Luke 14:26

Authorized King James Version

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If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.

Original Language Analysis

Εἴ G1487
Εἴ
Strong's: G1487
Word #: 1 of 37
if, whether, that, etc
τις G5100
τις
Strong's: G5100
Word #: 2 of 37
some or any person or object
ἔρχεται man come G2064
ἔρχεται man come
Strong's: G2064
Word #: 3 of 37
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
πρός to G4314
πρός to
Strong's: G4314
Word #: 4 of 37
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
με me G3165
με me
Strong's: G3165
Word #: 5 of 37
me
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 6 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οὐ he cannot G3756
οὐ he cannot
Strong's: G3756
Word #: 7 of 37
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
μισεῖ hate G3404
μισεῖ hate
Strong's: G3404
Word #: 8 of 37
to detest (especially to persecute); by extension, to love less
τὸν G3588
τὸν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 9 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
πατέρα father G3962
πατέρα father
Strong's: G3962
Word #: 10 of 37
a "father" (literally or figuratively, near or more remote)
ἑαυτοῦ his G1438
ἑαυτοῦ his
Strong's: G1438
Word #: 11 of 37
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 12 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 13 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μητέρα mother G3384
μητέρα mother
Strong's: G3384
Word #: 14 of 37
a "mother" (literally or figuratively, immediate or remote)
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 15 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 16 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
γυναῖκα wife G1135
γυναῖκα wife
Strong's: G1135
Word #: 17 of 37
a woman; specially, a wife
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 18 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὰ G3588
τὰ
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 19 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
τέκνα children G5043
τέκνα children
Strong's: G5043
Word #: 20 of 37
a child (as produced)
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 21 of 37
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 #: 22 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀδελφοὺς brethren G80
ἀδελφοὺς brethren
Strong's: G80
Word #: 23 of 37
a brother (literally or figuratively) near or remote (much like g0001)
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 24 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὰς G3588
τὰς
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 25 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἀδελφάς sisters G79
ἀδελφάς sisters
Strong's: G79
Word #: 26 of 37
a sister (naturally or ecclesiastically)
ἔτι yea G2089
ἔτι yea
Strong's: G2089
Word #: 27 of 37
"yet," still (of time or degree)
δέ and G1161
δέ and
Strong's: G1161
Word #: 28 of 37
but, and, etc
καὶ also G2532
καὶ also
Strong's: G2532
Word #: 29 of 37
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
τὴν G3588
τὴν
Strong's: G3588
Word #: 30 of 37
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ἑαυτοῦ his G1438
ἑαυτοῦ his
Strong's: G1438
Word #: 31 of 37
(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc
ψυχὴν life G5590
ψυχὴν life
Strong's: G5590
Word #: 32 of 37
breath, i.e., (by implication) spirit, abstractly or concretely (the animal sentient principle only; thus distinguished on the one hand from g4151, wh
οὐ he cannot G3756
οὐ he cannot
Strong's: G3756
Word #: 33 of 37
the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not
δύναται G1410
δύναται
Strong's: G1410
Word #: 34 of 37
to be able or possible
μου my G3450
μου my
Strong's: G3450
Word #: 35 of 37
of me
μαθητής disciple G3101
μαθητής disciple
Strong's: G3101
Word #: 36 of 37
a learner, i.e., pupil
εἶναί be G1511
εἶναί be
Strong's: G1511
Word #: 37 of 37
to exist

Analysis & Commentary

Jesus states discipleship's cost: 'If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.' The term 'hate' (μισεῖ, misei) is Semitic hyperbole for radical prioritization—Jesus must come before all human relationships, even the most intimate and sacred. The list encompasses all family relationships: parents, spouse, children, siblings. The phrase 'yea, and his own life also' (ἔτι τε καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἑαυτοῦ, eti te kai tēn psychēn heautou) means even self-preservation must yield to Christ's lordship. The conclusion 'he cannot be my disciple' (οὐ δύναται εἶναί μου μαθητής, ou dynatai einai mou mathētēs) is absolute—partial commitment is impossible. Discipleship requires total allegiance.

Historical Context

This teaching radically challenged first-century values. Family loyalty was paramount in ancient Mediterranean culture—dishonoring parents or abandoning family was unthinkable. Jesus doesn't counsel literal hatred (which would contradict the fifth commandment) but demands that when allegiances conflict, Christ must prevail. Early Christians faced precisely this—following Jesus often meant family rejection, disinheritance, even persecution by relatives (Matthew 10:34-37, Luke 12:51-53, 21:16). This cost persists globally—converts from other religions frequently lose family, home, and social standing. The teaching confronts comfortable Western Christianity that domesticates discipleship.

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