Luke 12:23

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Luke 12:23 in Other Translations

23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

23 For life is more than food, and your body more than clothing.

23 There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.

23 For the life is more than the food, and the body than the raiment.

23 Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes.

23 For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.

23 There is more to life than eating. There are more important things for the body than clothes.

Luke 12:23 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 12:23

The life is more than meat
What in Matthew is put by way of question, is here strongly affirmed; and these words contain a reason or argument to dissuade from an anxious, distressing thought and care about the necessaries, conveniencies, and comforts of life: and all the Oriental versions read, "for", or "seeing the life is more than meat"; that is, it is more excellent and valuable in its own nature, being that for the support of which meat is provided; and seeing God is the author and giver of life, it need not be doubted but he will give meat for the maintenance and continuance of it, so long as is his pleasure it should subsist.

And the body is more than raiment;
it is of more worth than the richest clothing that can be had; the finest piece of embroidery is not comparable to the curious workmanship of the body, ( Psalms 139:15 ) and he that has so curiously wrought that, will not fail to provide suitable and proper clothing for it; and therefore there ought to be no anxiety on this account; (See Gill on Matthew 6:5).

Luke 12:23 In-Context

21 “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.”

22 Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.

23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

24 Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!

25 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?