Luke 5:13 kjv

And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

Luke 5:13 nkjv

Then He put out His hand and touched him, saying, "I am willing; be cleansed." Immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13 niv

Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13 esv

And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, "I will; be clean." And immediately the leprosy left him.

Luke 5:13 nlt

Jesus reached out and touched him. "I am willing," he said. "Be healed!" And instantly the leprosy disappeared.

Luke 5 verses

Luke 5 13 Meaning

Luke 5:13 recounts Jesus's compassionate and authoritative response to a leper's plea. By deliberately reaching out and touching the outcast man, Jesus defied ceremonial law and societal norms, simultaneously uttering, "I will; be clean." The immediate departure of the leprosy demonstrates His divine power not only to heal physical disease but also to restore the individual to community and ritual purity, embodying both God's benevolent will and omnipotent word.

Luke 5 13 Context

Luke chapter 5 begins with Jesus calling Peter, James, and John into full-time discipleship following the miraculous catch of fish. Immediately thereafter, Jesus demonstrates His authority over sickness by healing Peter's mother-in-law. The narrative then transitions to the dramatic healing of a man full of leprosy. This event highlights Jesus's divine power not only to heal an incurable disease but also to overturn deeply ingrained social and religious purity codes by physically touching the leper. The context frames Jesus as one whose teachings are accompanied by extraordinary displays of power, challenging conventional understanding of God's law and grace. The leper's isolation under Mosaic law makes Jesus's action profoundly impactful, foreshadowing His ministry of reaching the outcasts and redefining ritual purity through internal transformation.

Luke 5 13 Word analysis

• And stretching out (ἐκτείνας - ekteinas): The participle "ekteinas" (from ekteinō) signifies a deliberate and intentional act of reaching out. It implies purpose and resolve, not a casual or accidental movement. This was a conscious choice by Jesus to initiate contact.
• his hand (τὴν χεῖρα - tēn cheira): The hand symbolizes power, compassion, and presence. In this context, it represents Jesus as the active agent of divine intervention. It's the instrument through which power is transmitted and grace is offered.
• he touched (ἥψατο - hēpsato): This aorist verb (from haptomai) means to touch, cling to, or lay hold of. For a leper, this touch was revolutionary. Under Mosaic Law (Lev 13-14, Num 5:2), touching a leper would make one ceremonially unclean. Jesus's touch did not defile Him; rather, His holiness transferred and cleansed the leper, reversing the expected outcome. It was an act of profound mercy that transcended the law.
• him (αὐτοῦ - autou): Refers to the leper. For one so ostracized and isolated by his disease, this direct, intimate touch was a powerful affirmation of dignity and worth, something he likely had not experienced in years.
• saying (λέγων - legōn): The present participle emphasizes that the word accompanied the action, signifying the power of both His touch and His command working in unison.
• I will (Θέλω - Thelō): This is a verb in the indicative mood, meaning "I wish," "I desire," "I choose," or "I will." It expresses Jesus's active volition and absolute authority. It is not a question of ability but of desire. He does not say "I can," but "I will," highlighting His sovereign purpose in healing.
• be clean (καθαρίσθητι - katharisthēti): This is an aorist passive imperative, meaning "be made clean" or "be purified." It's a divine command that implies complete and instantaneous cleansing, not just healing of the skin, but also ceremonial restoration back into community and worship. This verb signifies not merely the removal of the disease but also the restoration to a state of ritual purity that the law could only delineate, not achieve.
• And immediately (παραχρῆμα - parachrēma): This adverb emphasizes the instantaneity and totality of the healing. There was no delay, no process, but a direct and sudden transformation. It signifies the absolute power and effectiveness of Jesus's word and touch.
• the leprosy (ἡ λέπρα - hē lepra): A generic term for a dreaded skin disease, often used for what we now know as Hansen's disease, but potentially covering various severe skin conditions in biblical times. It made individuals ceremonially unclean, socially outcast, and religiously ostracized. It was often viewed as a divine punishment.
• left him (ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ' αὐτοῦ - apēlthen ap' autou): Literally, "went away from him." This signifies the complete and definitive departure of the disease. The healing was thorough and undeniable, physically and spiritually liberating the man.

Luke 5 13 Bonus section

• The healing of the leper holds strong prophetic significance, demonstrating Jesus's ultimate power to cleanse humanity from the "leprosy" of sin, which alienates people from God and each other.
• The incident illustrates Jesus as the "Living Torah," where His actions and words reinterpret and fulfill the Old Testament law concerning purity, showing that true purity comes from within and through Him.
• Jesus's touch in this narrative also reveals His unique identity. Only God, or one endowed with divine authority, could touch a leper and cleanse rather than become unclean. It positions Jesus as far greater than any prophet.
• The episode is a stark contrast to Naaman's cleansing (2 Ki 5), which involved a multi-step ritual. Here, Jesus's single touch and spoken word instantly accomplished the purification, highlighting a superior, direct power.
• This act prefigures the inclusiveness of the Kingdom of God, where outcasts are brought near and restored, rather than excluded. It broadens the definition of who can be "clean" and welcomed by God.

Luke 5 13 Commentary

Luke 5:13 stands as a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry, demonstrating His profound compassion intertwined with divine authority. By touching the leper, Jesus intentionally crossed boundaries of ritual purity, directly challenging the prevailing religious legalism that kept the afflicted isolated. His touch was an act of audacious grace, signaling that His holiness was not defiled by uncleanness but rather purified it. The potent phrase, "I will; be clean," expresses not only Jesus's desire but His sovereign command over sickness and spiritual uncleanness. It confirms His power to heal instantly and perfectly, bypassing traditional remedies or ceremonial rites. This healing was not merely physical; it was a socio-spiritual restoration, inviting the man back into community and worship. The immediate result underscores the absolute efficacy of God's word and Christ's saving power, prefiguring the deeper spiritual cleansing from sin He offers to all who seek Him.