Luke 7 14

Luke 7:14 kjv

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Luke 7:14 nkjv

Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

Luke 7:14 niv

Then he went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!"

Luke 7:14 esv

Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."

Luke 7:14 nlt

Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. "Young man," he said, "I tell you, get up."

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 14 Meaning

Luke 7:14 narrates Jesus' encounter with a funeral procession for the only son of a widow in the town of Nain. Moved by compassion for the grieving mother, Jesus deliberately approached the bier and, by His divine authority, commanded the deceased young man to "Arise." This immediate and powerful reanimation of the dead demonstrates Jesus' absolute sovereignty over life and death, showcasing His profound compassion and affirming His identity as the Life-Giver and the promised Messiah.

Luke 7 14 Context

Luke chapter 7 presents a series of profound displays of Jesus' authority and identity. Immediately preceding this miracle, Jesus had healed a centurion's servant by simply speaking a word, demonstrating His power over disease and distance. John the Baptist's disciples then approached Jesus, asking if He was "the one who is to come." In response, Jesus pointed to the miracles He was performing, including raising the dead (Lk 7:22), clearly signaling His messianic identity. This miracle at Nain then powerfully illustrates this very point. The setting of a funeral procession, outside the city gate, involving a grieving widow who had lost her "only son" and sole support, provides the backdrop for Jesus' display of compassion and divine power, underscoring His challenge to death and despair. The Jewish custom regarding death involved ceremonial impurity for anyone touching a corpse, highlighting the remarkable nature of Jesus' physical interaction with the bier.

Luke 7 14 Word analysis

• And he came (Καὶ προσελθών - Kai proselthōn): "Proselthōn" (from proserchomai) denotes a deliberate approach or drawing near. This was not a chance encounter but a purposeful movement by Jesus to intervene in the procession of death, highlighting His intentionality to bring comfort and life.
• and touched (ἥψατο - hēpsato): From haptō, meaning to grasp or touch. This physical act is highly significant. In Mosaic Law (e.g., Num 19:11), touching a dead body rendered a person ritually unclean. Jesus, however, by His divine nature and power, does not contract defilement but instead imparts life, demonstrating His authority over sin, death, and even ritualistic law. His touch transfers not impurity but sanctification and life.
• the bier (τῆς σoρoῦ - tēs sorou): Refers to the open stretcher or coffin upon which the deceased body was carried to burial. This underscores the visible reality of death and the public nature of the miracle.
• And they that bare him (οἱ βαστάζοντες - hoi bastazontes): These were the individuals carrying the stretcher. Their action, or rather inaction, demonstrates the immediate, awe-inspiring effect of Jesus' presence.
• stood still (ἔστησαν - estēsan): This is an emphatic halt. It implies an immediate cessation of movement, indicative of reverence, astonishment, or a recognition of unprecedented authority. The procession of death itself pauses in the presence of the Lord of Life.
• And he said (καὶ εἶπεν - kai eipen): Signifies a direct declaration, an authoritative command rather than a request or question. This is a divine fiat, an exercise of His sovereign will.
• Young man (Νεανίσκε - Neaniske): A direct and personal address, highlighting the deceased's youth and emphasizing the profound tragedy of his early demise and the widow's unique sorrow.
• I say unto thee (σοὶ λέγω - soi legō): A powerful, emphatic personal declaration. "I myself am commanding you." This underscores Jesus' inherent authority and His divine prerogative to command even death. It’s not an appeal to God, but God speaking directly.
• Arise (ἔγερθητι - egerthēti): A powerful imperative command (aorist passive imperative of egeirō, meaning to awaken or raise up). It demands an immediate and complete reanimation from death. This verb is often used to describe resurrection, including Jesus' own resurrection (e.g., Mt 28:6). It’s not merely healing but an act of creation and imparting life where none existed.

• "And he came and touched the bier": This entire action signifies Jesus' deliberate and powerful confrontation with death. He did not send word, but personally entered the domain of sorrow and touched that which represented death, transforming it from a source of ritual uncleanness into an conduit of divine life. This act powerfully asserts His dominion over the realm of mortality.
• "and they that bare him stood still": The immediate and unquestioning halt of the pallbearers, without a word from Jesus, reveals the palpable presence of divine authority that accompanied Him. It marked an abrupt pause in the relentless march of death, a moment of profound recognition and awe among those present.
• "And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise": This three-part utterance forms a concise yet omnipotent command. It combines direct address, a declaration of supreme personal authority, and an absolute imperative that reverses the natural order of death. It is the Word of Life spoken into the heart of death itself, revealing Jesus as the author and sustainer of life.

Luke 7 14 Bonus section

• This miracle is unique to Luke's Gospel, highlighting Luke's frequent emphasis on Jesus' compassion for the marginalized and vulnerable, such as widows (Lk 21:1-4, Lk 18:1-8).
• The phrase "only son" (monogenēs) is particularly poignant, drawing attention to the depth of the widow's loss. It is the same term used for Jesus Himself as God's "only Son" (Jn 1:18, Jn 3:16). This subtle linguistic connection may invite contemplation on God's similar grief for a world dead in sin, which He sent His "only Son" to redeem.
• The public setting of the miracle, occurring during a funeral procession and at the gate of the town of Nain, allowed for numerous eyewitnesses from both Jesus' large entourage and the town itself. This public demonstration solidified the reality and power of the miracle, reinforcing Jesus' claims of being the Messiah who performs works of power and compassion.
• The sequence of events—Jesus saw (compassion), spoke comfort to the mother, touched the bier (active engagement), and commanded life (authority)—illustrates a progressive act of divine intervention moving from profound empathy to the most extraordinary exercise of power.
• This resurrection provides powerful evidence that Jesus is the answer to John the Baptist's disciples' question (Lk 7:19), demonstrating His fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah who would perform mighty acts including raising the dead (Isa 26:19).

Luke 7 14 Commentary

Luke 7:14 unveils Jesus as the compassionate Messiah, sovereign over all life and death. His unprompted intervention, driven by pity for the desolate widow, exemplifies His divine empathy. By touching the bier, Jesus transcended the ritualistic purity laws, demonstrating that His holiness was not defiled by death but instead overwhelmed and transformed it with life-giving power. The profound command, "Young man, I say unto thee, Arise," delivered with inherent authority, did not petition an external power but commanded by His own divine will. This miracle stands as a clear revelation of Jesus' deity, foreshadowing His ultimate victory over death in His own resurrection, and providing a powerful beacon of hope for the future resurrection of all believers. It transforms deep sorrow into profound joy, testifying to the Lord’s power to bring life to what is utterly dead.