• Luke 11:52
    The Kingdom Interlinear Translation of the Greek Scriptures

    • 52 οὐαὶ Woe ὑμῖν to YOU τοῖς the νομικοῖς, ones versed in the law, ὅτι because ἤρατε YOU lifted up τὴν the κλεῖδα key τῆς of the γνώσεως· knowledge; αὐτοὶ very (ones) οὐκ not εἰσήλθατε YOU entered καὶ and τοὺς the (ones) εἰσερχομένους entering ἐκωλύσατε. YOU hindered.

  • Luke 11:52
    King James Version

    • 52 Woe unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered.

  • Luke Study Notes—Chapter 11
    New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)

    • 11:52

      the key of knowledge: In the Bible, those who were given certain keys, whether literal or figurative, were entrusted with a degree of authority. (1Ch 9:26, 27; Isa 22:20-22) So the term “key” came to symbolize authority and responsibility. In this context, it seems that “knowledge” refers to divinely provided knowledge, since Jesus addresses religious leaders who were versed in the Law. They were supposed to use their authority and power to give the people accurate knowledge of God by explaining God’s word to them, unlocking its meaning. A comparison of this text with Mt 23:13, where Jesus states that the religious leaders had “shut up the Kingdom of the heavens before men,” indicates that the expression go in refers to gaining entrance into that Kingdom. By not giving the people the correct knowledge of God, the religious leaders took away the opportunity for many to understand God’s Word correctly and to enter into the Kingdom of God.