Luke 4:29 kjv

And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Luke 4:29 nkjv

and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff.

Luke 4:29 niv

They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.

Luke 4:29 esv

And they rose up and drove him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff.

Luke 4:29 nlt

Jumping up, they mobbed him and forced him to the edge of the hill on which the town was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 29 Meaning

The verse describes the abrupt, violent turning point in Jesus's interaction with the people of Nazareth. From an initial admiration in the synagogue, their mood shifted to intense fury, prompting them to physically expel Him from their city. Their ultimate intent was to lead Him to the edge of a high cliff nearby, where they intended to throw Him off, executing Him without trial by plunging Him to His death. This was a direct, lethal rejection of His claims and implications about Himself and God's favor.

Luke 4 29 Context

Luke chapter 4 chronicles the beginning of Jesus's public ministry, immediately after His temptation in the wilderness. The pivotal event preceding verse 29 is Jesus's return to His hometown of Nazareth and His Sabbath teaching in the synagogue. There, He read from Isa 61:1-2, proclaiming the fulfillment of this prophecy in Himself. Initially, the crowd marveled at His gracious words (Lk 4:22). However, their admiration quickly turned to wrath when Jesus confronted their self-righteous expectations and pride (Lk 4:23). He alluded to God's past actions, favoring Gentiles (specifically the widow of Zarephath with Elijah and Naaman the Syrian with Elisha), while His own people struggled with faith. This implied that God's blessing was not exclusive to them, and could be extended even to outsiders when His message was rejected. This statement ignited a deep-seated rage among His kinsmen, who believed they, as Abraham's descendants and residents of His hometown, were entitled to exclusive favor. This shift from marvel to murderous intent highlights their rejection of Jesus' divine authority and His challenging message. Historically, Nazareth was built on a series of hills, providing high precipices from which to throw individuals. Such a method of execution was an informal, mob-led capital punishment, possibly viewed as a variant of stoning, applied in cases of perceived blasphemy or extreme offenses.

Luke 4 29 Word analysis

• And they rose up (Greek: ἀναστάντες - anastantes): A participle, suggesting a sudden and determined action. It indicates a unified, forceful movement by the entire crowd against Jesus.
• and drove Him out (Greek: ἐξέβαλον - exeballon): This verb means "cast out," "threw out," or "expelled." It implies a violent and public ejection. It’s a strong verb signifying a forceful removal, rather than merely leading Him out.
• of the city (Greek: τῆς πόλεως - tēs poleōs): Specifically, Nazareth, Jesus's hometown. This rejection in His familiar surroundings and by His own people is particularly poignant, echoing the prophecy that "a prophet is without honor in his own country."
• and led Him (Greek: ἤγαγον - ēgagon): Meaning "they brought" or "they led." It signifies a guided, yet forceful, escort, suggesting a clear destination and intent by the angry mob.
• to the brow (Greek: ἕως ὀφρύος - heōs ophryos): Ophrys literally means "eyebrow," but in topography, it refers to a prominent ridge or edge, especially of a cliff or mountain. It vividly paints a picture of being led to a dangerous precipice.
• of the hill (Greek: τοῦ ὄρους - tou orous): Referring to the actual elevated terrain. Nazareth is situated among hills, making such a precipice a distinct geographical feature.
• on which their city was built: This geographical detail emphasizes the proximity of the intended execution site to their everyday lives. It highlights that the city itself was situated precariously, with immediate access to cliffs.
• so that they might throw Him down headlong (Greek: κατακρημνίσαι - katakrēmnisai): This infinitive means "to cast down from a precipice," "to hurl headlong," or "to precipitate." It describes the act of causing someone to fall from a height to their death. This was a method of execution, signifying an immediate and brutal form of capital punishment, often without any legal process. It reveals their ultimate, murderous intention and the extreme anger that drove them.

• "rose up and drove Him out of the city": This phrase marks a violent mob reaction. From initial acceptance, the synagogue congregation quickly transformed into an angry crowd seeking His immediate removal and eventual destruction. It reflects the volatile nature of public opinion and the deep offense Jesus's words caused, seen as blasphemous or undermining their unique status.
• "led Him to the brow of the hill... to throw Him down headlong": This group of words paints a horrifying scene of attempted summary execution. The intent was not merely to banish Him, but to kill Him, employing a barbaric form of capital punishment reserved for extreme transgressions or public threats. The specific location – the brow of the hill on which their city stood – underscores the premeditated and geographical nature of their murderous rage, leveraging their natural environment for their brutal purpose. This indicates a desperate desire to eliminate what they perceived as a dangerous "false prophet" or a threat to their religious identity.

Luke 4 29 Bonus section

The episode in Nazareth serves as an early, vivid foretelling of the widespread rejection Jesus would face, particularly from those within His own nation. It reveals a deep-seated antagonism against Jesus’s radical message that challenged their existing spiritual framework. The attempt on His life signifies not just disapproval, but a visceral desire to eliminate Him, indicating the profound spiritual conflict at play. Furthermore, the topography of Nazareth played a key role in their plans, making the specific form of execution possible. This rejection from His own family and community amplified the prophecy of Isa 53:3 concerning the suffering Servant, emphasizing that He would be "despised and rejected by mankind."

Luke 4 29 Commentary

This verse captures a chilling display of rejection and murderous intent against Jesus by His own people in Nazareth. The fury escalated rapidly from awe to homicidal rage because Jesus challenged their exclusive nationalistic and religious pride, implying God's grace was not bound by their expectations or geographic location. Their reaction underscores the profound human resistance to divine truth when it clashes with deeply held traditions, personal comfort, or self-righteousness. The mob's attempt to hurl Jesus from the cliff, an act of capital punishment reserved for severe perceived offenses like blasphemy or drawing people away from God, highlights their perception of Him as a grave threat. Yet, Jesus's miraculous passing through their midst (Luke 4:30) demonstrates His divine sovereignty and that His life was not subject to human will or timing until God's appointed hour.