Luke 11:27 kjv
And it came to pass, as he spake these things, a certain woman of the company lifted up her voice, and said unto him, Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.
Luke 11:27 nkjv
And it happened, as He spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!"
Luke 11:27 niv
As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you."
Luke 11:27 esv
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, "Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!"
Luke 11:27 nlt
As he was speaking, a woman in the crowd called out, "God bless your mother ? the womb from which you came, and the breasts that nursed you!"
Luke 11 27 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 8:21 | But He answered and said to them, “My mother and My brothers are these who hear the word of God and do it.” | True family defined by spiritual obedience. |
| Matt 12:46-50 | While He was still talking… He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father… is My brother and sister and mother.” | Spiritual kinship outweighs biological ties. |
| Mk 3:31-35 | Then His brothers and My mother came… “For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.” | Redefinition of family by divine will. |
| Jn 13:17 | “If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” | Blessing comes from obedience, not just knowledge. |
| Jas 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Emphasizes the necessity of action (doing the word). |
| Jas 1:25 | But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. | Blessedness from continuous, active obedience. |
| Lk 1:45 | “Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord.” | Mary's blessedness rooted in her belief and obedience. |
| Lk 1:28, 42 | "Greetings, you who are highly favored!", "Blessed are you among women...". | Mary's initial blessedness due to God's choice and grace. |
| Rev 1:3 | Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it... | Blessedness for hearing and keeping prophetic word. |
| Pss 1:1-3 | Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… but his delight is in the law of the Lord… Whatever he does prospers. | Blessedness found in delighting and obeying God's law. |
| Deut 28:1-2 | "Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God… that all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you." | Obedience as the pathway to blessings in the Old Test. |
| Pss 119:1-2 | Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord! Blessed are those who keep His testimonies... | Blessedness tied to keeping God's commandments. |
| Pss 119:105 | Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. | The guiding nature and importance of God's Word. |
| Jn 8:47 | "He who is of God hears God's words; therefore you do not hear them, because you are not of God.” | Hearing God's word as a sign of spiritual connection. |
| Matt 7:24-27 | "Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock..." | Illustrates the security and blessedness of obeying Christ's words. |
| Heb 5:9 | And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. | Salvation's link to obedience. |
| Prov 8:34 | Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. | Blessedness of actively listening to wisdom (God's Word). |
| Jer 17:7-8 | "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord... He shall be like a tree planted by the waters..." | Blessedness through trusting (and obeying) God. |
| Ez 16:20 | “Moreover you took your sons and your daughters, whom you bore to Me…” | Refers to child-bearing as service or offering, though corrupted here. |
| Rom 2:13 | (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified...) | Justification linked to doing the Law. |
| 1 Pet 1:25 | But the word of the LORD abides forever. Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you. | The eternal nature and power of God's preached word. |
| Phil 4:8 | Finally, brethren, whatever things are true... think on these things. | Mentions internalizing the 'word' for daily living. |
Luke 11 verses
Luke 11 27 Meaning
Luke 11:27 presents a pivotal exchange where a woman in the crowd blesses Jesus' physical mother, only for Jesus to redirect the concept of true blessedness. It reveals that genuine spiritual kinship and divine favor come not from biological connection but from hearing God's Word and obediently keeping it. The verse and Jesus' immediate response elevate spiritual obedience above physical or genealogical relationships, clarifying the true path to blessedness in God's kingdom.
Luke 11 27 Context
Luke 11:27 occurs immediately after Jesus has performed a powerful exorcism, casting out a demon that had made a man mute (Lk 11:14). This miracle draws varied responses: some are amazed, while others, primarily opponents, accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons (Lk 11:15). Jesus directly refutes these accusations, asserting His authority by the "finger of God" (Lk 11:20), indicating the arrival of God's kingdom. He then teaches on spiritual warfare, emphasizing that one must be with Him to gather (Lk 11:23) and the dangers of a vacant heart after spiritual deliverance (Lk 11:24-26). It is in the midst of this intense discourse – defending His identity, authority, and the nature of God's kingdom – that the woman cries out. Her exclamation reflects a cultural appreciation for lineage and the physical honour associated with a remarkable person's mother, a common form of high praise in Jewish society where mothers of esteemed men were greatly honored for their childbearing role. Jesus’ response thus serves as a critical redefinition, shifting focus from external honor to internal spiritual transformation and obedience.
Luke 11 27 Word analysis
As He said these things (Καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ λέγειν αὐτὸν ταῦτα - Kai egeneto en tō legein auton tauta): The Greek verb "λέγειν" (legein) implies that Jesus was actively speaking and teaching when the woman interrupted. This signifies a spontaneous, direct response to Jesus' ongoing ministry and teachings on the nature of God's kingdom and spiritual power, not a pre-planned event. It emphasizes the immediacy of the interaction.
a woman in the crowd (γυνή τις ἐκ τοῦ ὄχλου - gynē tis ek tou ochlou): She is not identified, suggesting her represents a common, un-doctrinated person, a lay bystander. Her anonymity makes her outburst representative of popular sentiment or a cultural reaction, rather than a deep theological insight.
raised her voice (ἐπάρασα φωνήν - epairasa phōnen): This denotes a public, audible, and possibly emphatic exclamation. It conveys a strong, spontaneous outburst of admiration and possibly adoration, meant for all present to hear, not a private murmur.
said to Him (εἶπεν αὐτῷ - eipen autō): She addresses Jesus directly, expressing her deep admiration publicly in response to His power and wisdom demonstrated in the preceding discourse.
"Blessed (Μακαρία - Makaria): From makarios, meaning "blessed," "fortunate," or "happy." In biblical terms, this often denotes a state of profound well-being bestowed by God, signifying divine approval or favor. Here, it reflects a deeply cultural, almost folk-theological understanding of blessedness centered on physical motherhood as the source of honor for a remarkable son. This is in contrast to the spiritual makarioi (beatitudes) Jesus typically pronounced.
is the womb (ἡ κοιλία - hē koilia): Refers literally to the uterus, symbolizing motherhood and procreation. In this context, it embodies the physical act of giving birth. In ancient Jewish culture, bearing children, especially sons, was highly valued and brought great honor to a woman.
that bore You (ἡ βαστάσασά σε - hē bastasasā se): Literally, "that carried You" or "brought You forth." It underscores the physical, biological act of pregnancy and birth.
and the breasts (καὶ μαστοί - kai mastoi): Symbolizes the nurturing and rearing of a child, the intimate physical connection between mother and infant through nursing. This further emphasizes the physical, rather than spiritual, basis of her perceived blessedness.
which nursed You (οὓς ἐθήλασας - hous ethēlasas): "Which You sucked" or "were nursed by." This reinforces the intimate biological care provided by a mother. The woman's statement is a cultural affirmation of maternal honor, particularly for the mother of an exceptional man like Jesus.
Words-group Analysis:
- "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!": This phrase is a common, culturally recognizable Jewish blessing, directly honoring a mother for producing a distinguished or esteemed son. It places ultimate value on the biological connection and physical lineage, aligning with cultural norms that viewed childbearing as a woman's paramount contribution and source of honor. The blessing highlights the popular admiration for Jesus that focused on His external origins and perceived human greatness rather than His divine message or the spiritual implications of His identity and teachings. It also highlights a common human tendency to focus on external characteristics or relations to greatness rather than internal transformation.
Luke 11 27 Bonus section
The spontaneous acclamation from the woman in the crowd serves as a common foil throughout the Gospels. People are often amazed by Jesus' miracles or captivated by His teaching style, but fail to grasp the deeper, spiritual implications. Her words, though honoring, inadvertently reduce Jesus' mission to one based on human merit or lineage, rather than divine power and spiritual transformation. Jesus' subsequent response corrects this perception, asserting a crucial New Covenant principle: true blessing is predicated on an internal spiritual condition of faith and obedience, not external proximity or physical association with Him or His family. This principle liberates blessedness from genealogical privilege, opening it up to all who "hear the word of God and keep it." This also provides a biblical perspective that clarifies the emphasis should always remain on Christ and obedience to God's word, even when revering sacred figures like Mary.
Luke 11 27 Commentary
Luke 11:27 captures a moment where popular acclamation meets divine truth. Following Jesus' powerful display of authority and challenging teaching, a woman in the crowd gives voice to a deeply rooted cultural sentiment. Her exclamation "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" is a spontaneous and genuine expression of admiration. In Jewish culture, the mother of a great rabbi or prophet was indeed highly honored, and her role in bearing and raising such a child was seen as a source of immense blessing. This statement acknowledges Jesus' greatness by extending honor to His physical origins, specifically His mother.
However, Jesus' immediate and redirection (given in Luke 11:28, but implied by the abruptness of this verse leading into it) reveals a crucial theological distinction. While not discrediting His mother or her blessedness (which Luke himself notes in Lk 1:45), Jesus emphasizes that the truest and highest form of blessedness in God's eyes is not based on biological or familial ties, no matter how distinguished. Instead, it rests on a spiritual relationship forged through actively hearing and obeying God's Word. His response challenges a common human tendency to value superficial connections or external privileges above spiritual realities. It clarifies that discipleship and entry into God's family are open to all who respond in obedient faith, democratizing blessedness beyond the confines of lineage. This underscores a foundational truth of the Kingdom: relationship with God is built on faithful adherence to His will, not inherited status.