Luke 12:38

38 Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find [them] like this, blessed are they!

Luke 12:38 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 12:38

And if he shall come in the second watch
Of the night, that is, after nine o'clock, or any time between nine or twelve; for the second watch was from nine o'clock till twelve; and this was coming early from an entertainment, or a wedding, which were commonly kept in the night, and late;

or come in the third watch,
or after twelve o'clock, or any time between twelve and three; for the third watch was from twelve o'clock to three, which was late; (See Gill on Matthew 14:25) The Persic version reads, "in the second, or third part of the night"; and the Ethiopic version, "in the second or third hour of the night";

and find them so.
The Arabic version adds, "doing"; as above described, with their loins girt, lights burning, and they watching for their Lord's coming:

blessed are those servants;
since they shall be used and treated as before related.

Luke 12:38 In-Context

36 And you, [be] like people who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that [when he] comes back and knocks, they can open [the door] for him immediately.

37 Blessed [are] those slaves whom the master will find on the alert [when he] returns! Truly I say to you that he will dress himself for service and have them recline at the table and will come by [and] serve them.

38 Even if he should come back in the second or in the third watch of the night and find [them] like this, blessed are they!

39 But understand this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into.

40 You also must be ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not think [he will come]."

Footnotes

• [a]. *Here the direct object is supplied from context in the English translation