Luke 5:8 kjv
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, Depart from me; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.
Luke 5:8 nkjv
When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"
Luke 5:8 niv
When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
Luke 5:8 esv
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord."
Luke 5:8 nlt
When Simon Peter realized what had happened, he fell to his knees before Jesus and said, "Oh, Lord, please leave me ? I'm such a sinful man."
Luke 5 8 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 6:5 | Then I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips…" | Isaiah's conviction of sin before God's holiness |
| Job 42:5-6 | "I had heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." | Job's repentance upon seeing God |
| Exod 3:5-6 | "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." And he hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God. | Moses' fear and reverence before holy God |
| Judg 13:22 | And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God." | Human fear of death from seeing God |
| Dan 10:8 | "So I was left alone and saw this great vision, and no strength was left in me; my radiant appearance was fearfully changed, and I retained no strength." | Daniel's weakness before a divine vision |
| Matt 17:6 | When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were greatly afraid. | Disciples' fear during the Transfiguration |
| Mk 4:41 | And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" | Disciples' fear after calming the storm |
| Lk 8:25 | And he said to them, "Where is your faith?" And they were afraid, and marveled… | Disciples' awe and fear at Jesus' power |
| Lk 8:47 | And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him… | Woman trembling and falling before Jesus |
| Acts 5:5 | When Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last. And great fear came upon all who heard of it. | Divine judgment causing great fear |
| Rev 1:17 | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. | John's reaction to seeing the glorified Christ |
| Gen 17:3 | Then Abram fell on his face, and God talked with him… | Abraham prostrating before God |
| Num 16:22 | Then they fell on their faces and said, "O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh…" | Moses and Aaron prostrating themselves |
| Josh 5:14 | And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped… | Joshua worshiping the commander of the Lord's army |
| Matt 2:11 | And going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. | Magi worshiping the infant Jesus |
| Matt 28:9 | And behold, Jesus met them and said, "Greetings!" And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. | Women worshiping the resurrected Jesus |
| 1 Tim 1:15 | The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. | Paul's confession of being the worst sinner |
| Lk 18:13 | But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ | A humble sinner's prayer |
| Matt 4:18-22 | Jesus calls Peter and Andrew to be "fishers of men." | Immediate context of Jesus calling first disciples |
| Lk 5:10 | And Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men." | Jesus' response to Peter's confession and call |
| Lev 10:3 | "Among those who are near me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified." | God's expectation of holiness from His servants |
| Heb 12:29 | for our God is a consuming fire. | Description of God's holy nature |
Luke 5 verses
Luke 5 8 Meaning
Luke 5:8 portrays Simon Peter's overwhelming realization of Jesus' divine power after witnessing the miraculous catch of fish. This leads him to a profound conviction of his own sinfulness and unworthiness in the presence of such holiness, compelling him to humbly request Jesus to leave, recognizing Jesus' profound authority as "Lord." It marks a critical moment of spiritual revelation and self-abasement that prepares him for true discipleship.
Luke 5 8 Context
Luke 5:8 follows Jesus' instruction to Simon Peter, a seasoned fisherman, to launch into the deep and cast his nets for a catch, despite a night of fruitless labor (Luke 5:1-7). Peter's initial reluctance ("Master, we toiled all night and took nothing!") but ultimate obedience leads to an astounding, miraculous haul of fish that threatened to break their nets and sink their boats. This unparalleled demonstration of power by Jesus over creation completely overturns Peter's professional experience and rational understanding. His response in verse 8 is thus a direct reaction to this awe-inspiring, supernatural event that reveals Jesus' identity not just as a skilled teacher but as one possessing divine authority and holiness. The historical context shows Peter as a simple fisherman, making his spiritual realization and humble confession all the more striking.
Luke 5 8 Word analysis
- When Simon Peter: Σίμων Πέτρος (Simōn Petros). "Simon" is his birth name, meaning "he has heard." "Peter" (Πέτρος, Petros) means "rock" and was a new name given by Jesus, indicating his future role. The dual naming highlights Peter's evolving identity, here showing a key moment in his recognition of Jesus. His usual impulsive character prepares the way for this intense, honest outburst.
- saw it: ἰδών (idōn), "having seen," or "perceiving." It signifies not merely a physical observation of the abundance of fish but a profound spiritual discernment of the divine power behind the miracle. It's an internal revelation, not just an external event.
- he fell down: προσέπεσεν (prosepesen), "he fell upon," or "prostrated himself." This Greek verb denotes a strong, decisive action of prostration, a common posture of worship, intense reverence, submission, and overwhelming fear in the presence of divine power or overwhelming authority.
- at Jesus’ knees: This indicates a position of absolute submission, humility, and plea. To fall at someone's knees signifies deep respect and dependence, appealing to their mercy or authority.
- saying, "Depart from me": ἔξελθε ἀπ’ ἐμοῦ (exelthe ap' emou), a strong command meaning "go out from me." This is a deeply humble and reverent plea. It's not a desire for Jesus to actually leave but an expression of profound unworthiness in light of Jesus' holiness. Peter feels his sin makes him unfit to be near such purity and power.
- for I am a sinful man: ὅτι ἀνὴρ ἁμαρτωλός εἰμι (hoti anēr hamartōlos eimi). "Sinful" (ἁμαρτωλός, hamartōlos) refers to one characterized by sin, a "sinner" by nature or practice. This is Peter’s raw and honest self-assessment, a confession of his inherent depravity contrasting sharply with the divine righteousness of Jesus.
- O Lord: Κύριε (Kyrie). This title, while usable as "sir," takes on much deeper significance here. Following the miraculous demonstration and Peter's confession of sin, "Kyrie" most powerfully indicates Peter's recognition of Jesus' divine authority, sovereign power, and potentially His deity. It transcends merely human respect.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "When Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees": This sequence graphically depicts the immediate and powerful impact of the divine encounter on Peter. The extraordinary miracle compels him from a place of professional competence to one of profound awe and submission, laying him low before Jesus.
- "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord": This phrase encapsulates Peter's moment of spiritual breakthrough. His demand for Jesus to depart is justified by his radical self-awareness of sin ("I am a sinful man"). This confession is made possible by his recognition of Jesus as "Lord," implying the vast chasm between human imperfection and divine holiness. It is a humble acknowledgment of disparity and a foundational step for grace.
Luke 5 8 Bonus section
- Peter’s reaction is a prime example of the "fear of the Lord" which, in biblical understanding, is not terror, but a profound reverence, awe, and submission to God's holiness, acknowledging one's own sinfulness and utter dependence.
- The overwhelming physical manifestation of divine power (the fish) directly correlates to a spiritual revelation of Jesus' identity and Peter's own moral state. This integrated encounter leads to radical life change.
- This verse marks Peter's transition from simply recognizing Jesus as a "Master" (v.5) or a teacher to acknowledging Him as "Lord," indicating a much higher understanding of His person and authority.
- Peter's immediate, uncalculated response demonstrates an authentic encounter that bypassed intellectual processing, directly engaging his spirit. It sets him apart as one whom Jesus could profoundly transform.
Luke 5 8 Commentary
Luke 5:8 is a pivotal moment revealing Simon Peter's spiritual awakening. The miraculous catch of fish transcends a simple demonstration of power; it is a revelation of Jesus' inherent holiness and sovereign control over creation. In this encounter, Peter's deep conviction of sin arises not from a preached sermon, but from a direct experience of divine glory, mirroring Old Testament figures who crumbled before God's presence. His cry, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord," is not an attempt to distance himself from Jesus out of rejection, but rather a profound expression of reverential awe, humility, and shame over his own unworthiness when confronted with pure holiness. It signifies a genuine fear of the Lord – a respectful dread of divine power and moral perfection that lays bare human impurity. This self-recognition of sinfulness is ironically the very prerequisite for Jesus to call him into service as a "fisher of men" (Lk 5:10), showing that a humble awareness of one's need for God's grace is foundational to true discipleship and ministry.