Luke 11 14

Luke 11:14 kjv

And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb. And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake; and the people wondered.

Luke 11:14 nkjv

And He was casting out a demon, and it was mute. So it was, when the demon had gone out, that the mute spoke; and the multitudes marveled.

Luke 11:14 niv

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed.

Luke 11:14 esv

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled.

Luke 11:14 nlt

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn't speak, and when the demon was gone, the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed,

Luke 11 verses

Luke 11 14 Meaning

Luke 11:14 describes Jesus casting out a demon that rendered a man mute. Immediately after the demon departed, the man spoke, causing the onlookers to marvel at Jesus' power. This event serves as a clear demonstration of Jesus' authority over evil spirits and the physical afflictions they cause, signaling the active presence of God's kingdom.

Luke 11 14 Context

Luke 11:14 stands within a significant section of Luke's Gospel emphasizing prayer (Lk 11:1-13) and then immediately pivots to Jesus' authority and the consequent opposition he faces. The verse presents a clear, undeniable miracle of an exorcism resulting in the man speaking. This direct display of power serves as the immediate trigger for the accusation in the very next verse (Lk 11:15), where some onlookers allege that Jesus casts out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. This accusation and Jesus' subsequent defense (Lk 11:17-23) define the critical context, highlighting the differing responses to Jesus' work: awe from the common people versus hostility and misinterpretation from those seeking to undermine his divine authority. The miracle itself serves as irrefutable evidence for the reality of God's kingdom breaking into the world through Jesus, contrasting sharply with the spiritual blindness of His detractors. Culturally, demon possession was a recognized affliction, and Jewish exorcists existed, but Jesus' immediate and authoritative command differed greatly.

Luke 11 14 Word analysis

• "And he was casting out": (Greek: ēn ekballōn, imperfect tense of ekballō)

  • ēn: Imperfect indicative of eimi (to be), often used with a participle to describe ongoing action or state.
  • ekballōn: Present active participle of ekballō, meaning "to cast out, drive out, expel."
  • This grammatical construction emphasizes Jesus' habitual or continuous work of driving out demons. It presents the event not as an isolated incident but as characteristic of his ministry, underlining his constant authority over evil forces.

• "a devil": (Greek: daimonion)

  • daimonion: Refers to a demon, an evil spirit, an unclean spirit.
  • Significance: These are sentient, malevolent beings actively opposing God's will and afflicting humanity. Jesus' ability to command them instantly demonstrates His divine power and authority beyond human capabilities. It reveals a spiritual warfare reality.

• "and it was dumb": (Greek: kai auto ēn kōphon)

  • kai auto: "And it" (the demon, referring to its effect on the person).
  • ēn kōphon: "was mute" or "was dumb."
  • kōphon: "Mute, voiceless, unable to speak; deaf" (as hearing and speech are often linked).
  • Significance: The muteness was a direct symptom caused by the demonic oppression, not an innate physical defect. This highlights the demon's specific impact and allows for immediate, visible proof of its expulsion through the restoration of speech. This connects to prophecies of the Messiah healing the mute (Isa 35:5-6).

• "And it came to pass": (Greek: kai egeneto)

  • egeneto: A common Lukan phrase, marking a new event or turning point in the narrative. It indicates a consequential shift.

• "when the devil was gone out": (Greek: exelthontos tou daimoniou)

  • exelthontos: Genitive absolute participle from exerchomai, meaning "having gone out," indicating a completed action that serves as a precondition for the next event.
  • Significance: Emphasizes the departure of the demon as the cause, and the speaking as the effect. The liberation is direct and immediate upon the demon's exit.

• "the dumb spake": (Greek: elalēsen ho kōphos)

  • elalēsen: Aorist active indicative of laleō, "to speak, utter a sound." Denotes a definite, completed action.
  • ho kōphos: "the mute one," referring to the previously afflicted person.
  • Significance: This is the dramatic and undeniable proof of the exorcism's success and the demon's removal. It is a reversal of the affliction caused by the evil spirit.

• "and the people wondered": (Greek: kai ethaumasen hoi ochloi)

  • ethaumasen: Aorist active indicative of thaumazō, "to wonder, be amazed, marvel."
  • hoi ochloi: "the crowds, the people, the multitudes."
  • Significance: This shows the popular reaction of awe and astonishment. This is a common response to Jesus' miracles throughout the Gospels, often contrasting with the skepticism or hostility of the religious leaders. Their wonder testifies to the extraordinary nature of Jesus' deed.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he was casting out a devil, and it was dumb.": This phrase establishes the immediate scenario: Jesus engaged in an active expulsion of a demon whose effect on the afflicted person was muteness. The continuous tense ("was casting out") suggests that Jesus was accustomed to such acts, demonstrating his regular and authoritative ministry against evil.
• "And it came to pass, when the devil was gone out, the dumb spake;": This transition emphasizes the direct cause-and-effect. The instantaneous restoration of speech upon the demon's exit proves the demonic origin of the affliction and the complete efficacy of Jesus' command. This is not a slow recovery, but an immediate divine act.
• "and the people wondered.": This phrase captures the immediate popular reaction. The verb "wondered" implies astonishment and awe at Jesus' undeniable power, recognizing something extraordinary and divine in what they had just witnessed. Their response validates the miracle in the public sphere, setting the stage for the conflict that follows.

Luke 11 14 Bonus section

The muteness caused by the demon in this specific account is distinct from physical muteness due to birth defects or injuries. The immediate restoration of speech confirms the spiritual origin of the affliction and highlights Jesus' direct command over evil spirits that held individuals captive. This instantaneous release of speech underscores Jesus' absolute and immediate authority, a key characteristic of his exorcisms that set him apart from contemporary Jewish exorcists who might have employed elaborate rituals or incantations. This particular exorcism, along with others in the Gospels, serves as a direct, public demonstration of Jesus' core mission: to dismantle the kingdom of darkness and establish the reign of God. It's a vivid display of spiritual warfare unfolding in plain sight, with Jesus clearly victorious.

Luke 11 14 Commentary

Luke 11:14 offers a concise yet powerful snapshot of Jesus' redemptive ministry. The act of casting out the mute demon is more than just a healing; it is a clear manifestation of Jesus' unique power over spiritual forces, specifically demonic oppression. In the worldview of the time, afflictions like muteness were sometimes attributed to malevolent spirits, and Jesus' ability to reverse such conditions with a word demonstrates an authority far beyond that of a mere human.

This miracle directly foreshadows the ensuing debate with Jesus' critics (Lk 11:15ff), who, unable to deny the miracle itself, resort to accusing Jesus of performing it by demonic power. This pericope highlights a core theme in the Gospels: Jesus' work signifies the active breaking in of God's Kingdom, conquering the dominion of evil. The restoration of speech to the mute not only brings physical healing but symbolizes spiritual liberation, reflecting Old Testament prophecies where the mute would speak as a sign of God's visitation (e.g., Isa 35:5-6). The people's "wonder" signifies a natural human recognition of divine intervention, contrasting sharply with the hard-hearted, cynical rejection of the religious leaders, who chose to misinterpret rather than believe.

• Practical usage example: The passage reminds believers that true freedom from oppression, whether spiritual or physical, ultimately comes through the power and authority of Christ. It encourages reliance on Jesus as the ultimate deliverer from evil.