Luke 13:12 kjv

And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:12 nkjv

But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity."

Luke 13:12 niv

When Jesus saw her, he called her forward and said to her, "Woman, you are set free from your infirmity."

Luke 13:12 esv

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said to her, "Woman, you are freed from your disability."

Luke 13:12 nlt

When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Dear woman, you are healed of your sickness!"

Luke 13 verses

Luke 13 12 Meaning

In Luke 13:12, Jesus, upon seeing a woman who had been crippled by a spirit for eighteen years, called her to Himself and authoritatively declared her freedom from her infirmity. This divine pronouncement of release signified an immediate and complete restoration of her physical well-being, demonstrating Jesus' compassion, sovereign power over sickness and spiritual bondage, and His willingness to act mercifully even on the Sabbath, challenging prevailing legalistic interpretations.

Luke 13 12 Context

Luke chapter 13 begins with Jesus addressing tragic events, using them to call for repentance rather than suggesting divine punishment for specific sins. It then includes the Parable of the Barren Fig Tree, emphasizing the need for fruitfulness and the imminent judgment if there is none. This immediate context of urgency and the call to fruitfulness sets the stage for the narrative in verses 10-17.

Verse 13:12 itself initiates a profound act of compassion by Jesus within the setting of a synagogue on the Sabbath. It precedes a direct confrontation with the synagogue ruler, who vehemently objects to Jesus healing on the holy day. Historically and culturally, the Sabbath was central to Jewish life, with meticulous rules regarding what constituted "work." Healing, particularly for a non-life-threatening condition, was considered "work" by some religious leaders. The woman had been severely bent for eighteen years, a condition attributed to a "spirit of infirmity." This prolonged suffering made her healing particularly significant, demonstrating Jesus' power to restore deeply ingrained afflictions, which Jesus attributes directly to Satan's binding in verse 16. This event is a classic instance of Jesus challenging rigid interpretations of the Mosaic Law with a greater principle of mercy, highlighting that "it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath" (Mt 12:12).

Luke 13 12 Word analysis

• And when Jesus saw her (καὶ ἰδὼν αὐτὴν ὁ Ἰησοῦς):

  • ἰδὼν (idōn - aorist active participle of ὁράω, horaō): "having seen," "perceiving." This is not a casual glance but an active, attentive observation. Jesus specifically noticed her among the congregation. This highlights His initiative and compassionate perception.
  • This phrase indicates Jesus' pro-active nature; she did not come to Him or ask for healing. His divine compassion drove His actions.

• He called her to Him (προσεφώνησεν καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ):

  • προσεφώνησεν (prosephōnēsen - aorist active indicative of προσφωνέω, prosphōneō): "he called to," "he addressed." It suggests a clear, authoritative summoning. This act draws public attention to the woman and the ensuing miracle, preparing the way for the Sabbath dispute.
  • This emphasizes Jesus' intentionality. He personally engaged with her, bringing her forward from the crowd.

• 'Woman, (Γύναι, Gynai):

  • Γύναι (Gynai): A respectful and polite address for a woman, not derogatory. It can mean "lady" or "madam." Jesus uses this term elsewhere in gracious address, e.g., to His mother at the wedding in Cana (Jn 2:4) and on the cross (Jn 19:26), and to the Samaritan woman (Jn 4:21). This dignified address shows honor and compassion, acknowledging her personhood despite her prolonged affliction.

• you are loosed (ἀπολέλυσαι, apolelyssai):

  • ἀπολέλυσαι (apolelyssai - perfect passive indicative of ἀπολύω, apolyō): "you have been loosed," "you have been released." The perfect tense signifies an action completed in the past with ongoing results in the present. It's a divine declaration, an authoritative pronouncement that her bondage is decisively and permanently broken. It implies freedom, not merely physical relief. This word has strong connotations of being set free from chains or legal bonds.
  • The passive voice implies that the loosing agent is divine power – Jesus Himself.
  • This is not a command or a prayer but a definitive statement of an accomplished fact by Jesus' divine authority.

• from your infirmity.' (τῆς ἀσθενείας σου. tēs astheneias sou.):

  • ἀσθενείας (astheneias - genitive singular of ἀσθένεια, astheneia): "weakness," "sickness," "infirmity," "debility." The context of verse 11 (a "disabling spirit") clarifies that this physical weakness had a spiritual, demonic root cause.
  • This identifies the specific nature of the ailment that the woman is released from—her long-standing debilitating sickness.

Words-Group analysis:

• "And when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him": This highlights Jesus' divine initiative and profound compassion. He perceives human suffering, not waiting for a request, but actively intervenes and extends grace. This sets Him apart from others who might pass by.
• "Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity": This authoritative declaration reveals Jesus' power over both physical ailments and spiritual oppression. The phrase "you are loosed" (perfect passive indicative) conveys an accomplished fact, a completed act of liberation by divine authority, emphasizing that the woman's long bondage is decisively and irrevocably broken. The immediate physical manifestation in verse 13 confirms the spiritual reality of her release.

Luke 13 12 Bonus section

The unsolicited nature of this healing is particularly significant. Unlike many miracles where individuals or their advocates actively sought Jesus' intervention, here Jesus acts solely out of His own divine initiative and compassion. This portrays Him not merely as a healer responding to requests, but as the active Good Shepherd who seeks out His sheep in distress. This divine proactivity highlights the depth of God's grace that reaches out to those bound by suffering, without requiring prior merit or pleading. It serves as a vivid example of preventive grace.

The woman's eighteen years of suffering from a "disabling spirit" is pointedly contrasted by Jesus in Luke 13:16 with her being "a daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound." This connection identifies her both by her spiritual heritage and the nature of her oppressor, emphasizing that even those considered part of God's covenant people could be under Satan's influence, requiring divine intervention. Jesus' rhetorical question "And ought not this woman... be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath day?" places her human dignity and lineage directly against the synagogue leader's legalistic arguments, powerfully arguing for the spiritual imperative of releasing a "daughter of Abraham" from demonic bondage. This also showcases the often unseen spiritual battles that lie behind physical ailments, affirming Jesus' authority over both.

Luke 13 12 Commentary

Luke 13:12 encapsulates Jesus' identity and mission. His keen perception ("He saw her") shows His attentiveness to human suffering, while His spontaneous call and direct address ("He called her to Him... 'Woman'") underscore His compassion and proactive grace; she did not need to ask. The core of the verse, "you are loosed from your infirmity," is a powerful, authoritative declaration, not a gradual process or a condition. The use of the perfect tense ("you have been loosed") signifies an accomplished act with permanent effect. This single pronouncement, originating from divine authority, severed eighteen years of debilitating bondage orchestrated by a "spirit of infirmity" (Lk 13:11, 16).

This miracle powerfully illustrates several facets of the Gospel. It demonstrates Jesus' supreme power over sickness and spiritual oppression, fulfilling His messianic mission to "proclaim liberty to the captives" (Lk 4:18). Furthermore, the fact that this miracle takes place on the Sabbath, and Jesus' unsolicited initiation of the healing, sets up the ensuing conflict with the synagogue ruler. Jesus consistently prioritized acts of mercy and the restoration of human dignity over rigid interpretations of the Law, establishing that compassion and doing good are supreme, especially on the Sabbath (Mk 2:27; Mt 12:12). The healing is instant and complete (Lk 13:13), bringing immediate freedom and restoration, symbolizing the complete freedom Christ offers from all forms of bondage.