Luke 24 5

Luke 24:5 kjv

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Luke 24:5 nkjv

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Luke 24:5 niv

In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?

Luke 24:5 esv

And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Luke 24:5 nlt

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?

Luke 24 verses

Luke 24 5 Meaning

As the women who came to Jesus' tomb were overwhelmed with profound awe and reverent fear at the appearance of two radiant beings, they prostrated themselves in an act of worship and submission. At this moment, these heavenly messengers addressed them, setting the stage for the earth-shattering announcement of Jesus' resurrection. This verse describes the women's instinctive, reverent reaction to a divine encounter before receiving the life-altering message about the empty tomb.

Luke 24 5 Context

Luke chapter 24 details the dramatic events of Easter morning and the subsequent appearances of the risen Christ. Verses 1-3 describe the women arriving at the tomb early on the first day of the week with spices to anoint Jesus' body, only to find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. Verse 4 specifies the sudden appearance of "two men in dazzling apparel" next to the bewildered women. Thus, Luke 24:5 captures the women's initial, overwhelming physical and emotional response—a natural reaction to such a supernatural manifestation—immediately before these heavenly messengers reveal the profound truth of Jesus' resurrection. The surrounding historical and cultural context includes Jewish burial customs, which would make the empty tomb a perplexing anomaly, and the women's deep grief and disbelief following Jesus' crucifixion. This moment serves as the transition from confusion and sorrow to revelation and joyous (though initially unbelievable) truth, directly challenging any contemporary notions of permanent death for the Messiah.

Word Analysis

• And as they were: Links this reaction directly to the sudden appearance of the "two men" (angels) in the previous verse (Lk 24:4), indicating an immediate and involuntary response.
• frightened (Greek: ἔμφοβοι - emphoboi): Signifies not merely casual fear, but a profound, awe-filled terror, characteristic of a mortal's reaction to encountering the divine or supernatural (e.g., Lk 1:12; 2:9). It indicates being overwhelmed by a sense of majesty, power, and holiness.
• and bowed (Greek: ἔκλιναν - eklinan): To bend down, to incline. This physical action, coupled with "faces to the ground," signifies humility, submission, and often, reverence or worship.
• their faces to the ground: This posture, known as prostration, is a biblical gesture of ultimate respect, worship, submission, or supplication before a superior being, especially God or His divine messengers (Gen 17:3; Num 16:22; Pss 95:6; Mt 28:5; Rev 1:17). It conveys an acknowledgement of the awe-inspiring, holy presence.
• the men: Refers specifically to the "two men in dazzling apparel" introduced in Luke 24:4, understood as angels based on consistent biblical descriptions (e.g., Lk 1:11, 2:9; Acts 1:10; Jn 20:12). Their form is human-like, but their brilliance signifies their divine origin.
• said to them: This simple phrase introduces the direct speech from the heavenly messengers, marking the critical transition from the women's confused and fearful reaction to the angelic proclamation of the resurrection, which immediately follows in verse 6.

Luke 24 5 Bonus section

• Gender Significance: The women are the first recipients of this world-changing news. This challenges cultural norms where women's testimony was often disregarded, emphasizing the radical nature of the Gospel and Jesus' respect for women (Lk 8:2-3). They become the first evangelists of the resurrection.
• "Dazzling Apparel": The glorious clothing of the "men" in the preceding verse (Lk 24:4) reinforces their divine origin and highlights the heavenly importance of their message. It contributes to the women's "fright."
• Echoes of Old Testament Theophanies: The reaction of the women strongly echoes those of prophets and righteous individuals in the Old Testament when confronted with divine beings or God's glory (e.g., Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, Moses). This situates the resurrection announcement within the broader biblical narrative of God's active presence in human history.

Luke 24 5 Commentary

Luke 24:5 succinctly captures the universal human response to encountering the divine. The women's fright and prostration underscore the radical, awe-inspiring nature of the angelic appearance, far removed from ordinary human experience. This reverence acknowledges the presence of God's messengers and implicitly, God Himself. It also highlights the monumental significance of the message about to be delivered—the resurrection of Jesus—a truth so profound it demands an extraordinary, supernatural delivery. Their fear and humility serve as a fitting prelude to the most joyous announcement in human history, preparing their hearts, even amidst initial shock, to receive and later grasp the reality of a living Savior. This scene reinforces the spiritual impact of the resurrection: it is not a quiet or trivial event but a cataclysmic divine act met with awe and proclaimed by heaven's own.