Luke 4:36 kjv

And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Luke 4:36 nkjv

Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, "What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out."

Luke 4:36 niv

All the people were amazed and said to each other, "What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!"

Luke 4:36 esv

And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"

Luke 4:36 nlt

Amazed, the people exclaimed, "What authority and power this man's words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!"

Luke 4 verses

Luke 4 36 Meaning

Luke 4:36 describes the profound astonishment and realization of the people in the Capernaum synagogue after Jesus casts out an unclean spirit with a simple command. They were utterly amazed, recognizing that His word carried a unique and inherent "authority" and "power" that even malevolent spirits instantly obeyed. This moment revealed Jesus' unparalleled divine sovereignty and established Him as distinctly different from any teacher or healer they had encountered, signaling the arrival of God's Kingdom.

Luke 4 36 Context

This verse immediately follows Jesus' initial ministry activities in Capernaum after leaving Nazareth. Luke 4:31-35 describes Jesus teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath, where His teaching astonished the people because His word was "with authority" (Lk 4:32). While He was teaching, a man possessed by an unclean spirit cried out, acknowledging Jesus as the "Holy One of God." Jesus immediately rebuked the spirit, commanding it to leave the man, which it did instantly without harming him. Verse 36 records the people's collective response of utter amazement to this unique demonstration of power that validated Jesus' authoritative teaching. Historically, people in the Galilee region were accustomed to various forms of spiritual healing and exorcism, but none operated with the direct, inherent authority and instantaneous efficacy demonstrated by Jesus.

Luke 4 36 Word analysis

• And: Connects the observed action (exorcism) with the immediate and collective reaction of the bystanders.
• they were all amazed: The Greek word is ekplēssō (ἐκπλήσσω), meaning "to strike out" or "to be utterly astonished." It conveys a sense of shock, overwhelming wonder, and profound awe, indicating that their expectations were completely shattered by what they witnessed.
• saying among themselves: Indicates a widespread, internal, and shared realization among the crowd, possibly a murmuring of profound disbelief and awe. It was not a single declaration but a communal, almost whispered, processing of the event.
• 'What a word this is!': The Greek is Ho Logos Houtos! (Ὁ λόγος οὗτος!). Logos here refers not just to a single utterance but to Jesus' kind of word or authoritative utterance. It points to the essence of His command, embodying His person, teaching, and active power. It's a recognition of the quality and nature of His commanding speech.
• For: Introduces the reason for their amazement, elaborating on what made His "word" so unique.
• with authority: The Greek word is exousia (ἐξουσία). This denotes inherent right, rightful power, or delegated prerogative. Unlike scribes or other exorcists who might invoke God's name or perform rituals, Jesus possessed exousia as His own intrinsic attribute. It's His right to command based on who He is.
• and power: The Greek word is dynamis (δύναμις), referring to active, miraculous, dynamic force or ability. While exousia is the right to act, dynamis is the capability to bring about that action effectively. The combination signifies complete, unquestionable dominion and effectiveness.
• He commands: The Greek verb is epitassō (ἐπιτάσσω), meaning "to arrange over" or "to order upon." It implies a direct, unequivocal order given by a superior to an inferior, demanding immediate obedience without question or negotiation.
• the unclean spirits: The Greek is pneumasin akathartois (πνεύμασιν ἀκαθάρτοις). These are malevolent, spiritual entities considered impure and morally defiled, active agents of evil and spiritual oppression. Their "uncleanness" highlights their opposition to God's holiness and their corrupting influence.
• and they come out: Demonstrates instantaneous, unhesitating, and absolute obedience of the demonic entities to Jesus' command, proving His unmatched power over them. No struggle, no prolonged prayer, just His word and immediate departure.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "they were all amazed, saying among themselves, 'What a word this is!'": This phrase captures the immediate, widespread, and deeply felt impact of Jesus' actions. Their astonishment wasn't merely at the exorcism itself but at the startling manner in which it was accomplished – a simple, authoritative word. It indicates their recognition of a wholly new and profoundly powerful dynamic.
• "For with authority and power He commands": This explains why Jesus' word was so astonishing. It wasn't just power (dynamis), which others might claim through rituals, but inherent authority (exousia) that established His divine right to command. This coupling emphasizes Jesus' full sovereignty and divine identity as the source of His miraculous works.
• "commands the unclean spirits, and they come out": This directly contrasts Jesus' method and efficacy with any other known practices. The demons' immediate and unconditional submission to His bare command reveals Jesus' unchallenged supremacy over the forces of spiritual darkness. It visually confirms His mission to liberate and conquer the kingdom of evil.

Luke 4 36 Bonus section

• The Capernaum synagogue incident marks the very beginning of Jesus' widespread public ministry in Galilee, powerfully introducing Him to the people through an unmistakable demonstration of divine power and authority over the spiritual realm.
• The immediate and public nature of the exorcism and the people's reaction laid the foundation for His growing fame throughout the region, as stated in Luke 4:37, leading to many more healings and teachings.
• The demon's immediate obedience not only highlighted Jesus' power but also implicitly confirms the real existence and malicious nature of these spiritual entities, as opposed to mere psychological or physical ailments.

Luke 4 36 Commentary

Luke 4:36 serves as a climactic response to Jesus' first public miracle in Capernaum's synagogue, providing tangible evidence of His unique authority, which was previously recognized in His teaching. The crowd's overwhelming astonishment highlights the stark contrast between Jesus' methods and that of contemporary Jewish exorcists, who often relied on elaborate rituals, incantations, or an appeal to external powers like God or Solomon. Jesus, by simply speaking a direct, absolute command, revealed an intrinsic exousia (authority, right to rule) coupled with dynamis (effective power) that belonged to Him alone. This event solidified His identity not merely as a prophet or a gifted healer but as one possessing divine prerogative over spiritual realms. His word, which brought immediate obedience from demons, underscored the breaking in of God's Kingdom, directly confronting and disarming the works of evil. This single, swift action powerfully demonstrates Jesus' preeminence and validates the divine origin of His entire ministry.