Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

LUKE 6:30KJV
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Luke 6:30 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:30 mean?

In Luke 6:30, Jesus tells his listeners to respond generously when people ask them for help or take their possessions. His words place the focus on giving, even when the other person’s actions leave the giver with less.

Jesus is speaking to his disciples, with a larger crowd listening. After describing someone taking a person’s cloak, Jesus speaks more broadly about requests and possessions. The second half of the verse pictures someone taking what belongs to another person, who then does not demand its return.

The Greek behind Luke 6:30

  • “every man” — πᾶς (pas): This word carries the sense of “every” or “everyone.” The Greek emphasizes the breadth of the request rather than identifying a particular kind of person.
  • “ask them not again” — ἀπαιτέω (apaiteō): This word can mean to demand something back. The phrase concerns a demand for the return of goods that have been taken.

Why Luke 6:30 matters

  • The verse places giving alongside Jesus’ words about enemies. Earlier, Jesus says, “Love your enemies” and “do good to them which hate you” (Luke 6:27). His instruction about possessions belongs within that wider teaching.
  • The verse includes both a request and a taking. “Asketh of thee” describes someone asking, while “taketh away thy goods” describes someone taking without waiting for a gift.
  • The nearby words about lending put the verse’s generosity in a wider setting. Jesus speaks of doing good and lending while “hoping for nothing again” (Luke 6:35).

Where else these words appear

“ask” Greek G523 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 12:20 But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?

“goods” Greek G4674 · used in 24 verses

  • Matthew 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
  • Mark 5:19 Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.
  • John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

“asketh” Greek G154 · used in 68 verses

  • Matthew 5:42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.
  • Mark 15:8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
  • Acts 3:2 And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;

“away” Greek G142 · used in 98 verses

  • Matthew 4:6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
  • Mark 8:20 And when the seven among four thousand, how many baskets full of fragments took ye up? And they said, Seven.
  • John 5:10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.