Luke 7 7

Luke 7:7 kjv

Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

Luke 7:7 nkjv

Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Luke 7:7 niv

That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Luke 7:7 esv

Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed.

Luke 7:7 nlt

I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed.

Luke 7 verses

Luke 7 7 Meaning

Luke 7:7 expresses the Roman centurion's profound humility and extraordinary faith in Jesus Christ's authority and divine power. He believed that Jesus did not need to physically enter his home or even be present to heal his servant. Instead, a simple word spoken by Jesus from a distance would be sufficient to command the illness to depart and restore his servant to health, recognizing the potent, inherent power in Jesus' spoken command.

Luke 7 7 Context

Luke 7:7 is part of the account of Jesus healing the centurion's servant, which immediately follows the Sermon on the Plain in Luke's Gospel. The chapter opens by introducing this Roman centurion, a Gentile, yet highly regarded by the local Jewish elders who vouch for him, highlighting his benevolent character and his contribution to their community (building a synagogue). This context sets up a profound contrast, as this Gentile military officer exhibits a depth of faith that astonishes Jesus Himself, surpassing that found "even in Israel" (Luke 7:9). The centurion's plea comes not from a position of demanding authority, but from desperate concern for his "dear" servant. His remarkable insight into Jesus' authority and the power of His word challenges conventional Jewish expectations that a healer would need physical proximity or ritual to effect a cure, setting the stage for Jesus' marvel and later interactions in the chapter (e.g., raising the widow's son in Nain).

Luke 7 7 Word analysis

• Therefore (Διὸ - Dio): This Greek conjunction means "wherefore" or "for this reason." It directly links the centurion's present statement to his previous one (Luke 7:6), specifically his assessment of his unworthiness and the unsuitability of Jesus coming under his roof. It indicates a logical consequence flowing from his profound humility.
• I did not even think myself worthy (οὐδὲ ἐμαυτὸν ἠξίωσα - oude emauton ēxiōsa):
  • οὐδὲ (oude): "not even" or "nor indeed," an emphatic negative. It intensifies the self-proclaimed unworthiness.
  • ἐμαυτὸν (emauton): "myself." The direct object of the verb, emphasizing that his judgment of unworthiness was his own internal recognition, not an external pressure.
  • ἠξίωσα (ēxiōsa): First-person singular aorist indicative of axioō, meaning "to deem worthy," "to consider deserving," or "to expect." The aorist tense implies a decided judgment on his part. The combination speaks of a profound spiritual humility, recognizing Jesus' sanctity and his own perceived defilement as a Gentile and a Roman official. This humility contrasts with the pride often associated with Roman authority.
• to come to You (πρὸς σὲ ἐλθεῖν - pros se elthein):
  • πρὸς σὲ (pros se): "to you," indicating direction toward Jesus.
  • ἐλθεῖν (elthein): Aorist infinitive of erchomai, "to come." This refers not merely to a physical approach, but implies coming into Jesus' immediate, personal space, perhaps even inviting Him into his home. The centurion perceived this as too presumptuous for one of his standing and faith level compared to Jesus' holiness, especially in a cultural context sensitive to ritual purity laws which could be implicated by a Jewish prophet entering a Gentile's house.
• But simply say the word (ἀλλὰ εἰπὲ λόγῳ - alla eipe logō):
  • ἀλλὰ (alla): "But," a strong adversative conjunction, presenting a powerful alternative to physical presence.
  • εἰπὲ (eipe): Second-person singular aorist imperative of legō, "to say" or "to speak." It is a direct command, yet imbued with respectful petition.
  • λόγῳ (logō): Dative case of logos, meaning "word" or "reason" or "utterance." The dative "by word" implies agency or instrument. This is the cornerstone of his faith: he understood Jesus' logos as inherently powerful and self-efficacious, a concept that aligns with the divine creative word of God in the Old Testament (e.g., Gen 1:3, Ps 33:6,9) and its Jewish theological understanding. It highlights an understanding of Jesus’ authority that transcends the need for physical actions or ritual. He grasps Jesus' authority over spiritual and physical realms from afar.
• and my servant will be healed (καὶ ἰαθήτω ὁ παῖς μου - kai iathētō ho pais mou):
  • καὶ (kai): "and," connecting the cause (Jesus' word) to the effect (healing).
  • ἰαθήτω (iathētō): Third-person singular aorist passive imperative of iaomai, "to heal." The imperative here functions as a confident expectation or a logical consequence of Jesus' authoritative word. It’s not "may my servant be healed," but "let my servant be healed," expressing certainty in the outcome.
  • ὁ παῖς μου (ho pais mou): "my servant." Pais can mean child, boy, or servant/slave. Given the context (Lk 7:2, "who was dear to him, was sick"), it refers to a cherished, close servant or bondservant, not just an anonymous slave. This shows the centurion's deep affection and concern.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You.": This phrase encapsulates the centurion's remarkable humility. Despite being a Roman officer, a man of authority, he considers himself spiritually inferior to Jesus. This isn't false modesty, but a true understanding of the disparity between his own perceived unworthiness (perhaps a Gentile, in a religiously unclean house) and the sanctity of Jesus. It speaks to a deep, reverent respect for Jesus' divine authority, possibly influenced by Jewish understanding of ritual purity.
• "But simply say the word, and my servant will be healed.": This stands as a declaration of astounding faith. The conjunction "but" powerfully contrasts his unworthiness with his absolute certainty in Jesus' inherent power. It reveals an intuitive grasp of Jesus' divine authority – that He is like God, whose word is action (Ps 33:9). The centurion, through his military experience of hierarchical commands (Lk 7:8), understood that a direct command from a supreme authority could be executed remotely and instantly, without physical intervention. He transferred this understanding to Jesus' spiritual authority over sickness and evil.

Luke 7 7 Bonus section

The centurion's statement of "unworthiness to come to You" can be further understood in the cultural context of Jewish purity laws and social boundaries. A Jewish rabbi or prophet of Jesus' standing entering a Gentile's house could cause ritual defilement or social scandal (cf. Acts 10:28 concerning Peter and Cornelius). The centurion, by sending Jewish elders and then his friends (Luke 7:3, 7:6), implicitly acknowledged and respected these norms, wanting to avoid putting Jesus in a difficult position or having Him experience impurity. His faith was therefore not only about power, but also about deep respect for Jesus' person and cultural sensitivities. This added layer to his humility underscores the sincerity and depth of his spiritual perception. His remarkable insight into Jesus' authority as parallel to a military commander's delegated authority reveals a unique wisdom, contrasting starkly with many within Israel who demanded physical signs or adherence to traditional rituals. This gentile man truly grasped the nature of Jesus' kingdom power.

Luke 7 7 Commentary

Luke 7:7 distills the essence of the centurion's faith and reveals profound truths about Jesus' authority. The centurion’s confession is twofold: a confession of his own unworthiness to receive Jesus physically and, more significantly, an unwavering confidence in the power of Jesus’ spoken word alone. His humility, born perhaps from an understanding of his Gentile status or simply a genuine reverence for holiness, is remarkable for a man in his position. He saw beyond physical presence or ritual necessity, perceiving that Jesus' power operated universally through a mere decree, akin to God’s creative command in Genesis. This deep insight demonstrates an extraordinary level of spiritual understanding. For Jesus, this represented "great faith," a belief in His inherent power as the Son of God, able to command sickness, death, and even creation from a distance. The passage stands as a testament to radical faith, acknowledging Jesus’ transcendent power.

Practical Usage:

• This verse encourages believers to trust in God's power even when physical manifestations or personal presence are not obvious.
• It models profound humility before Christ's holiness, recognizing our limitations while celebrating His boundless authority.
• It teaches that a true understanding of spiritual authority prioritizes the power of God's word over outward signs or rituals.