Luke 4:19 kjv
To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
Luke 4:19 nkjv
To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD."
Luke 4:19 niv
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 esv
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Luke 4:19 nlt
and that the time of the LORD's favor has come. "
Luke 4 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 61:1 | "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord has anointed me To preach good tidings to the meek; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted..." | Prophecy's direct source for Jesus' mission. |
| Isa 42:7 | "To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house." | Echoes the mission of opening eyes and releasing captives. |
| Isa 58:6 | "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free..." | Describes active liberation from various forms of bondage. |
| Psa 146:8 | "The Lord opens the eyes of the blind: the Lord raises them that are bowed down: the Lord loves the righteous:" | God's attribute of bringing sight and lifting up. |
| Lev 25:10 | "And ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you..." | Concept of 'liberty' (Jubilee) for release and restoration. |
| Zech 9:11 | "As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein is no water." | Divine release of prisoners through covenant. |
| Matt 11:5 | "The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." | Jesus' answer to John, confirming fulfillment of prophecies (Isa 35:5-6, 61:1). |
| Luke 7:22 | "Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed..." | Luke's parallel to Matthew 11:5. |
| Jn 8:36 | "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." | Jesus is the ultimate source of true freedom. |
| Rom 6:18 | "Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness." | Spiritual liberty from the bondage of sin. |
| Rom 8:2 | "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." | The Spirit's role in freeing from condemnation. |
| Gal 5:1 | "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." | Call to maintain freedom found in Christ. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | "...that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." | Jesus delivers from fear of death and spiritual slavery. |
| Acts 26:18 | "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God..." | Paul's mission aligned with spiritual eye-opening and turning. |
| Col 1:13 | "Who has delivered us from the power of darkness, and has translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son..." | Deliverance from Satan's dominion. |
| 2 Cor 4:4 | "...the god of this world has blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." | Illustrates spiritual blindness that the Gospel addresses. |
| Eph 1:18 | "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints..." | Prayer for spiritual enlightenment. |
| Matt 11:28 | "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." | Jesus offers rest to those burdened or "bruised." |
| Luke 18:35-43 | (Blind man near Jericho receives sight) "And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God..." | Example of Jesus restoring physical sight. |
| 1 Pet 1:18-19 | "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ..." | Redemption from a life of futility, a form of spiritual bondage. |
| 1 Jn 3:8 | "...For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil." | Jesus' mission includes undoing spiritual oppression. |
Luke 4 verses
Luke 4 19 Meaning
Luke 4:19 proclaims key aspects of Jesus Christ's mission on Earth, serving as His declaration of purpose when He began His public ministry. Drawing directly from the prophecy in Isaiah 61:1, this verse reveals that the Messiah's anointing is for the divine task of liberating those in spiritual and physical bondage, restoring vision to the blind, and offering freedom to those crushed by oppression. It is a declaration of good news that brings holistic restoration and release from the devastating effects of sin and brokenness.
Luke 4 19 Context
Luke 4:19 is part of Jesus' sermon in the synagogue at Nazareth, where He reads from the scroll of Isaiah. Having returned to Galilee "in the power of the Spirit" (Lk 4:14), Jesus entered the synagogue, stood up to read, and was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He chose the passage from Isaiah 61:1-2. After reading verses 18-19 (the text we are analyzing, with the start of verse 18: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me..."), He dramatically closed the scroll, sat down, and declared, "This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears" (Lk 4:21). This act profoundly unveiled Jesus' identity as the promised Messiah and clearly defined His mission and ministry, indicating that the prophetic era of God's Anointed One had begun. This moment was a direct claim of His messianic authority and the inaugurating declaration of the Kingdom of God. Historically, Jewish expectations for the Messiah often focused on a political deliverer who would liberate Israel from Roman rule; Jesus' emphasis on spiritual, physical, and socio-economic liberation (rooted in Isaiah) challenged these expectations and introduced the true scope of God's redemptive work.
Luke 4 19 Word analysis
- To proclaim (κηρύξαι, kēryxai): This word denotes an official, authoritative, public declaration or announcement, as made by a herald. Jesus is not simply offering an opinion but proclaiming a divine truth and purpose, acting as God's anointed messenger. It implies the weighty significance and truth of the message.
- liberty (ἀφέσει, aphesei): Means release, remission, forgiveness, or discharge. In its Old Testament background (LXX for deror), it directly connects to the Year of Jubilee (Lev 25:10), a time when debts were cancelled, slaves set free, and ancestral lands returned. Here, it refers to a profound, comprehensive liberation from various forms of bondage—spiritual, physical, and social.
- to the captives (αἰχμαλώτοις, aichmalōtois): Those taken as prisoners of war, held in bondage, or under external control. While it includes physical imprisonment, in Jesus' context, it primarily refers to those enslaved by sin, spiritual darkness (Col 1:13), fear (Heb 2:15), and legalism, as well as those socially or economically marginalized and oppressed.
- and recovering of sight (ἀνάβλεψιν, anablepsin): Literally means "looking up again" or "restoration of sight." It refers to the physical healing of the blind, a common miracle of Jesus. Beyond physical healing, it signifies spiritual enlightenment, overcoming spiritual blindness (2 Cor 4:4), and gaining insight into God's truth and His kingdom (Eph 1:18).
- to the blind (τυφλοῖς, typhlois): Refers to those who are literally physically without sight. Metaphorically, it refers to those who are spiritually ignorant, unable to perceive God's truth, or morally insensitive, often due to sin or unbelief.
- to set at liberty (ἀποστεῖλαι ἐν ἀφέσει, aposteilai en aphesei): This phrase emphasizes the active, deliberate nature of the release. Aposteilai means "to send away," combined with aphesei (liberty/release). This reiteration reinforces the theme of freedom and underscores Jesus' active role in granting this freedom, signifying His mission to implement this liberation.
- them that are bruised (τεθραυσμένους, tethrausmenous): Those crushed, shattered, broken, oppressed, or broken in spirit. This encompasses a broad spectrum of human suffering—physical affliction, emotional pain, spiritual despair, and those burdened by socio-economic or political oppression. It highlights Jesus' ministry to the afflicted and marginalized.
Words-group analysis:
- "To proclaim liberty to the captives": This foundational declaration highlights Jesus' core mission to bring liberation. It covers freedom from spiritual imprisonment to sin and the devil, as well as literal and social forms of oppression, establishing a "year of favor" where divine justice and mercy are extended.
- "and recovering of sight to the blind": This phrase broadens the scope of liberation to include enlightenment and understanding. It encompasses miraculous physical healing but also signifies the opening of spiritually darkened minds to comprehend divine truth and recognize God's redemptive work.
- "to set at liberty them that are bruised": This reiteration emphasizes the active sending forth of freedom, targeting those who are suffering, brokenhearted, or burdened by the weight of life's injustices, sin, or spiritual anguish. It underlines Jesus' compassion and power to heal and restore the deeply wounded.
Luke 4 19 Bonus section
The specific choice by Jesus to read Isaiah 61:1-2 and then conclude before reading the final phrase, "and the day of vengeance of our God" (Isa 61:2b), is highly significant. It clearly demarcates His first coming as an era of grace and favor, where His primary mission is to save and to heal, providing opportunity for repentance and liberation. The "day of vengeance" awaits His second coming, when He will return as judge. This selective reading serves as a critical interpretive lens for understanding the two distinct phases of Christ's messianic work: redemption first, judgment later.
Luke 4 19 Commentary
Luke 4:19, quoted by Jesus from Isaiah 61:1, encapsulates the core of His redemptive mission. It is a powerful declaration that positions Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah who brings good news, not just a set of doctrines. His work is holistic, addressing spiritual bondage ("captives") through freedom from sin and darkness, intellectual and spiritual blindness ("blind") by granting perception of divine truth, and physical and emotional suffering ("bruised") by providing healing and relief. This 'liberty' (aphesis) echoes the Old Testament Jubilee, a year of universal release, symbolizing the comprehensive spiritual "Jubilee" inaugurated by Christ where all are offered redemption from their bondage. Jesus’ choice to stop reading the prophecy before mentioning "the day of vengeance of our God" (Isa 61:2) subtly indicated the primary focus of His first advent—one of grace, restoration, and mercy, reserving divine judgment for His second coming. It is a blueprint for Christian life: believers are called to receive this liberating message and extend God's grace to a world in similar need of spiritual sight, freedom, and healing from brokenness.