Luke 7 13

Luke 7:13 kjv

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Luke 7:13 nkjv

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

Luke 7:13 niv

When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and he said, "Don't cry."

Luke 7:13 esv

And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."

Luke 7:13 nlt

When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. "Don't cry!" he said.

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 13 Meaning

Luke 7:13 captures a pivotal moment demonstrating Jesus' profound empathy and divine authority. It reveals that upon encountering a grieving widow during a funeral procession, Jesus, identified as "the Lord," was moved with a deep, visceral compassion for her suffering and immediately commanded her to cease weeping, a command that implicitly promised an end to the cause of her sorrow.

Luke 7 13 Context

Luke 7:13 is part of the account of Jesus raising the widow's son in the town of Nain (Luke 7:11-17). This event follows Jesus' healing of the Centurion's servant, demonstrating His power over illness and now, supremely, over death. Jesus, accompanied by His disciples and a large crowd, approaches the gate of Nain and encounters a funeral procession. The central figure of this procession is a widow mourning her only son, a devastating situation in a society where a son was often the sole provider and protector for his mother. The scene underscores the profound grief and helplessness of the widow, setting the stage for Jesus' powerful display of compassion and authority that completely reverses her hopeless situation. This miracle, unique to Luke's Gospel, highlights Jesus' care for the marginalized and vulnerable.

Luke 7 13 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A conjunction that smoothly links this powerful encounter with the preceding narrative, maintaining the continuous flow of Jesus' ministry. It indicates an immediate unfolding of events.

• when the Lord (ἰδὼν ὁ Κύριος - idōn ho Kyrios):

  • ἰδὼν (idōn): The aorist participle of horao (to see). This is more than a mere glance; it implies attentive observation, understanding, and recognition of the widow's profound sorrow and helplessness. It signifies seeing with discernment.
  • ὁ Κύριος (ho Kyrios): "The Lord." Luke's frequent designation for Jesus, even before His resurrection. This title implies not just mastership but divine authority, acknowledging His sovereign power and inherent deity. It positions Jesus not merely as a prophet but as God manifest, uniquely able to intervene in life and death.

• saw her (αὐτήν - autēn): The direct object "her" emphasizes the specific, individual attention Jesus gave to the widow in her deep distress, singling her out from the mournful crowd.

• he had compassion on her (ἐσπλαγχνίσθη ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ - esplanchnisthē ep' autē):

  • ἐσπλαγχνίσθη (esplanchnisthē): A very strong Greek verb, often translated as "to be moved with compassion," "to feel pity," or "to feel for the pain of others." It derives from splagchna (bowels, intestines, viscera), implying a deep, visceral, gut-level feeling of sympathy. It denotes an inner emotional turmoil in response to severe distress, prompting action. This verb is consistently used in the Gospels to describe Jesus' intense empathy towards those suffering (e.g., Matt 9:36 for the crowds, Mark 1:41 for the leper). This compassion is not merely sentimental but is the driving force behind His miraculous intervention.
  • ἐπ᾽ αὐτῇ (ep' autē): "On her" or "for her," reinforcing the direct and focused nature of His compassion.

• and said to her (καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῇ - kai eipen autē): The immediate verbal response stemming from His deep compassion. His words are not detached observations but direct engagement.

• "Do not weep." (Μὴ κλαῖε - Mē klaie):

  • Μὴ (Mē): A negative particle used with an imperative, forming a prohibitive command: "Do not..."
  • κλαῖε (klaie): The present imperative of klaiō (to weep, lament). The present tense implies "stop weeping" or "do not continue to weep." This command is incredibly significant; it's not a dismissive or insensitive instruction but an authoritative word that foreshadows the reversal of the cause of her tears. Jesus commands sorrow to cease, because He is about to provide a tangible reason for it to end.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "when the Lord saw her, he had compassion": This phrase beautifully links Jesus' divine awareness (as "the Lord"), His specific attentiveness to human suffering, and the deep, intrinsic nature of His empathy. It conveys a personal, active understanding of sorrow that elicits an internal, powerful emotional response. This "seeing" is discerning, leading directly to a heartfelt compassion.
  • "he had compassion on her and said to her, 'Do not weep.'": This grouping demonstrates the swift transition from Jesus' internal, deep emotion to His outward, authoritative action. His compassion is not passive; it compels Him to speak a direct command that instantly transforms the atmosphere of lament into one of anticipatory hope, because His words carry the power to achieve what they declare. The command to "stop weeping" is the divine prelude to a miracle that would eliminate the very reason for her tears.

Luke 7 13 Bonus section

• This particular miracle of Jesus raising the dead is exclusively found in Luke's Gospel, reinforcing Luke's consistent theme of Jesus' compassion for the poor, marginalized, and women.
• The word esplanchnisthē (had compassion) is very telling; it often precedes an act of powerful healing or deliverance by Jesus, indicating that His miracles often flow directly from His deep love and concern for suffering humanity.
• Unlike Elijah and Elisha who raised the dead through fervent prayer to God (1 Ki 17, 2 Ki 4), Jesus performs this miracle through His own authoritative word ("Young man, I say to you, arise," Luke 7:14), emphasizing His inherent divine power.
• The miracle at Nain is unique in that Jesus intervenes unasked, initiating the comfort and healing simply because He "saw her" grief, underscoring His proactive love and divine knowledge of human suffering.

Luke 7 13 Commentary

Luke 7:13 is a powerful encapsulation of Christ's character and mission. Jesus, identified as "the Lord"—a title imbued with divine authority—did not merely observe the widow's immense grief; He was moved with profound, gut-level compassion (esplanchnisthē). This deeply felt empathy spurred Him to immediate, decisive action. His command, "Do not weep," was far more than an ordinary expression of sympathy; it was an authoritative word spoken by one who was about to demonstrate His power over death itself, eradicating the source of her sorrow. This miracle highlights Jesus' unique blend of sovereign power and perfect humanity, showing that His dominion extends over the gravest of human miseries, embodying the prophetic promise of one who would comfort mourners and wipe away tears.