Luke 4:30 kjv

But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Luke 4:30 nkjv

Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way.

Luke 4:30 niv

But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Luke 4:30 esv

But passing through their midst, he went away.

Luke 4:30 nlt

but he passed right through the crowd and went on his way.

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 30 Meaning

Luke 4:30 describes Jesus' supernatural escape from a murderous mob in Nazareth. After His hometown turned hostile and sought to kill Him by throwing Him off a cliff, Jesus "passed through the midst of them" (dielthōn dia mesou autōn) and went on His way. This signifies a divine act of protection, asserting Jesus' divine control over His own life and demonstrating that His death would occur according to God's precise timing and method, not at the whim of an angry crowd. It underlines God's sovereignty over the Messiah's mission.

Luke 4 30 Context

Luke 4:30 marks the dramatic conclusion of Jesus' initial public sermon and rejection in His hometown, Nazareth (Luke 4:16-30). Having taught in the synagogue and boldly proclaimed the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy concerning the Messiah's anointing for salvation, Jesus initially impressed His audience. However, their marvel turned to skepticism when they questioned His humble origins as "Joseph's son." Jesus, discerning their desire for signs and their unbelief, rebuked them by citing proverbs about prophets not being honored in their hometown and by recalling how God's mercy in past times of famine (Elijah to Zarephath) and leprosy (Elisha to Naaman) extended to Gentiles while bypassing unbelieving Israelites. This deeply offended the people of Nazareth, who, filled with rage, dragged Jesus out of the town to a cliff intending to throw Him down. It is at this critical moment, as their murderous intent reached its peak, that verse 30 describes Jesus' inexplicable and powerful departure, demonstrating His divine sovereignty and setting the stage for His ministry to begin more broadly outside of His native region. Historically and culturally, rejecting a prophet or messenger from God could have severe consequences in ancient Israel, as it represented a rejection of God Himself. Jesus’ escape here signals a higher divine purpose that would not be thwarted by human malice.

Luke 4 30 Word analysis

• But (αὐτὸς δὲ - autos de): The conjunction de signifies a contrast or transition. It strongly contrasts the violent intent of the mob ("they rose up...to throw Him down") with Jesus' serene and powerful action. The pronoun autos (He himself) emphasizes Jesus' singular and decisive agency, highlighting His personal initiative rather than merely reacting.
• he passing through (διελθὼν - dielthōn): A powerful aorist participle of dierchomai (to go through, pass through). This implies movement within or through something that might otherwise impede or enclose. It conveys a sense of direct and unhindered movement despite obstacles, emphasizing Jesus' effortless penetration of the angry crowd. This is not a description of evasion or hiding, but of a calm, purposeful advance.
• through the midst (διὰ μέσου - dia mesou): This phrase explicitly states how Jesus passed – directly through the core of the hostile mob. dia (through) with mesos (middle) indicates an unblocked passage directly across the very center of their collective intention and physical presence. This removes any suggestion of a clandestine escape, implying a powerful, undeniable movement. It suggests a temporary inability or spiritual paralysis on the part of the crowd.
• of them (αὐτῶν - autōn): Refers to the enraged inhabitants of Nazareth, who had just dragged Him out to kill Him. This underlines the immediate and grave danger from which Jesus extricates Himself, reinforcing the miraculous nature of His departure from the very heart of their grasp.
• went his way (ἐπορεύετο - eporeueto): Imperfect tense of poreuomai (to go, proceed). The imperfect tense suggests a continuous or ongoing action – He "was going His way" or "proceeded on His journey." It conveys an unhurried, purposeful departure as if their attempt had merely been an insignificant delay. It highlights Jesus' determined progress towards His mission and next destination, demonstrating that the Nazareth incident did not deter or stop Him.
• "he passing through the midst of them went his way" (phrase): This entire phrase points to Jesus' divine authority and protection. It's not described as fleeing, hiding, or struggling. Instead, it suggests a majestic, effortless, and inexplicable passage that left the mob powerless. This serves as an early sign that Jesus' life, and specifically His death, would not be subject to human malice or whim, but to the precise timetable of God's redemptive plan. It signifies a unique power belonging to the Messiah, enabling Him to overcome human attempts to prematurely end His mission, while foreshadowing the greater act of His voluntary laying down of His life later.

Luke 4 30 Bonus section

The immediate consequence of this escape in Luke's narrative is Jesus moving His base of operations to Capernaum (Lk 4:31). This signifies a deliberate strategic shift from Nazareth to a new center of ministry, suggesting that rejection in one place does not end God's plan but reorients its execution. This event also marks the first of several instances in the Gospels where Jesus miraculously evades capture or harm by hostile crowds (e.g., Jn 8:59, Jn 10:39), consistently affirming that He was not subject to human will or power until the very moment He voluntarily surrendered Himself for the atonement on the cross. The lack of detailed explanation for how He passed through them emphasizes the miraculous and divine nature of the event, inviting the reader to understand it as an act of God rather than a cunning maneuver.

Luke 4 30 Commentary

Luke 4:30 is a pivotal and concise declaration of Jesus' divine immunity and sovereignty over His own life. Following an intense rejection by His own townsfolk, who moved from initial awe to murderous rage, Jesus' passage "through the midst of them" is depicted not as an escape born of fear or stealth, but as a deliberate, supernaturally enabled act. It conveys a sense of unperturbed progress despite the deadly threat. This moment dramatically illustrates that Jesus' mission was not dependent on human acceptance or susceptible to human interference regarding its timing or execution. His life would only be laid down when His "hour" had come, and then, only on His own terms as an act of willing self-sacrifice for humanity's redemption, not as a casualty of an angry mob. It foreshadows both the ongoing opposition He would face and His ultimate triumph over all forces arrayed against God's plan.