Luke 12:5

Authorized King James Version

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But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.

Original Language Analysis

ὑποδείξω I will forewarn G5263
ὑποδείξω I will forewarn
Strong's: G5263
Word #: 1 of 21
to exhibit under the eyes, i.e., (figuratively) to exemplify (instruct, admonish)
δὲ But G1161
δὲ But
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 2 of 21
but, and, etc
ὑμῖν unto you G5213
ὑμῖν unto you
Strong's: G5213
Word #: 3 of 21
to (with or by) you
τίνα whom G5101
τίνα whom
Strong's: G5101
Word #: 4 of 21
an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)
φοβήθητε Fear G5399
φοβήθητε Fear
Strong's: G5399
Word #: 5 of 21
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
φοβήθητε Fear G5399
φοβήθητε Fear
Strong's: G5399
Word #: 6 of 21
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 7 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μετὰ him which after G3326
μετὰ him which after
Strong's: G3326
Word #: 8 of 21
properly, denoting accompaniment; "amid" (local or causal); modified variously according to the case (genitive association, or accusative succession)
τὸ G3588
τὸ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀποκτεῖναι he hath killed G615
ἀποκτεῖναι he hath killed
Strong's: G615
Word #: 10 of 21
to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy
ἐξουσίαν power G1849
ἐξουσίαν power
Strong's: G1849
Word #: 11 of 21
privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o
ἔχοντα hath G2192
ἔχοντα hath
Strong's: G2192
Word #: 12 of 21
to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio
ἐμβαλεῖν to cast G1685
ἐμβαλεῖν to cast
Strong's: G1685
Word #: 13 of 21
to throw on, i.e., (figuratively) subject to (eternal punishment)
εἰς into G1519
εἰς into
Strong's: G1519
Word #: 14 of 21
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 15 of 21
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γέενναν hell G1067
γέενναν hell
Strong's: G1067
Word #: 16 of 21
valley of (the son of) hinnom; ge-henna (or ge-hinnom), a valley of jerusalem, used (figuratively) as a name for the place (or state) of everlasting p
ναί yea G3483
ναί yea
Strong's: G3483
Word #: 17 of 21
yes
λέγω I say G3004
λέγω I say
Strong's: G3004
Word #: 18 of 21
properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an
ὑμῖν unto you G5213
ὑμῖν unto you
Strong's: G5213
Word #: 19 of 21
to (with or by) you
τοῦτον him G5126
τοῦτον him
Strong's: G5126
Word #: 20 of 21
this (person, as objective of verb or preposition)
φοβήθητε Fear G5399
φοβήθητε Fear
Strong's: G5399
Word #: 21 of 21
to frighten, i.e., (passively) to be alarmed; by analogy, to be in awe of, i.e., revere

Analysis & Commentary

But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell—Having minimized fear of man, Jesus maximizes fear of God. The verb hypodeixō (ὑποδείξω, I will forewarn/show) indicates solemn warning. The one to fear is He who after killing has power to cast into hell (μετὰ τὸ ἀποκτεῖναι ἔχοντα ἐξουσίαν ἐμβαλεῖν εἰς τὴν γέενναν). The word geenna (γέεννα, Gehenna) derives from the Valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem where child sacrifices occurred (2 Kings 23:10) and later became the city's garbage dump with continuously burning fires—Jesus' consistent metaphor for eternal judgment.

The emphatic repetition—yea, I say unto you, Fear him—underscores urgency. The fear commanded here is not terror that drives away but reverence that draws near, not servile dread but filial awe. Yet it remains genuine fear—recognition of God's absolute power over eternal destiny. Human authorities control temporary physical existence; God controls eternal spiritual existence. The one who can destroy both body and soul in hell (Matthew 10:28) deserves infinitely greater fear than those who can merely kill the body. This is the calculus that makes martyrdom rational: better to fear God and suffer temporary human harm than fear man and suffer eternal divine judgment.

Historical Context

Gehenna's imagery was vivid to Jesus' Jewish audience. The Valley of Hinnom (Ge-Hinnom in Hebrew) was Jerusalem's garbage dump where fires burned continually, consuming refuse and corpses. Its association with pagan child sacrifice to Molech made it a symbol of divine judgment. Jesus used Gehenna repeatedly to describe hell's finality and horror (Matthew 5:22, 29-30; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43-47). First-century Jews understood this fear of God—Proverbs 1:7 declares "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge." The early church maintained this healthy fear of God (Acts 5:5, 11; 9:31; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11), which grounded their boldness before human authorities. When God is feared rightly, all lesser fears fade.

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