Luke 21 28

Luke 21:28 kjv

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Luke 21:28 nkjv

Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Luke 21:28 niv

When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 esv

Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Luke 21:28 nlt

So when all these things begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near!"

Luke 21 verses

Luke 21 28 Meaning

Luke 21:28 is a profound instruction from Jesus to His disciples concerning the signs preceding His return. It commands believers to respond to escalating tribulation, including cosmic and earthly disturbances, not with despair or fear, but with joyful, confident anticipation. This is because these very signs indicate the imminent completion of God's redemptive plan for His people, culminating in their full liberation and glorification at Christ's Second Coming. It underscores an active, hopeful posture in the face of widespread distress.

Luke 21 28 Context

Luke chapter 21 forms part of Jesus' "Olivet Discourse," delivered shortly before His crucifixion, responding to His disciples' questions about the timing of the destruction of the Temple and the signs of His coming and the end of the age. Chapters 21:5-24 primarily describe the impending destruction of Jerusalem (which occurred in A.D. 70), general signs like wars, earthquakes, famines, and persecutions, serving as both immediate warnings and typological indicators of end-time tribulation. Verses 25-26 specifically portray cosmic disturbances and the distress of nations, causing widespread fear and anxiety. Luke 21:28 stands in stark contrast to this global fear, offering a direct command and comforting assurance specifically to His disciples. It shifts the focus from dread of unfolding events to a confident, anticipatory posture, recognizing these signs not as a reason for despair but as indicators of their ultimate deliverance.

Luke 21 28 Word analysis

• When these things begin to take place:

  • Greek: ἀρχομένων δὲ τούτων γίνεσθαι (archomenōn de toutōn ginesthai)
  • ἀρχομένων (archomenōn): Participle of archomai, meaning "to begin, to make a start." This emphasizes the commencement or onset of the described signs, not their completion. It suggests that even the initial appearance of these tumultuous events should trigger the prescribed response, implying the imminence of the subsequent divine intervention.
  • γίνεσθαι (ginesthai): Infinitive of ginomai, "to happen, to come to pass, to become." Conveys that these things will indeed occur, they are part of a divine timetable.
  • Significance: Jesus is not asking them to wait for the climax, but to respond at the very inception of these predicted events, fostering a state of continuous readiness and hope.

• stand up:

  • Greek: ἀνακύψατε (anakypsate)
  • ἀνακύψατε (anakypsate): Imperative aorist of anakyptō, meaning "to look up," "to raise oneself up," "to lift up the head." It suggests moving from a stooped or bowed posture (perhaps of sorrow, shame, despair, or even attentive listening) to an upright, alert, and confident stance.
  • Significance: It's an active, intentional command. It implies a departure from being downtrodden, burdened, or fearful, to exhibiting courage and anticipation.

• and lift up your heads:

  • Greek: ἐπάρατε τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑμῶν (eparate tas kephalas hymōn)
  • ἐπάρατε (eparate): Imperative aorist of epairō, meaning "to lift up," "to raise." Reinforces the command of anakypsate.
  • τὰς κεφαλὰς ὑμῶν (tas kephalas hymōn): "Your heads." The plural signifies a command to each individual believer.
  • Significance: This phrase repeats and intensifies the call to an elevated posture. In biblical and ancient cultures, a bowed head symbolized shame, grief, despair, or subjugation. Lifting the head signified confidence, dignity, vindication, triumph, and hopeful expectation (Psa 3:3; Psa 27:6). This is a physical manifestation of an inward spiritual state of confidence.

• because your redemption is drawing near:

  • Greek: διότι ἐγγίζει ἀπολύτρωσις ὑμῶν (dioti engizei apolytrosis hymōn)
  • διότι (dioti): Conjunction "because," "for this reason," "wherefore." It provides the ground or reason for the previous command. The command to "stand up and lift up your heads" is directly contingent upon and motivated by the nearness of redemption.
  • ἐγγίζει (engizei): Present active indicative of engizō, "to approach," "to be near," "to be at hand." The present tense suggests an ongoing process of drawing closer, creating a sense of definite progression and proximity. It’s not just a possibility, but an assured event nearing completion.
  • ἀπολύτρωσις (apolytrosis): Noun, "redemption," "deliverance," "liberation," "release by payment of a ransom." While salvation from sin through Christ's death is a fundamental aspect of redemption (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14), in an eschatological context like this verse, it carries a broader and ultimate meaning:
    • It signifies the full, final, and physical liberation of believers from all the effects of the Fall—including suffering, death, and the very groaning of creation (Rom 8:23).
    • It points to the resurrection of the body, glorification, and the ultimate entrance into God's eternal kingdom.
    • It is the culmination of salvation, encompassing their complete vindication and receiving their full inheritance.
  • ὑμῶν (hymōn): "Your." Personalizes this ultimate deliverance to the believers themselves.
  • Significance: The motivation for hope amidst chaos is not mere optimism but the certain and approaching reality of God's final, comprehensive act of deliverance for His people through the return of Christ. It implies that these terrifying events are not the end, but the birth pangs (Mk 13:8) leading to ultimate liberation.

Luke 21 28 Bonus section

This verse offers a crucial paradox: what the world perceives as the onset of unparalleled horror, the believer is to see as the unfolding of God's ultimate plan, specifically marking the nearness of their own salvation. The "lifting of heads" can be understood not only in contrast to a stooped posture of despair but also to one of subjugation, implying a release from oppression. The use of "ἀπολύτρωσις" (redemption) connects the final liberation from the groaning of this present age with the completed work of Christ on the cross, demonstrating God's consistent plan for His people's complete salvation—spirit, soul, and body. This call to hope does not encourage passivity but implies a watchfulness and readiness that empowers endurance and evangelism amidst the turmoil.

Luke 21 28 Commentary

Luke 21:28 stands as a profound call to steadfast hope in the face of daunting eschatological signs. In the midst of predicted cosmic terror and earthly distress, Jesus directs His disciples not to despair but to proactively assume a posture of confidence and eager expectation. The phrase "stand up and lift up your heads" signifies both an inner spiritual disposition—courage, joy, and defiance of fear—and an outward physical expression of this inner state. It directly opposes any reaction of stoic indifference or panicked resignation, challenging believers to discern the hand of God at work even in unsettling global events. The powerful impetus for this hopeful response is the nearing reality of "redemption" (ἀπολύτρωσις). This is not just initial spiritual salvation but the final, complete, and glorious liberation of believers – encompassing bodily resurrection, vindication, and entry into the full reign of God at Christ's appearing. Thus, rather than being overwhelmed by tribulation, believers are to see these escalating events as the definitive sign that their ultimate deliverance and glorification is definitively "at hand," empowering them to endure with joyful anticipation.