Luke 11:5-12

Listen to Luke 11:5-12
5 And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves,
6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’;
7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’?
8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything 1because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence[a] he will rise and give him whatever he needs.
9 And I tell you, 2ask, and 3it will be given to you; 4seek, and you will find; 5knock, and it will be opened to you.
10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
11 What father among you, if his son asks for[b] a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent;
12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

Cross References 5

  • 1. 11:8 [ch. 18:1-6]
  • 2. 11:9 For ver. 9-13, see Matt. 7:7-11
  • 3. 11:9 Matt. 18:19; 21:22; Mark 11:24; John 14:13; 15:7, 16; 16:23, 24; James 1:5, 6, 17; 1 John 3:22; 5:14, 15
  • 4. 11:9 1 Chr. 28:9; 2 Chr. 15:2; Prov. 8:17; Jer. 29:13; [Isa. 55:6]
  • 5. 11:9 [Rev. 3:20]

Footnotes 2

  • [a] 11:8 Or 'persistence'
  • [b] 11:11 Some manuscripts insert 'bread, will give him a stone; or if he asks for'
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®) © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2025