Luke 8:53 kjv
And they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:53 nkjv
And they ridiculed Him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:53 niv
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:53 esv
And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead.
Luke 8:53 nlt
But the crowd laughed at him because they all knew she had died.
Luke 8 53 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 9:24 | he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed him to scorn. | Parallel account of mockery |
| Mk 5:39 | He said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” | Parallel account, Jesus' claim |
| Lk 7:14-15 | He touched the bier, and the bearers stood still… And he said, “Young man... get up!” And the dead man sat up... | Jesus raising the widow's son |
| Jn 11:11 | He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I go to awaken him.” | Jesus calling death "sleep" for Lazarus |
| Jn 11:25-26 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live..." | Jesus' authority over death |
| Lk 23:35-36 | The people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him… soldiers also mocked him... | Mockery directed at Jesus' claims |
| Lk 16:14 | The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him. | Scorn and ridicule for Jesus' teaching |
| Acts 17:32 | When they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some scoffed... | Scoffing at the resurrection of the dead |
| Ps 2:4 | He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. | Divine perspective on human mockery |
| Ps 37:13 | But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows that their day is coming. | God's response to the foolishness of mockers |
| 2 Ki 4:32-35 | Elisha... put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes... Then the child sneezed seven times... | Prophet raising the dead (Elisha) |
| 1 Ki 17:21-22 | Then he stretched himself upon the child three times... The Lord heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child came into him... | Prophet raising the dead (Elijah) |
| Mt 27:52-53 | The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised... | Resurrection power demonstrated after Christ's death |
| 1 Cor 15:20 | But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. | Christ's resurrection secures believer's future resurrection |
| 1 Thess 4:13 | We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. | Death for believers referred to as "sleep" |
| Eph 5:14 | "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” | Spiritual death/sleep vs. spiritual life |
| Jn 6:63 | It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. | Spiritual vs. natural understanding |
| Heb 4:13 | No creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. | God's absolute knowledge |
| Is 55:8-9 | “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." | Divine ways differing from human ways |
| Rom 8:6 | For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. | Contrast of earthly mindset and spiritual life |
Luke 8 verses
Luke 8 53 Meaning
The verse describes the immediate, scornful reaction of the people present in Jairus' house when Jesus declared that the deceased girl was merely sleeping. Their laughter stemmed from their absolute certainty that the child was dead, making Jesus' words appear absurd and ridiculous in their eyes. This highlights the stark contrast between human understanding based on sensory evidence and the divine perspective that sees beyond natural limitations.
Luke 8 53 Context
Luke 8:53 occurs within a section of Jesus' ministry demonstrating His multifaceted power and authority. Prior to this verse, Jesus had calmed a storm on the sea (Lk 8:22-25), healed a man possessed by a legion of demons (Lk 8:26-39), and restored a woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage (Lk 8:43-48). The narrative then returns to Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose daughter lay dying. While Jesus was en route to Jairus' house, news arrived that the girl had died. Despite this, Jesus declared, "Do not fear; only believe, and she will be well." (Lk 8:50). It is in the immediate aftermath of this statement, upon entering the house and observing the professional mourners and weeping, that Jesus declares the girl is "not dead but sleeping" (Lk 8:52), leading directly to the scornful reaction described in verse 53. The verse therefore establishes the human perception of utter hopelessness against which Jesus' subsequent miracle of raising the dead will shine.
Luke 8 53 Word analysis
- And (Καὶ / Kai): A simple conjunction, yet it powerfully connects Jesus' preceding statement ("she is not dead but sleeping") to the crowd's immediate and harsh reaction, highlighting the abrupt transition from Jesus' declaration to their mockery.
- they laughed Him to scorn (κατεγέλων αὐτοῦ / kategelōn autou):
- laughed Him to scorn (κατεγέλων / kategelōn): The verb katagelaō (from kata, meaning "down" or "against," and gelaō, "to laugh") implies more than mere laughter. It signifies ridicule, contempt, scorn, or derision. It's an intense form of laughter aimed down or against someone, reflecting utter dismissal and disbelief. This highlights the severity of their disrespect towards Jesus' words.
- Him (αὐτοῦ / autou): Directly refers to Jesus, indicating that their scorn was personally directed at His person and His claim.
- knowing (εἰδότες / eidotes): This is a perfect participle of eido (οἶδα), meaning to know with full certainty, complete awareness, or settled conviction. It’s not just an assumption, but an established fact in their minds. Their "knowing" was based on sensory evidence—they had seen the signs of death and were likely trained in recognizing them—and contradicted Jesus' claim with unshakeable conviction, fueling their ridicule.
- that she was dead (ὅτι ἀπέθανεν / hoti apethanen):
- that (ὅτι / hoti): A conjunction introducing the factual clause of what they "knew" for certain.
- was dead (ἀπέθανεν / apethanen): The aorist indicative of apothnēskō (ἀποθνῄσκω), to die. This verb is definitive and in the past tense, signifying a completed and undeniable act. For them, death was a biological finality.
- Words-Group Analysis:
- "they laughed Him to scorn, knowing": This phrase perfectly captures the human dilemma when confronted with the divine. Their certainty (knowing) led to mockery because Jesus' claim contradicted their experiential knowledge. It illustrates the spiritual blindness of those who rely solely on their earthly understanding, preventing them from perceiving divine truth.
- "knowing that she was dead": This emphasizes the absolute factual basis for their scorn from a human perspective. Their "knowledge" of the child's physical death was accurate within natural bounds, highlighting the truly miraculous nature of what Jesus was about to do. It sets up the tension between empirical fact and supernatural power.
Luke 8 53 Bonus section
This verse effectively serves as a dramatic setup for the profound miracle to follow. By explicitly stating the onlookers' absolute certainty of death and their scornful reaction, the Gospel writer emphasizes the utter impossibility of the situation from a human perspective. This heightens the impact of Jesus' subsequent act of resurrection, making His power over death undeniably clear. The scene vividly portrays a 'polemic' (an argument or refutation) against the finality of death as understood by contemporary beliefs. Jesus, through His action, systematically dismantles the power that death seemingly held over human life, demonstrating God's ultimate authority over all creation, including the last enemy. The profound nature of "knowing she was dead" also draws attention to Jesus' ability to perceive deeper spiritual truths ("she is sleeping") beyond the immediate physical evidence, urging believers to trust His divine perspective over earthly realities.
Luke 8 53 Commentary
Luke 8:53 powerfully encapsulates the clash between the limited scope of human perception and the boundless power and truth of God. The professional mourners and onlookers, well-versed in the rituals and certainties of death, found Jesus' assertion of "sleep" utterly ludicrous because they "knew" with undeniable certainty that the child was dead. Their "knowing" was based on visible, tangible evidence and conventional understanding. This highlights a recurring theme in the Gospels: humanity's difficulty in embracing spiritual realities that transcend or contradict their established logical frameworks. Their laughter signifies not just disbelief, but contempt and scorn, marking a point where human wisdom and certainty directly challenge divine authority. Yet, Jesus does not engage their ridicule; instead, He demonstrates His truth by overcoming death itself. This moment underscores the profound truth that what is impossible from a human perspective is entirely possible with God. It serves as a reminder that often, our greatest barriers to experiencing God's miraculous power are our own fixed assumptions and human certainties that override faith.