Luke 5:37 (KJV)

What does Luke 5:37 mean?

Luke 5:37 uses the image of new wine being put into old bottles to show that something new and growing cannot be forced into old, rigid containers without causing damage. The verse warns that if new wine is put into old bottles, the bottles will burst and both the wine and the bottles will be lost.

In this scene, Jesus is speaking to a group that includes the Pharisees and others questioning His practices. He uses this everyday example from winemaking to explain that His message and way of life are something new, which cannot simply be added to old traditions without causing problems. The verse highlights the need for new ways to receive and respond to what Jesus is bringing.

The Greek behind Luke 5:37

• οἶνος (oinos, G3631): This word means "wine." The "new wine" refers to wine that is still fermenting and expanding, which is important because it explains why it would burst old bottles.
• ἀσκοὺς (askous, G779): This is translated as "bottles," but it refers specifically to wineskins, not glass bottles. Old wineskins become brittle and cannot stretch, so they would break under the pressure of fermenting wine.
• καινὸν (kainon, G3501): This word means "new" in the sense of something fresh or recently made, not just new in time but new in quality. It emphasizes the freshness and active nature of what Jesus is describing.
• ῥήξει (rēxei, G4486): This verb means "will burst" or "break apart." It shows the destructive result of trying to combine the new with the old in the wrong way.

Why Luke 5:37 matters

• Luke 5:37 clears up the misunderstanding that Jesus' teachings could simply be added onto existing religious traditions without any change; He is saying that His message is fundamentally new and needs a new approach.
• The verse emphasizes the incompatibility between the old ways (represented by the old wineskins) and the new life and teaching Jesus brings.
• Luke 5:37 connects to the wider passage, where Jesus is questioned about fasting and other practices, and it helps explain why His followers behave differently from those who strictly follow older traditions.