Luke 7 12

Luke 7:12 kjv

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

Luke 7:12 nkjv

And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her.

Luke 7:12 niv

As he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out?the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

Luke 7:12 esv

As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her.

Luke 7:12 nlt

A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow's only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 12 Meaning

Luke 7:12 describes Jesus' arrival at the gate of the city of Nain, where He encounters a funeral procession. This procession carries a young man, the only son of his widowed mother, who is accompanied by a large crowd of sympathetic city residents. The verse sets the scene for a significant display of Jesus' compassion and power over death, highlighting the profound tragedy of the situation to emphasize the subsequent miracle.

Luke 7 12 Context

This verse appears in Luke's account of Jesus' ministry in Galilee. Immediately preceding this event, Jesus demonstrates His immense authority by healing the Centurion's servant from a distance, without even seeing him (Luke 7:1-10). This miracle highlights Jesus' power over disease and spatial limitations. The narrative then shifts, emphasizing Jesus' active approach ("came nigh") to a small Galilean town, Nain. Historically, Nain was a minor village south of Nazareth and Cana, known more for this singular biblical event. Funerals in ancient Jewish culture were solemn public affairs. Burial typically occurred outside city gates, signifying separation from the living and avoiding ritual defilement. The presence of "much people" suggests communal solidarity and the deep emotional impact of death, particularly for a widow who had lost her "only son," signifying her total loss of support, lineage, and future security in that society. The encounter at the "gate of the city" symbolizes a collision point of life and death, of divine intervention meeting human sorrow and helplessness.

Luke 7 12 Word analysis

• Now when he came nigh: Emphasizes the immediate, purposeful, and deliberate movement of Jesus toward the scene of sorrow. It sets up the divine encounter.
• to the gate of the city: The city gate (pyle) was a significant place in ancient culture—a center of commerce, justice, social gathering, and a symbolic boundary. It represents the point where life within the city met the customs of the outside, including burial. Bodies were carried out through the gate for burial, underscoring the finality of death and separation from the living.
• behold: (Gr. idou, ἰδού) This interjection functions as a dramatic attention-getter, signaling a sudden, significant, or divinely orchestrated event about to unfold. It emphasizes the direct, unexpected encounter of Jesus with the procession.
• there was a dead man carried out: (Gr. nekros, νεκρός - a corpse, not merely "dying") This describes the somber reality of the situation – an undeniable death, confirmed by public custom. "Carried out" refers to the customary burial procession taking the body to the tombs outside the city walls.
• the only son of his mother: (Gr. monogenes, μονογενής - only-begotten, unique) This phrase accentuates the depth of the tragedy and despair. For a family in that patriarchal society, an only son was the guarantor of the family line, social status, and future economic support. Losing an "only son" meant complete desolation for a widow, paralleling Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his "only son" Isaac (Gen 22:2) and hinting at God's ultimate sacrifice of His "only begotten" Son.
• and she was a widow: (Gr. chēra, χήρα) This detail profoundly deepens the sorrow. A widow in ancient Israel, especially one without an adult son, was among the most vulnerable members of society, lacking legal, social, or economic protection. Her despair would have been complete, her future bleak. God's special concern for widows is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures.
• and much people of the city was with her: (Gr. ochlos, ὄχλος - a crowd, multitude) This signifies the public nature of the tragedy and the shared communal grief. The crowd acts as witnesses to both the deep sorrow and the miraculous intervention that follows. It highlights the widespread empathy for the woman's plight and will attest to the miracle.

Luke 7 12 Bonus section

• The absence of any stated request for Jesus' intervention highlights His divine initiative and unsolicited compassion. He wasn't sought out; He initiated the contact, demonstrating proactive mercy.
• The city of Nain is mentioned only once in the entire Bible, emphasizing the uniqueness and particularity of this event within Jesus' ministry.
• This is the first of three specific instances in the Gospels where Jesus raises someone from the dead: Jairus' daughter (still in the house, freshly deceased), the widow's son (on the way to burial, public display), and Lazarus (four days dead, sealed tomb). Each successive raising demonstrates an increasing mastery over death.

Luke 7 12 Commentary

Luke 7:12 vividly paints a scene of profound human sorrow intersecting with divine compassion. Jesus' unbidden approach to the city gate positions Him directly in the path of the ultimate human helplessness: death. The accumulation of tragic details—a "dead man," an "only son," a "widow"—maximizes the sense of despair and destitution. The Jewish cultural norms surrounding burial and the extreme vulnerability of widows without a male heir underline the complete catastrophe this loss represented. The "behold" signals that this ordinary funeral procession is about to encounter the extraordinary power of the Lord of Life. This verse, therefore, sets the stage for one of Jesus' most tender and public miracles, where His divine power intervenes not upon request, but purely out of an overflowing heart of compassion for the suffering. It serves as a prelude to demonstrate Christ's sovereignty even over death, paralleling the resurrection works of Elijah and Elisha, yet with an unparalleled, immediate, and sovereign authority.