Luke 24 17

Luke 24:17 kjv

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Luke 24:17 nkjv

And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

Luke 24:17 niv

He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast.

Luke 24:17 esv

And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.

Luke 24:17 nlt

He asked them, "What are you discussing so intently as you walk along?" They stopped short, sadness written across their faces.

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 17 Meaning

Luke 24:17 presents the resurrected Jesus, unrecognized by two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, interrupting their intense, sorrowful discussion about the recent events in Jerusalem. Jesus’ question immediately exposes their deep despondency and perplexity concerning the crucifixion and the reported resurrection, setting the stage for His profound revelation of scriptural truth. This verse captures a moment of spiritual blindness and profound human grief directly confronting the divine presence, initiating a transformative encounter from despair to enlightened understanding.

Luke 24 17 Context

Luke 24 chronicles the monumental events of Jesus' resurrection and His subsequent appearances to His disciples. Before verse 17, news of the empty tomb and angelic declarations of Jesus' resurrection had reached the disciples in Jerusalem (Luke 24:1-11), though it was largely met with disbelief. This specific verse takes place as two disciples, one named Cleopas, journey away from Jerusalem towards Emmaus, discussing these bewildering events. They are physically distancing themselves from the chaos, but spiritually they remain deeply distressed, unable to reconcile the crucifixion with their messianic hopes. Their understanding of the Messiah was largely shaped by popular Jewish expectations of a political redeemer who would liberate Israel from Roman rule, not a suffering servant who would die and rise again. Their conversation reflects a profound struggle with grief, shattered expectations, and confusion regarding God’s ultimate plan. Jesus, having risen, deliberately intercepts them, disguised to allow their raw emotions and theological misunderstandings to surface before He reveals the deeper truth of Scripture.

Luke 24 17 Word analysis

• "And he said" (εἶπεν - eipen): Simple, direct action. It signifies the commencement of the divine inquiry, yet also an act of gracious engagement by Jesus who steps into their private despair.

• "to them" (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): Emphasizes a direct address, turning His attention specifically to the two disciples and their conversation.

• "What is this conversation" (Τίνες οἱ λόγοι οὗτοι):

  • Τίνες (Tines - "What/What kind of"): Not merely asking "what are you talking about?" but inquiring about the nature or quality of their discussion, implying curiosity about the weight and content of their exchange.
  • οἱ λόγοι (hoi logoi - "the words/discourses"): Plural of logos, refers to their entire discussion, argument, or account. It's not just idle chatter, but a weighty discourse indicating a profound, internal struggle.

• "that you are holding" (ἀντιβάλλετε - antiballete): Present tense, indicating an ongoing, active engagement. The word literally means "to throw back and forth," conveying an intense, almost argumentative, and reciprocal exchange of thoughts or ideas. It highlights the earnest and back-and-forth nature of their distressing discussion, like wrestling with an idea.

• "with each other" (πρὸς ἀλλήλους - pros allēlous): Confirms the mutual and interactive nature of their troubled discourse. They are sharing and grappling with their collective grief and confusion.

• "as you walk" (περιπατοῦντες - peripatountes): While on a journey. Their physical movement (walking away from Jerusalem) is contrasted with their static, unresolved emotional state. Their deep discussion overrides their awareness of their surroundings.

• "And they stood still" (Ἔστησαν - Estēsan): A sudden, immediate halt. This dramatic pause indicates the disruptive impact of Jesus' question, causing them to physically and metaphorically stop in their tracks. It signifies a pivotal moment, demanding their full attention and revealing their internal distress.

• "looking sad" (σκυθρωποί - skythrōpoi):

  • σκυθρωποί (skythrōpoi - "downcast, gloomy, sorrowful"): This strong Greek adjective denotes not just superficial sadness, but a profound dejection, a literal downcast countenance. It reveals their deep emotional state of disappointment, disillusionment, and despair over Jesus' crucifixion, shattering all their hopes for Him as Israel’s redeemer. Their appearance mirrors their internal despondency.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?": This complete question is Jesus' profound invitation into their pain. He probes their innermost turmoil, providing an opportunity for them to verbalize their distress, setting the stage for His teaching. The question is poignant because He already knows the answers; it's for their benefit.
  • "And they stood still, looking sad": This phrase portrays their immediate reaction, a collective body language revealing profound dejection and shock. Their cessation of movement signifies a pause in their unguided discussion, ready to be steered by the stranger, highlighting their overwhelming sorrow as their primary state of being.

Luke 24 17 Bonus section

The "skythrōpoi" (looking sad) conveys a more profound and outwardly visible sorrow than just general sadness; it denotes a deep emotional state so overwhelming that it affects one’s appearance. It's used in Mt 6:16 to describe those who "disfigure their faces" while fasting, further emphasizing the depth of their inner turmoil manifested externally. This initial state of grief is precisely what Christ then meets with His illuminating discourse, demonstrating that He meets us in our sorrow to reveal the way of true hope.

Luke 24 17 Commentary

Luke 24:17 marks the pivotal point in the Emmaus Road narrative where the unrecognised Christ engages with the disciples in their confusion and sorrow. His opening question, seemingly innocent, precisely targets their intense internal struggle. The Greek terms "logoi" and "antiballete" emphasize not casual chatter, but a deep, mutual grappling with overwhelming, unsettling events. Their immediate cessation of movement and "sad" countenances reveal the depth of their shattered hopes and spiritual despondency in the wake of the crucifixion, illustrating human bewilderment even in the immediate presence of divine revelation. This verse powerfully portrays the state of a lost and grief-stricken heart needing guidance, highlighting Jesus' method of compassionate inquiry to draw out pain before offering truth. It sets the stage for Jesus, the master teacher, to lead them from ignorance and despair to scriptural understanding and faith in His resurrection.