Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 12:25
And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
25. to his stature ] Some would here render the word , ‘age’ (comp. Psa 39:5); but ‘stature’ is probably right.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 25. To his stature one cubit?] See Clarke on Mt 6:27.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
25, 26. which of you,&c.Corroding solicitude will not bring you the least of thethings ye fret about, though it may double the evil of wanting them.And if not the least, why vex yourselves about things of moreconsequence?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And which of you with taking thought,…. In an anxious and distressing manner, for food and raiment, in order to preserve and continue life,
add to his stature one cubit? The Persic version reads, “to his stature and height”, as if this referred to the height of stature; whereas it seems rather to regard the age of a man, and the continuance of his life; [See comments on Mt 6:27].
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
A cubit (). Mt 6:27 has (one cubit, though is sometimes merely the indefinite article.
Stature () as in Matthew, which see.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Stature [] . The original meaning of the word is time of life, age. So, commonly, in classical Greek. See, also, Joh 9:21, 23; Heb 11:11. The other meaning, stature, also occurs. Herodotus speaks of one who was of the same height [] with another (iii. 16). But both the usage and the connection are in favor of the meaning age. A measure of time is sometimes represented by a measure of length, as in Psa 39:5; but, most of all, the addition of a cubit (a foot and a half) to one’s stature would not be a small one, as the text implies (that which is least), but a very large one. Moreover, Christ is speaking of food and clothing, the object of which is to foster and prolong life. Rev., age, in margin.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And which of you with taking thought,” (tis de eks humon merimnon) “And then who among you all by being anxious,” an overanxious concern, as in Luk 12:22. This is similar to the words of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount, Mat 5:1 to Mat 7:29.
2) “Can add to his stature one cubit?” (dunatai epi ten helikian autou prostheinai pechun) “is able to add to his stature even a cubit?) or add 18 inches to his height? or 18 months to his life? None can do either, Mat 6:27.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
“And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to the measure of his life?”
The word used here may mean ‘to his measure of life’, for while ‘cubit’ may seem to suggest the length of an object, outside sources do in fact speak of a ‘cubit of time’; and we can compare with this Psa 39:5 where ‘a handbreadth’ is used to describe the length of days. Or the same word may mean ‘to his stature.’ The former would fit in with the last parable when death came suddenly (compare Psa 39:4-5). The idea is then that men cannot extend their lives by ‘even the smallest amount’. How wise then not to have spent their time in sowing and reaping and building barns when they cannot extend their lives even by a fraction (so also Luk 12:26). It also fits in with the thought that those who followed Him might be martyred, with the idea that the times are in His hands, so that trying to extend their lives is a waste of time. ‘Add — to his stature’ would tie in with the flowers growing in Luk 12:27, but we should note that the growing is not the important point there. The growing is incidental to the main point. And who in general would normally want to add eighteen inches to their height? (And besides it would hardly be called ‘the least’ in Luk 12:26). Thus we would favour the former.
Nowadays we might feel that we can extend our lives by wise eating. And all things being equal we should do so. But not to the extent that it gets in the way of our dedication to God.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
Ver. 25. See Mat 6:25-27
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
to. Greek. epi. App-104.
stature = age, as in Joh 9:21, Joh 9:23. Heb 11:11, referring to fullness of growth, hence rendered “stature” (Luk 19:3. Eph 4:13). A “cubit” could not be “the least” of Luk 12:26. It must therefore be putby Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject), App-6, for length generally: either the least measure (an inch) to his height, or a moment to his age (or life). Greek. helikia. Occurs elsewhere in Luk 2:52 and Mat 6:27.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Luk 12:25. , moreover which of you) In antithesis to God, who feeds the ravens, and all birds, and all animals, and men.-, stature) Some make the reference of this word be to length of life or age: but no one measures age by cubits.-, his own) If our own stature is not at our disposal, how much less are all the creatures, from which we derive our meat and drink!- , one cubit) The height of a man is equal to four of his own cubits [the , cubitum, is strictly the length from the point of the elbow to the end of middle finger]: a man cannot, however anxious (with all his anxieties), add even one such cubit, i.e. a fifth, to his height; whether he wish for it, or does not. A man is not likely to wish that a hand-breadth or a foot, much less a cubit, should be added to his height: but he who is unduly anxious as to his life (what he is to eat, drink, and put on), in reality, even though unconsciously, wishes for greater stature, wherewith he may expend more toil and make more gain.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
Luk 19:3, Mat 5:36, Mat 6:27
Reciprocal: Deu 28:8 – storehouses Mat 6:25 – Take
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
6
Undue anxiety will not add the slightest amount to one’s size, hence it is useless to be concerned to the extent of unreasonable worry about life.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Vers. 25-28. Which of you, with taking thought, can add to his stature one cubit? 26. If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? 27. Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 28. If then God so clothe the grass, which is to-day in the field, and to-morrow is cast into the oven; how much more you, O ye of little faith? Luk 12:25 expresses in a general way the idea of the inefficacy of human cares. , participle present: by means of disquieting oneself. might refer to age; we should then require to take , cubit, in a figurative sense (Psa 39:6). But the word seems to us to be connected with what is said about the growth of plants, which is sometimes so rapid; it is therefore more natural to give its ordinary sense of stature. , cubit, thus preserves its literal meaning. Plants which give themselves no care, yet make enormous increase, while ye by your anxieties do not in the least hasten your growth. Luk 12:25-26 correspond to Luk 12:23. Your anxieties will not procure for you an increase of stature; how much less advantages of higher value! The example which follows, taken from nature (Luk 12:27), corresponds with that of Luk 12:24. After reading the delicious piece of M. F. Bovet (Voyage en Terre-Sainte, p. 383), it is hard to give up the idea that by the lily of the fields we are to understand the beautiful red anemone (anemone coronaria) with which the meadows throughout all Palestine are enamelled. Yet Jesus may possibly mean either the magnificent white lily (lilium candidum), or the splendid red lily (lilium rubrum), which are found, though more rarely, in that country (Winer, Lexicon, ad h. v.).
From want of wood, ovens in the East are fed with herbs.
Fuente: Godet Commentary (Luke, John, Romans and 1 Corinthians)
Did Jesus have age or stature in mind when He made this comparison? The NASB translators have rendered the Greek pechys as "cubit" and helikia as "life’s span" interpreting Jesus’ statement as a metaphor describing age. The NIV translators translated pechys as "hour" and helikia as "life." Both translations present Jesus speaking about the lengthening of life, not stature. This is understandable in view of Luk 12:19-20. The rich fool could not extend his life. However pechys means "cubit." It is a measure of distance rather than time. Probably Jesus used it metaphorically to refer to the least possible length of increase (cf. Psa 39:5). The idea of wanting to increase one’s height by 18 inches is ludicrous if taken literally. Hardly anyone would want to do that, though most people would like to lengthen their lives a little.
Jesus’ point was that worry cannot prolong life any more than it can provide for life (Luk 12:24). Worry can really reduce one’s life span.