Luke 11:9 — King James Version← Study notes

“And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”

Luke 11:9 — Greek Interlinear

Greek · Luke 11:914 words

GreekMeaning

ΚἀγὼKagō

And I myselfpronounG2504

ὑμῖνhymin

to youpronounG4771

λέγωlegō

sayverbG3004

αἰτεῖτεaiteite

do askverbG154

καὶkai

andwordG2532

δοθήσεταιdothēsetai

it will be givenverbG1325

ὑμῖνhymin

to youpronounG4771

ζητεῖτεzēteite

do seekverbG2212

καὶkai

andwordG2532

εὑρήσετεheurēsete

you will findverbG2147

κρούετεkrouete

do knockverbG2925

καὶkai

andwordG2532

ἀνοιγήσεταιanoigēsetai

it will be openedverbG455

ὑμῖνhymin

to youpronounG4771

ℹGreek text from the SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT). Transliteration follows SBL Academic conventions.

Church Fathers on Luke 11:9

Having laid aside the metaphor, our Lord added an exhortation, and expressly urged us to ask, seek, and knock, until we receive what we are seeking. Hence he says, And I say to you, Ask, and: it shall be given you.
Augustine · 4th century

The words, I say to you, have the force of an oath. For God does not lie, but whenever He makes known any thing to His hearers with an oath, he manifests the inexcusable littleness of our faith.
Cyril of Alexandria · 5th century

Now by asking, He means prayer, but by seeking, zeal and anxiety, as He adds, Seek, and you shall find. For those things which are sought require great care. And this is particularly the case with God. For there are many things which block up our senses. As then we search for lost gold, so let us anxiously seek after God. He shows also, that though He does not forthwith open the gates, we must yet wait. Hence he adds, Knock, and it shall be opened to you; for if you continue…
Chrysostom · 4th century

Read all 17 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain

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Carlos RiveraNote3mo ago

Ask, Seek, Knock

So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. Luke follows this with images of a father giving good gifts to children, of a friend...