Luke 7 38

Luke 7:38 kjv

And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

Luke 7:38 nkjv

and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil.

Luke 7:38 niv

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Luke 7:38 esv

and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.

Luke 7:38 nlt

Then she knelt behind him at his feet, weeping. Her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing his feet and putting perfume on them.

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 38 Meaning

Luke 7:38 depicts a profound act of devotion by a woman identified as a sinner. As Jesus reclines at a meal in a Pharisee's house, she approaches from behind, overcome with grief and humility. Her tears fall upon Jesus's feet, which she then wipes dry with her unbound hair—an unconventional and deeply humbling gesture. She repeatedly kisses His feet with deep affection and anoints them with costly fragrant oil. This act vividly demonstrates a heart overflowing with gratitude and love, recognizing Jesus's holiness and His capacity for mercy and forgiveness. It stands in stark contrast to the judgmental attitude of the host.

Luke 7 38 Context

Luke chapter 7 sets the stage with Jesus demonstrating His divine authority and compassion, first by healing the centurion's servant (Luke 7:1-10) and then by raising the widow's son in Nain (Luke 7:11-17). The following account (Luke 7:36-50) sees Jesus invited to dine at the house of Simon, a Pharisee. This invitation, while appearing cordial, often carried a critical undertone among Pharisees towards Jesus's teachings and associations. During the meal, a woman known as a "sinner" (Luke 7:37) enters the house uninvited, a scandalous act in itself. First-century Jewish custom at meals involved reclining on low couches, with guests' feet often extended backward and exposed. Hospitality typically involved providing water for guests' feet, a greeting kiss, and anointing with ordinary oil—courtesies which Simon neglects (Luke 7:44-46). This cultural backdrop highlights the stark contrast between Simon's failure to offer common courtesy and the "sinner" woman's extraordinary, deeply personal, and public acts of worship and humility, all directed toward Jesus. Her acts challenge the Pharisaic legalism and their judgmental view of "sinners," serving as a polemic against superficial righteousness.

Luke 7 38 Word analysis

• And standing behind Him (Greek: kai stasa opiso autou)
  • Stasa (aorist participle of histēmi): Emphasizes her sudden, decisive act of positioning herself.
  • Opiso: "Behind," a position of humility, reverence, or perhaps shame, making her actions observable yet allowing for a degree of personal space until her actions draw attention. She did not seek to confront Him or others directly.
• at His feet (Greek: para tous podas autou)
  • Para: "By the side of" or "at." Feet were a common object of veneration or service (washing, anointing) in ancient cultures, signifying a position of humility, servitude, and adoration. It was the lowest, most vulnerable part of the body, yet also the pathway.
• weeping (Greek: klaiousa)
  • Present participle of klaiō: Signifies an ongoing, continuous act of intense sobbing or wailing, not just a few tears. It suggests deep emotional distress, likely born of sorrow over sin and immense gratitude.
• she began to wet His feet with her tears (Greek: ērxato brechein tous podas autou tois dakrysin autēs)
  • Ērxato brechein (imperfect of archomai + infinitive): "She began to wet," or "she started wetting," implying the commencement of an action that continues.
  • Brechein: "To moisten, wet." Her tears were so abundant they actually drenched His feet. This speaks of profound repentance and overwhelming emotion.
• and kept wiping them with the hair of her head (Greek: kai exēmasson tais thrixin tēs kephalēs autēs)
  • Exēmasson (imperfect of ekmassō): "Kept wiping, drying off completely." The imperfect tense suggests a continuous, repeated action, demonstrating persistent and thorough devotion.
  • hair of her head: A woman's hair was considered her glory and was often covered in public in Jewish society, especially for respectable women. To uncover it and use it to wipe feet was an act of extreme humility, self-abasement, and possibly an outward display of her internal spiritual "nakedness" before Jesus, showing utter disregard for social norms and her own public reputation out of overwhelming devotion.
• and kissing His feet (Greek: kai katephilei tous podas autou)
  • Katephilei (imperfect of kataphileō): "Kept kissing fervently, showering with kisses." This is a stronger verb than phileō (to kiss), implying repeated, passionate, affectionate, and perhaps prolonged kissing. It conveys deep devotion and veneration. The imperfect tense indicates continuous action.
• and anointing them with the fragrant oil (Greek: kai ēleiphen to myrō)
  • Ēleiphen (imperfect of aleiphō): "Kept anointing." Again, the imperfect tense points to a continuous, deliberate application of the oil.
  • Myrō: "Fragrant oil" or "perfume," implying a precious and costly substance, not common oil. It signifies a lavish, sacrificial offering, given out of love and honor, contrasting with the cheap oil Simon would have provided, had he bothered.

Luke 7 38 Bonus section

• Prophetic Action: While not explicitly stated as such, the anointing, especially with costly oil, often carries prophetic or symbolic weight in the Bible, sometimes relating to preparing a king, a priest, or even a body for burial. While here it's purely a loving act of devotion for forgiveness received, it subtly connects to Jesus's eventual anointing for burial as described in other Gospel accounts (though with different women and contexts).
• Symbolism of Hair: In ancient Israel, a woman's unbound hair could signify mourning, repentance, or even promiscuity. By letting down her hair publicly and using it to wipe Jesus's feet, the woman was performing a profound act of humility, self-abasement, and potentially even breaking social norms in an unprecedented demonstration of devotion and recognition of her sinful past, all given up at the feet of the Savior.
• Jesus's Radical Acceptance: This scene underscores Jesus's revolutionary willingness to accept and forgive those deemed "unclean" and outcasts by society, defying the religious elite's judgmentalism. His focus was on the state of the heart, not social status or past sins.

Luke 7 38 Commentary

Luke 7:38 powerfully illustrates the transforming impact of divine forgiveness and the corresponding overflow of love and humility from a recipient heart. The "sinner" woman's actions—her copious tears, the use of her hair to wipe Jesus's feet, her fervent kisses, and the anointing with costly perfume—are not merely polite gestures but extraordinary acts of worship, humility, and sacrificial love. They embody a deep, heartfelt repentance and profound gratitude for a perceived, or already received, grace that far surpasses any social constraint or public shame.

Her actions are contrasted with Simon's coldness and judgment. While Simon observed social rituals, the woman acted from a place of radical inner transformation. This verse underscores a foundational biblical truth: that those who recognize the depths of their sin and the magnitude of God's forgiveness will respond with the greatest love and devotion. Her willingness to abandon all propriety in public to worship Jesus reveals that her focus was entirely on Him, reflecting true faith and an understanding of who Jesus truly is – the one with authority to forgive sins. This episode foreshadows that the Kingdom of God is open not just to the outwardly religious but especially to those broken and repentant hearts that humbly seek Jesus.