Luke 8 41

Luke 8:41 kjv

And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house:

Luke 8:41 nkjv

And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. And he fell down at Jesus' feet and begged Him to come to his house,

Luke 8:41 niv

Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come to his house

Luke 8:41 esv

And there came a man named Jairus, who was a ruler of the synagogue. And falling at Jesus' feet, he implored him to come to his house,

Luke 8:41 nlt

Then a man named Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with him to come home with him.

Luke 8 verses

Luke 8 41 Meaning

Luke 8:41 introduces Jairus, a man holding the esteemed position of a ruler in the synagogue. Despite his significant social and religious standing, he humbly approaches Jesus, falling at His feet, and earnestly pleads for Him to come to his house. This urgent request stems from a desperate situation: his twelve-year-old daughter is at the point of death, setting the stage for one of Jesus' profound demonstrations of authority over sickness and death.

Luke 8 41 Context

Luke chapter 8 begins with Jesus' continued ministry, followed by the parable of the sower and its explanation, and other parables highlighting the kingdom's spread and receptivity. Jesus then demonstrates His authority over nature by stilling a storm (Lk 8:22-25) and His power over spiritual forces by casting out a legion of demons into swine (Lk 8:26-39). The immediate context of verse 41 finds Jesus returning to the Galilean side of the lake, where a crowd eagerly receives Him (Lk 8:40). Luke 8:41 serves as a bridge, transitioning Jesus' demonstration of power from nature and demons to disease and death, through the urgent appeal of Jairus and, immediately following this, the healing of the woman with a twelve-year issue of blood (Lk 8:43-48). Historically and culturally, a synagogue ruler was a figure of local religious and community authority, and his public prostration before Jesus, a traveling teacher, signified profound desperation and an extraordinary leap of faith beyond societal norms.

Luke 8 41 Word analysis

• And behold (Καὶ ἰδοὺ - Kai idou): This common Greek conjunction-interjection serves to introduce something sudden, remarkable, or important. It directs the reader's attention to a significant event about to unfold, creating a sense of immediacy and anticipation, highlighting that what follows is noteworthy in God's redemptive plan.

• a man (ἀνὴρ - anēr): While anthrōpos is a general term for 'person,' anēr specifically denotes a 'man,' often implying maturity, status, or prominence within the social context. Here, it further defines Jairus's gender and his standing.

• Jairus (Ἰάϊρος - Iäïros): This name, of Hebrew origin (Ya'ir), means "He enlightens" or "He awakens." This etymological meaning is profoundly ironic and fitting, as Jairus comes seeking 'light' and 'awakening' for his dying daughter, who Jesus subsequently brings back from death's sleep.

• a ruler of the synagogue (ἄρχων τῆς συναγωγῆς - archōn tēs synagōgēs):

  • ruler (ἄρχων - archōn): Signifies a leader, chief, or official. This was a position of considerable local authority and prestige within Jewish communities. The ruler of the synagogue managed the affairs of the congregation, oversaw the services, invited speakers, and maintained order.
  • synagogue (συναγωγῆς - synagōgēs): The local Jewish assembly for worship, instruction, and community life. The synagogue was central to Jewish identity during the Second Temple period. Jairus’s status indicates he was a respected, prominent, and probably well-off member of his community, dedicated to Jewish religious observance.

• fell down (πεσὼν - pesōn): The aorist participle of piptō, meaning 'to fall' or 'to prostrate oneself.' This is not a casual bow but a gesture of profound humility, submission, supplication, and often worship. For a man of Jairus's status, performing such an act in public before Jesus was a striking departure from social expectations and demonstrated extreme desperation and complete lack of pride.

• at Jesus’ feet (παρὰ τοὺς πόδας Ἰησοῦ - para tous podas Iēsou): A common posture of homage, intense petition, or deep respect in ancient Near Eastern and Greco-Roman cultures. It signified placing oneself completely at the mercy or authority of another, reinforcing Jairus’s utter humility and recognition of Jesus' unique power.

• implored (παρεκάλει - parekalei): The imperfect tense of parakaleō, meaning 'to call alongside,' 'to appeal,' 'to beseech,' or 'to entreat.' The imperfect tense suggests a continuous, persistent, or deeply earnest plea, conveying the depth of Jairus's distress and the urgency of his request. It wasn't a casual ask but an intense and heartfelt outpouring of a desperate father.

• to come to his house (εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ - eiselthein eis ton oikon autou): A direct, personal invitation, indicating that Jairus believed Jesus' physical presence was necessary to heal his daughter, and highlighting the intimate and personal nature of his plea. His house (oikos) was the site of his deepest familial crisis.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And behold, a man named Jairus came, and he was a ruler of the synagogue": This phrase introduces Jairus not as an anonymous individual but as a person of significant community standing. The kai idou emphasizes the startling nature of this encounter: a local authority figure humbling himself. It sets up a contrast between his position and his subsequent action.
  • "And he fell down at Jesus’ feet and implored him": This combined action emphasizes absolute submission and earnest supplication. It reveals Jairus’s extraordinary faith and desperate need overriding any concern for public image or personal dignity. His action shows that institutional authority means little in the face of death; true authority rests with Jesus.

Luke 8 41 Bonus section

• The detail that Jairus had only one daughter, and she was twelve years old (mentioned in subsequent verses but contextually relevant), adds to the pathos and depth of his desperation. Her age, symbolically, also mirrors the twelve years the woman with the hemorrhage suffered, creating a striking narrative parallel between the two intertwined healing stories.
• Jairus's appeal is one of many instances where parents demonstrate profound faith in Jesus on behalf of their children, highlighting the special spiritual significance of parental intercession in the Gospels.
• The description of Jairus's social status contrasts with many whom Jesus healed who were marginalized. This illustrates that sickness, and the need for God's power, afflicts all people regardless of their standing in society, and Jesus' grace is for all.

Luke 8 41 Commentary

Luke 8:41 is a pivotal verse, meticulously setting the scene for a miracle that challenges the ultimate enemy: death. The introduction of Jairus, "a ruler of the synagogue," is crucial. This detail immediately signals the profound nature of his distress, as such a respected and dignified figure would only abandon all public decorum by prostrating himself before a traveling rabbi out of utter, unyielding desperation. His act of "falling down at Jesus’ feet" demonstrates immense humility and a potent, desperate faith that transcends social status and religious convention. This physical posture communicates complete surrender and acknowledgment of Jesus' authority and capability. The imperfect tense of "implored" underlines the continuous, urgent nature of his plea, reflective of a father on the verge of losing his child. Jairus’s request for Jesus to "come to his house" signifies his conviction that Jesus' physical presence held transformative power. This encounter serves as a testament to Jesus' accessibility, responding to genuine need regardless of one's background, and further validates His divine authority, especially by contrasting Jairus's faith with the skepticism often exhibited by other religious leaders of the time.