What Does Luke 12:28 Mean in the King James?
If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
What the English calls “little faith” is little trust: can your need rest in the care already clothing the field?
THE MEANING
The grass is dressed for a single day, even when tomorrow it becomes fuel. The same God sees and clothes you with greater care, so your need is not outside his attention. “Little faith” names trust made small by worry over what comes next.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie that tomorrow’s uncertainty means you are forgotten is undone by the field itself: even grass destined for the oven is clothed.
THE ROOT
ὀλιγόπιστοι
oligopistoi
GROWS FROM
πιστ- (pist-), from πείθω (peithō)
To persuade or be persuaded; to trust or place confidence.
“little faith” in this verse is oligopistoi. The phrase joins “little” with a word rooted in trust: the focus is reliance, not a score of correct beliefs. Here, trust feels small beside worry about clothing, while the field points toward the care it can rest in.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: Trust, confidence.
πίστις
This is the noun behind “faith”: trust placed in the care the verse describes.
pisteuō: To trust, believe, entrust oneself.
πιστεύω
The related verb shows trust as reliance, not merely agreement with an idea.
pistos: Trustworthy, reliable.
πιστός
The word family links trust to reliability, the care of the one who clothes the field.
THE PATTERN
God’s care for human need is continuous with the care that clothes and sustains the created world.
He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth;Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.THE THREAD
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.The same Greek word for “little faith” appears when the disciples fear the storm. In Luke, the pressing threat is what you will wear; in Matthew, what the waves may do, the shared root links both fears to trust narrowed by what feels uncertain.
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