Luke 10 17

Luke 10:17 kjv

And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.

Luke 10:17 nkjv

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name."

Luke 10:17 niv

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name."

Luke 10:17 esv

The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!"

Luke 10:17 nlt

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, "Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!"

Luke 10 verses

Luke 10 17 Meaning

Luke 10:17 depicts the joyful return of the seventy-two disciples whom Jesus had sent out with specific instructions and authority. Their exclamation, "Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name!" highlights the tangible power and authority they experienced over spiritual forces, directly linking this triumph to Jesus's name as the source of that power. It signifies the initial manifestation of God's Kingdom expanding through the ministry of Jesus's representatives.

Luke 10 17 Context

Luke 10:17 is a pivotal verse following Jesus's unique commissioning of seventy-two disciples (Luke 10:1-12), beyond the core Twelve, to preach the Gospel and heal in specific towns ahead of Him. This expansive outreach symbolized the broad reach of the coming Kingdom. Jesus gave them authority over diseases and over "every power of the enemy" (Luke 10:19), indicating a mandate against demonic forces. The disciples were sent with strict instructions for living and ministering, emphasizing their dependence on God. Their joyful return is the culmination of their mission, a direct report on the miraculous success they experienced, particularly regarding the submission of demons, which was not explicitly mentioned as a primary task in their initial instructions but proved to be a powerful validation of their authority. This experience sets the stage for Jesus's subsequent teachings on humility, the fall of Satan, and the true source of joy.

Luke 10 17 Word analysis

• The seventy-two: hoi hebdomēkonta dyo (οἱ ἑβδομήκοντα δύο). Some manuscripts read "seventy" (hoi hebdomēkonta), but "seventy-two" is widely accepted. This number is symbolically significant: potentially representing the 70/72 nations of the world listed in Gen 10, implying the universal reach of the Gospel (paralleling Moses appointing 70 elders in Num 11).
• returned: hypostrephō (ὑποστρέφω). Means "to turn back," "to come back." Implies completing a task or journey and returning to the point of origin, in this case, to Jesus.
• with joy: meta charas (μετὰ χαρᾶς). The dative of manner. "Joy" (chara) is a prominent theme in Luke's Gospel, often associated with the presence and activity of God's kingdom. It's a genuine, overwhelming happiness arising from witnessing divine power.
• and said: kai eipan (καὶ εἶπαν). A simple declarative verb, introducing their report to Jesus.
• Lord: Kyrie (Κύριε). The address of reverence and recognition of Jesus's authority and deity. It is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Adonai.
• even: kai (καὶ). Functions as an emphatic "even" or "also," highlighting the surprising or unexpected aspect of demonic submission. This wasn't necessarily their primary expectation but a profound discovery.
• the demons: ta daimonia (τὰ δαιμόνια). Refers specifically to evil spirits, not gods or deities. In Jewish thought, these were understood as malicious spiritual beings hostile to God and humanity. The New Testament consistently uses daimonia to describe malevolent supernatural entities.
• submit to us: hypotassetai hēmin (ὑποτάσσεται ἡμῖν).
  • Hypotassetai: Present passive indicative of hypotassō (ὑποτάσσω), meaning "to arrange under," "to subordinate," "to obey." The present tense indicates continuous or repeated submission. The passive voice emphasizes that it's something happening to them, rather than they achieving it independently. It signifies a complete yielding of authority.
  • Hēmin: Dative pronoun, "to us." The disciples are experiencing this, but they acknowledge the source.
• in your name: en tō onomati sou (ἐν τῷ ὀνόματί σου). This phrase is paramount.
  • En tō onomati: "In the name" (literally, "in the name of"). In biblical context, a "name" represents the whole person, their character, authority, power, and presence. To act "in someone's name" is to act as their representative, with their full authority backing the action. It implies not just uttering a word but aligning oneself with and operating by the authority, power, and character of the person whose name is invoked. It is the ultimate source of their miraculous ability.
  • Sou: "Your," referring directly to Jesus. The disciples correctly attribute the power not to themselves but entirely to Jesus.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "The seventy-two returned with joy": This phrase encapsulates the successful completion of their mission and the powerful emotional impact of their experience. Their joy signifies the positive affirmation of God's power at work through them.
• "Lord, even the demons submit to us": This specific confession demonstrates a profound spiritual revelation. The "even" suggests surprise that this realm of darkness was subject to their ministry. The "submit to us" reveals their direct experience of the dominion given to them.
• "in your name!": This crucial final phrase reveals the core theological understanding. The disciples grasp that the authority was not inherent in themselves but entirely delegated from Jesus, acting as His agents under His divine authority. This is a recognition of Christ's supreme Lordship over all creation, including spiritual principalities and powers.

Luke 10 17 Bonus section

• The number "seventy" (or seventy-two) for the mission might allude to the traditional number of nations or peoples on earth (Gen 10), implying the universal scope of the Gospel's reach from its earliest days. This foreshadows the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19.
• The fact that the submission of demons was highlighted by the disciples suggests its immense impact and surprise. While Jesus had demonstrated power over demons often, these disciples were ordinary men experiencing it firsthand, verifying the authenticity of the power given to them.
• This verse underlines a fundamental truth for Christian ministry: all effective spiritual authority flows from Jesus Christ. Ministers of the Gospel are merely conduits of His power, not its source.
• The experience served to educate the disciples themselves about the nature of the Kingdom of God—that it truly breaks the dominion of evil. This was foundational to their faith and future ministry.

Luke 10 17 Commentary

Luke 10:17 marks a significant moment in the ministry of Jesus's disciples. The "seventy-two" returning with such exuberance reveals the tangible, often surprising, effects of participating in God's Kingdom work. Their primary instruction involved proclaiming the Kingdom and healing the sick, yet the profound success they observed was the unexpected and definitive submission of evil spirits. This experience validated Jesus's prior bestowal of authority upon them (Lk 9:1, Lk 10:19). The emphasis on "joy" indicates the emotional resonance of experiencing divine power directly and witnessing its transformative effects.

Crucially, their confession, "even the demons submit to us in your name!", demonstrates a vital theological insight. They didn't claim power for themselves, but immediately attributed it to Jesus's authority and character. "In your name" signifies more than a mere incantation; it denotes acting under Jesus's commission, with His inherent power and authority behind their words and actions. It reflects a growing understanding of Christ's sovereign rule not just over disease but over the unseen spiritual forces of darkness. This verse subtly introduces the cosmic conflict that Jesus would directly address in the subsequent verse (Lk 10:18), confirming that their triumphs were not incidental but directly indicative of Satan's kingdom being overthrown. This victory, experienced by humble disciples, showcased the true nature of God's Kingdom as one that aggressively pushes back the darkness, often through the least expected channels.