Luke 7:24 kjv
And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
Luke 7:24 nkjv
When the messengers of John had departed, He began to speak to the multitudes concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:24 niv
After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind?
Luke 7:24 esv
When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
Luke 7:24 nlt
After John's disciples left, Jesus began talking about him to the crowds. "What kind of man did you go into the wilderness to see? Was he a weak reed, swayed by every breath of wind?
Luke 7 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Matt 11:7 | As these went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John, "What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?" | Jesus asks same rhetorical question. |
| Isa 40:3 | A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord..." | John's prophetic role in the wilderness. |
| Mal 3:1 | "Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me..." | Prophecy of John as forerunner. |
| Jn 1:23 | He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said." | John identifies with Isa 40:3. |
| Lk 7:26 | "What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet." | Jesus clarifies John's true stature. |
| Jas 1:6 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. | Contrasts steadfast faith with instability. |
| Eph 4:14 | so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine... | Warns against being swayed by false teaching. |
| Job 40:21 | Under the lotus trees he lies, in the shelter of the reeds and in the marsh. | Reeds associated with fragility/shelter for weak. |
| 1 Cor 15:58 | Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord... | Call for stability and firmness in faith. |
| Ps 1:4 | The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. | Symbol of instability for the wicked. |
| Matt 3:4 | Now John wore a garment of camel's hair and a leather belt around his waist... | John's austere and unwavering lifestyle. |
| Lk 1:80 | And the child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day of his public appearance to Israel. | John's wilderness upbringing. |
| Jer 10:5 | They are like a scarecrow in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. | Idols described as unable to move, symbolizing impotence, contrasting John's vibrant ministry. |
| Hos 13:3 | Therefore they shall be like the morning mist or like the dew that goes early away, like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor or like smoke from a window. | People who easily vanish or are scattered, like the unstable. |
| 1 Pet 1:24-25 | for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." | Emphasizes the transient nature of human things vs. the permanence of God's Word, akin to the fleeting reed. |
| Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. | John's defiance of authority showed he was not easily swayed by human opinion. |
| Num 24:6 | Like palm groves that stretch afar, like gardens beside a river, like aloes that the Lord has planted, like cedars beside waters. | Positive imagery of firmly planted, thriving plants, contrasting with the 'shaken reed'. |
| Job 23:11 | My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. | Represents steadfastness in following God's path, embodying John's character. |
| Jn 5:35 | He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. | Jesus acknowledging John's powerful witness, though some admired him superficially. |
| Matt 21:26 | But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet." | Public perception of John as a prophet, demonstrating his strong impact, not that of a "reed." |
Luke 7 verses
Luke 7 24 Meaning
In Luke 7:24, after John the Baptist's messengers have departed, Jesus turns to the surrounding crowds and poses a probing rhetorical question about their initial motivations for seeking out John in the wilderness. He asks if they went to see a mere "reed shaken with the wind." This stark image symbolically challenges their understanding, dismissing any notion that John was a fickle, unstable, or easily influenced individual, implying he was quite the opposite: firm, steadfast, and unyielding in his prophetic ministry. It prompts introspection into their true purpose for observing such a profound figure.
Luke 7 24 Context
Luke 7:24 is positioned immediately after John the Baptist's disciples have delivered his question to Jesus – "Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?" – and Jesus has affirmed His identity through miraculous deeds, inviting the disciples to report what they had seen and heard. Once John's messengers depart, Jesus seizes the moment to speak to the multitude about John. This timing is crucial; Jesus praises John's steadfastness after his messengers leave, preventing any appearance of seeking John's direct approval or praise. Historically, John was a radical figure operating outside traditional religious institutions, calling people to repentance in the rugged Judean wilderness. His unconventional appearance and stern message drew vast crowds seeking spiritual truth, but perhaps some were drawn by mere curiosity or fleeting fascination rather than deep conviction. The "wilderness" (ἔρημος - eremos) was not merely a physical location but a symbolic space for prophetic encounter and separation from worldly influence, recalling Old Testament figures like Elijah and the Israelites' wanderings.
Luke 7 24 Word analysis
- And when the messengers (Καὶ ἀπελθόντων τῶν ἀγγέλων - Kai apelthontōn tōn angelōn): "Messengers" (ἀγγέλων - angelōn) refers specifically to human envoys or delegates from John, emphasizing a direct communication link rather than divine beings. Their departure marks the precise moment Jesus initiates this discourse.
- of John (Ἰωάννου - Iōannou): Refers to John the Baptist, a prominent prophetic figure preparing the way for Christ.
- were departed (ἀπελθόντων - apelthontōn): Indicates their leaving, highlighting that Jesus's ensuing praise for John was not a direct commendation in John's presence, but a declaration of his true nature to the crowd.
- he began to speak (ἤρξατο λέγειν - ērxato legein): Signals the commencement of a new, significant teaching segment, indicating the importance of the topic.
- unto the people (πρὸς τοὺς ὄχλους - pros tous ochlous): Addresses the common crowds or multitudes, showing Jesus's intent to educate the wider public about John's role and character, not just his close disciples.
- concerning John (περὶ Ἰωάννου - peri Iōannou): Clarifies the subject of Jesus's discourse.
- What went ye out (Τί ἐξήλθατε - Ti exēlthate): A potent rhetorical question. "What" (Τί - Ti) inquires about the kind of thing they expected to see, urging them to examine their motives. "Went ye out" refers to their arduous journey from cities to the desolate wilderness.
- into the wilderness (εἰς τὴν ἔρημον - eis tēn erēmon): This was not a place of comfort but one of hardship and spiritual significance, reinforcing the notion that they must have gone for a substantial reason.
- for to see? (θεάσασθαι - theasasthai): The verb means "to gaze," "to behold with attention," implying a deliberate and intense observation, not a casual glance. It underscores the profound curiosity that drew them.
- A reed (κάλαμον - kalamon): A common hollow-stemmed plant found along riverbanks like the Jordan. It is known for its lightness, flexibility, and lack of strength, easily bent or broken. In biblical literature, it can symbolize fragility (2 Kgs 18:21), transience (Isa 42:3), or emptiness.
- shaken with the wind? (σαλευόμενον ὑπὸ ἀνέμου - saleuomenon hypo anemou): "Shaken" (σαλευόμενον - saleuomenon) implies instability, wavering, being easily swayed. "Wind" (ἀνέμου - anemou) often symbolizes changing circumstances, doctrines, or societal pressures. This phrase forms a distinct metaphorical image.
Words-group analysis:
- "What went ye out into the wilderness for to see?": This entire phrase is a powerful rhetorical challenge to the crowd's perception and superficial curiosity. It forces them to reflect on their own intentions and what kind of prophet or figure they truly sought. It subtly probes whether they sought novelty or spiritual depth.
- "A reed shaken with the wind?": This question and its negative answer immediately discredits any notion that John was unstable, pliable, or inconsistent, contrasting sharply with his known resolute and unwavering nature. This image stands as a polemic against the perception of a religious leader swayed by public opinion, personal gain, or fear, establishing John as firm and conviction-driven.
Luke 7 24 Bonus section
The metaphor of "a reed shaken with the wind" carries a polemical edge, subtly challenging the contemporary religious scene. Many leaders of the day (like the Pharisees or Sadducees) might be accused of being like "reeds" – easily swayed by public opinion, political expediency, or self-interest, bending to fit popular trends rather than upholding divine truth. John stood in stark contrast to such figures, demonstrating unwavering faithfulness even unto death. This challenges the audience, and by extension, all who seek spiritual guidance, to discern true messengers of God from those who compromise or cater to human whims. It underscores the value of integrity and conviction in spiritual leadership, against superficial appeal or flexibility.
Luke 7 24 Commentary
Following the departure of John's questioning messengers, Jesus immediately directs His attention to the crowds, turning their curiosity about John into a profound lesson. By asking, "What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?", Jesus implicitly debunks any superficial or cynical understanding of John. The image of a reed swaying aimlessly in the wind symbolizes weakness, instability, or susceptibility to external pressures. John the Baptist, in contrast, was resolute and unyielding, a prophet of conviction who stood firm against the tide of popular opinion and challenged corrupt authority. Jesus's rhetorical question forces the crowd to introspect their own motivations: did they come seeking merely a curiosity, a novelty easily discarded, or did they come for the weighty, uncompromised message of a true prophet? The answer implied is clear: John was no flimsy reed; he was a steadfast, immovable pillar of prophetic truth, fulfilling divine prophecy despite adversity, and not seeking the praise or approval of men.