Luke 21:19
By your endurance you will gain your lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Luke 21:19
By your endurance you will gain your lives.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This verse isn't just about enduring hardship; it's about gaining or winning your very lives through that perseverance. The original Greek word often carries the sense of actively acquiring or securing something, suggesting that steadfastness in faith is how you ultimately claim the life God intends for you, even amidst trials.
Jesus has just predicted the dramatic destruction of the Temple, and his disciples are asking when this will happen and what signs will precede it. He warns them not to be deceived by false Christs and foretells wars and commotions. This verse emerges as Jesus instructs them on how to navigate the coming turmoil, emphasizing steadfastness amidst suffering rather than panic.
What does it truly mean to 'possess your souls'? The original language and context reveal a richer meaning than simple ownership.
Jesus isn't just talking about holding onto what you have. The Greek word translated as 'possess' here (and sometimes 'gain' or 'win') implies an active acquisition.
Think of it like this: you don't just 'possess' a victory; you win it through struggle and effort.
This understanding shifts the focus from a passive state of having to an active process of achieving.
In a world that often screams for immediate results, Jesus points to a different kind of strength – the power of patient perseverance.
The 'patience' Jesus speaks of isn't just quiet resignation. It's a steadfast, active perseverance through suffering and hardship.
This endurance means remaining faithful, holding onto truth, and trusting God's promises even when things are incredibly difficult. It's a courageous fortitude in the face of adversity.
It’s about maintaining self-control and inner peace, refusing to be overwhelmed by circumstances. This active stability is what allows us to truly 'gain' our lives.
Understand the original words
hupomone · Greek Noun
The steadfastness, patience, or perseverance under trial; a godly quality of remaining firm in faith despite external pressures or suffering.
psuche · Greek Noun
The inner life, breath, or soul; in this context, it refers to the person's true, eternal existence that is secure in God.
Jesus' words in Luke 21:19, 'By your endurance you will gain your lives,' are a profound encouragement to his followers facing the imminent destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. The original Greek and early readings suggest the promise wasn't about 'possessing' souls but 'acquiring' or 'preserving' them. This highlights that true safety and life are found not in resisting suffering with force, but in steadfast perseverance through trials, trusting God's ultimate plan even amidst devastating loss.
c. 30-33 AD— this verse
Jesus Predicts Jerusalem's Fall
Jesus weeps over Jerusalem and predicts its complete destruction, foretelling a time of unprecedented distress and desolation for the city and its people.
c. 40-60 AD
Growing Tensions in Judea
The Roman province of Judea experiences increasing social and political unrest, fueled by heavy taxation, religious sensitivities, and various Jewish factions seeking liberation from Roman rule.
c. 60-66 AD
Escalating Rebellion
Zealous factions, known as Sicarii, engage in acts of terrorism and resistance against Roman authorities and perceived Jewish collaborators, further destabilizing the region.
66 AD
Jewish Revolt Begins
This passage directly parallels Luke 21:19, stating 'But the one who stands firm to the end will be saved,' highlighting the same theme of salvation through perseverance.
Romans 5:3-4It explains that suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance, character; and character, hope, showing the valuable outcomes that arise from enduring difficulties, just as Luke's verse suggests.
James 1:4This verse emphasizes that 'let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything,' echoing the idea that patient endurance leads to wholeness and fulfillment.
Hebrews 10:36It encourages believers by saying, 'You need to persevere so that when you have done God's will, you will receive what he has promised,' linking enduring faith directly to receiving God's promises.
Revelation 13:10This verse speaks to the context of persecution, stating 'If anyone is to go into captivity, into captivity they will go. If anyone is to be killed with the sword, with the sword they will be killed,' but the following verse connects this to the 'patient endurance and faithfulness of God’s people,' underscoring the spiritual victory found in faithfulness amidst hardship.
pooleLuke 21:19: "In your patience possess ye your souls."
Patience is either passive, seen in a quiet, free, and courageous suffering those evils which God will please in his providence to order us for our portion; or active, seen in a quiet believing, waiting for, and expectation of what God hath promised. Possess your souls, that is, yourselves; do not decline suffering for my name’s sake, but live in the exercise of Christian courage and fortitude until the Lord will please to release you. In th…
vincentLuke 21:19: "In your patience possess ye your souls."
Possess ye (κτήσεσθε)Wrong. See on Luke 18:12. Rev. rightly, ye shall win.
This verse isn't just about enduring hardship; it's about gaining or winning your very lives through that perseverance. The original Greek word often carries the sense of actively acquiring or securing something, suggesting that steadfastness in faith is how you ultimately claim the life God intends for you, even amidst trials.
Jesus has just predicted the dramatic destruction of the Temple, and his disciples are asking when this will happen and what signs will precede it. He warns them not to be deceived by false Christs and foretells wars and commotions. This verse emerges as Jesus instructs them on how to navigate the coming turmoil, emphasizing steadfastness amidst suffering rather than panic.
Jesus has just predicted the dramatic destruction of the Temple, and his disciples are asking when this will happen and what signs will precede it. He warns them not to be deceived by false Christs and foretells wars and commotions. This verse emerges as Jesus instructs them on how to navigate the coming turmoil, emphasizing steadfastness amidst suffering rather than panic.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 21:19 is available in the Sola app.
The First Jewish-Roman War erupts as Jewish rebels successfully drive out the Roman garrison from Jerusalem, marking the start of a full-scale rebellion.
67-70 AD
Roman Campaigns and Sieges
Roman legions under Vespasian and later Titus launch brutal campaigns across Judea, conquering towns and cities, culminating in the siege of Jerusalem.
70 AD
Destruction of Jerusalem
The Roman army under Titus breaches Jerusalem's walls, leading to widespread destruction, the burning of the Second Temple, and the death or enslavement of a vast number of its inhabitants.
"By your endurance you will gain your lives." — This verse isn't just about enduring hardship; it's about gaining or winning your very lives through that perseverance. The original Greek word often carries the sense of actively acquiring or se…