Luke 7:21 kjv
And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.
Luke 7:21 nkjv
And that very hour He cured many of infirmities, afflictions, and evil spirits; and to many blind He gave sight.
Luke 7:21 niv
At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:21 esv
In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight.
Luke 7:21 nlt
At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing... | Prophecy of Messiah's works (physical healing) |
| Isa 61:1 | The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty... | Prophecy of Messiah's mission (healing, freedom) |
| Luke 4:18-19 | The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind... | Jesus proclaims His Messianic mission |
| Luke 7:22-23 | Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised... | Jesus' own summary of His works as proof |
| Matt 11:4-5 | Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised... | Parallel account in Matthew (proof for John) |
| Acts 10:38 | ...how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. | Apostolic summary of Jesus' healing ministry |
| Mark 1:34 | And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. | Jesus' comprehensive healing/exorcism |
| Matt 4:23 | And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. | Jesus' widespread ministry of healing |
| Luke 6:17-19 | ...a great multitude of people... who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. And those who were troubled with unclean spirits were cured... | Jesus healing various afflictions |
| Luke 8:2 | ...and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out... | Example of specific women healed of spirits |
| Psa 103:2-3 | Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases... | God's nature as healer |
| Exod 15:26 | ...for I am the LORD, your healer. | God as the divine physician (Jehovah Rapha) |
| Deut 32:39 | See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god beside me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal... | God's exclusive power over life/death/health |
| John 5:19 | So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” | Jesus' works demonstrate the Father's work |
| Phil 2:6-7 | ...who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant... | Jesus' humility and servanthood enabling such power |
| Col 2:15 | He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. | Jesus' victory over spiritual powers |
| 1 John 3:8 | Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. | Jesus' mission to destroy the devil's works |
| Acts 2:22 | Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him among you... | Jesus' miracles as divine attestation |
| Mark 3:10 | For he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. | Describes the scale of Jesus' healings |
| Luke 9:1 | He called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases... | Jesus delegates His power to disciples |
| Acts 3:6-8 | But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise and walk!” And he took him by the right hand and raised him up... | Healing in Jesus' name by disciples |
Luke 7 verses
Luke 7 21 Meaning
Luke 7:21 describes Jesus' immediate and powerful demonstration of His Messianic authority through a range of miracles performed during the very time John the Baptist's disciples came to inquire about His identity. He comprehensively addressed human suffering by curing various physical ailments and diseases, expelling malevolent spirits, and restoring sight to the blind, providing irrefutable evidence of His divine mission and fulfillment of prophetic signs.
Luke 7 21 Context
Luke 7:21 is a pivotal verse within a section that highlights Jesus' authority and serves as a direct answer to John the Baptist's query about His identity. John, imprisoned, sent his disciples to ask Jesus, "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" (Luke 7:19). Prior to this inquiry, Luke records Jesus raising the son of the widow of Nain from the dead (Luke 7:11-17) and healing a centurion's servant (Luke 7:1-10). These powerful demonstrations of life-giving and healing power would have formed part of the "works" that John had heard about. In verse 21, as John's disciples stood before Him, Jesus was actively performing these miracles, providing real-time, undeniable evidence. His subsequent response in Luke 7:22-23 directly references these very acts, aligning them with the Messianic prophecies, especially from Isaiah (e.g., Isa 35:5-6, 61:1). Historically, sickness, blindness, and demonic possession were widely considered signs of divine judgment or curses. Jesus' acts of healing and exorcism directly challenged these prevailing notions, demonstrating divine compassion and authority over all forms of suffering and spiritual forces, underscoring His claim as the promised Messiah.
Luke 7 21 Word analysis
- In that hour (ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ, en autē tē hōra): This phrase emphasizes the immediacy and concurrent nature of the events. It's not a past recount or a future promise, but something actively happening at the very moment John's disciples arrived and questioned Him. It signifies the direct and real-time demonstration of Jesus' power.
- he cured (ἐθεράπευσεν, etherapeusen): Derived from therapeuō, meaning to heal, serve, or treat. It implies a compassionate and methodical act of restoring health, rather than just alleviating symptoms. It denotes an effective and comprehensive healing, addressing the root of the issue.
- many (πολλοὺς, pollous): Indicates a large number, suggesting not isolated incidents but a widespread, consistent exercise of healing power. This scope strengthens the evidence for John's disciples.
- of their infirmities (ἀσθενειῶν, astheneiōn): From astheneia, meaning weakness, illness, feebleness. This term refers to general sicknesses and debilitating conditions that weaken the body or spirit, covering a broad spectrum of human physical fragility.
- and plagues (καὶ μαστίγων, kai mastigōn): From mastix, referring to a whip, and by extension, a scourging, punishment, or severe physical affliction, often implying a sharp, painful, or incurable disease, or those considered divinely inflicted "plagues" like leprosy (though not explicitly stated as leprosy here). It signifies more severe or chronic maladies.
- and evil spirits (καὶ πνευμάτων πονηρῶν, kai pneumatōn ponērōn): "Spirits" (pneumata) refers to non-material beings, and "evil" (ponēra) denotes wickedness or malice. This refers specifically to demons or demonic forces. Jesus' authority over these spiritual entities showcased His power beyond just physical ailments, reaching into the spiritual realm and demonstrating His triumph over the forces of evil. This was a direct sign of God's Kingdom arriving (cf. Matt 12:28).
- and on many who were blind (καὶ τυφλοῖς πολλοῖς, kai tuphlois pollois): Tuphlos means blind. This highlights a specific and dramatic miracle mentioned in Messianic prophecies (Isa 35:5). Blindness was a particularly significant affliction as it prevented a person from participating fully in life and often carried social stigma.
- he bestowed sight (ἐχαρίσατο βλέπειν, echarisato blepein): Echarisato comes from charizomai, meaning to give freely, grant, or bestow as a favor or grace. Blepein means to see. This emphasizes that Jesus' act was a gracious gift, not just a clinical restoration, highlighting His compassion and divine benevolence. The immediate nature of the "bestowing" is also clear.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- cured many of their infirmities and plagues and evil spirits: This phrase shows the comprehensive scope of Jesus' healing ministry. He dealt not only with common illnesses (infirmities) and severe diseases (plagues) but also with spiritual oppression (evil spirits). This threefold description encompasses physical, emotional, and spiritual afflictions, signifying His complete authority over all forms of suffering humanity faced. This broad spectrum of healing demonstrates a power that transcends human capability, pointing to a divine source.
- on many who were blind he bestowed sight: This particular miracle is singled out and serves as a powerful testament to Jesus' identity as the Messiah, as it was specifically foretold by prophets like Isaiah (Isa 35:5). The immediate, graceful restoration of sight underscored the prophetic fulfillment inherent in His ministry. It represents not only physical healing but also spiritual enlightenment – that Jesus enables those who cannot see the truth to perceive it.
Luke 7 21 Bonus section
The phrase "in that hour" (ἐν αὐτῇ τῇ ὥρᾳ) suggests an intensity and a miraculous flow of healing, implying that Jesus was continuously active in performing these deeds during the disciples' visit, not merely stopping to stage a performance for them. It underlines the sheer volume and constant manifestation of divine power radiating from Him. These miracles were not isolated acts but part of an ongoing demonstration of His Messianic power, indicating the nature of the Kingdom of God actively breaking into the world through Him. This dynamic display of healing power served as Jesus' non-verbal answer, an irrefutable testament to His identity and mission. The comprehensive nature of the healing (physical, spiritual) affirms that the Messiah deals with every facet of human brokenness, foreshadowing the ultimate redemption from all effects of sin.
Luke 7 21 Commentary
Luke 7:21 is not merely a descriptive verse; it is the physical manifestation of Jesus' divine authority, strategically performed at the precise moment of John the Baptist's crucial inquiry. While John questioned if Jesus was "the Coming One," Jesus did not respond with words alone. Instead, He pointed to His ongoing works of power, demonstrating His identity through compassionate action. This comprehensive display of healing across all forms of human affliction – physical ailments, severe diseases, and demonic oppression – left no doubt. His power over "evil spirits" affirmed His authority in the spiritual realm, essential for the Messiah. Bestowing "sight to the blind" was a direct fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy, acting as an undeniable sign of the Messianic age. This verse showcases Jesus' perfect synergy of power and compassion, actively building the Kingdom of God by confronting and reversing the effects of sin, disease, and the devil. It provided irrefutable proof that He was indeed the promised Deliverer, inviting John and his disciples (and all who heard) to believe based on concrete evidence.