.
And will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers (καὶ διχοτομήσει αὐτὸν καὶ τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων θήσει, kai dichotomēsei auton kai to meros autou meta tōn apistōn thēsei)—The punishment is severe. The verb dichotomeō (διχοτομέω) literally means to cut in two, bisect—capital punishment by cutting apart (used literally or figuratively for severe judgment). The phrase to meros autou meta tōn apistōn (τὸ μέρος αὐτοῦ μετὰ τῶν ἀπίστων, his portion with the unbelievers) assigns the unfaithful servant to the same destiny as apistoi (ἄπιστοι, unbelievers, unfaithful ones). Despite outward profession and position, the evil servant's actions reveal unregenerate heart, resulting in eternal judgment alongside unbelievers.