Luke 9:37 kjv

And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Luke 9:37 nkjv

Now it happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met Him.

Luke 9:37 niv

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him.

Luke 9:37 esv

On the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, a great crowd met him.

Luke 9:37 nlt

The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus.

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 37 Meaning

Luke 9:37 describes Jesus' immediate transition from the glorious Mount of Transfiguration, where He was revealed in divine majesty to Peter, James, and John, back to the world of human need and suffering. As He descended, a large crowd eagerly met Him, symbolizing humanity's persistent desire and need for His ministry, encompassing healing, teaching, and liberation. It emphasizes Jesus' humble availability to the multitudes directly following a moment of profound spiritual revelation.

Luke 9 37 Context

Luke 9:37 follows directly from the magnificent event of the Transfiguration (Lk 9:28-36), where Jesus' divine glory was momentarily unveiled before Peter, James, and John. This climactic moment, witnessed by a chosen few, revealed Jesus as the promised Messiah, standing with Moses and Elijah and receiving affirmation from God the Father. The contrast is striking: Jesus descends from this mountaintop experience of divine affirmation and spiritual glory into the very different reality of human suffering, demonic oppression, and popular expectations. The immediate gathering of a "large crowd" signals Jesus' transition back into His public ministry, where He directly confronts the world's brokenness and ministers to the urgent needs of the people. This verse acts as a bridge, moving from a scene of divine revelation to one of profound human need, setting the stage for Jesus' subsequent healing of the demon-possessed boy and His continued journey towards Jerusalem. Historically, such crowds were common for Jesus, seeking various things: healing, deliverance, teaching, or simply out of curiosity for the worker of signs.

Luke 9 37 Word analysis

• On the next day (Ἐν τῇ ἑξῆς ἡμέρᾳ, En tē hexēs hēmera): This phrase emphasizes immediate succession, signifying there was no delay between the divine glory on the mountain and Jesus' return to active ministry. It conveys Jesus' unwavering commitment and purposeful haste in addressing human needs.
• when they had come down (κατελθόντων, katelthontōn): The verb indicates a physical descent from a higher place to a lower one. "They" refers to Jesus and the three disciples present at the Transfiguration. This act symbolizes Jesus' condescension from a moment of divine fellowship to humble engagement with humanity's suffering, echoing the self-emptying nature of Christ.
• from the mountain (ἀπὸ τοῦ ὄρους, apo tou orous): This designates the location of the Transfiguration, a place biblically associated with divine encounters and revelation. Descending from this sacred, elevated space starkly contrasts with the mundane realities, chaos, and needs found below, highlighting Jesus' purposeful movement into the world.
• a large crowd (ὄχλος πολύς, ochlos polys): Ochlos refers to an undifferentiated mass of people; polys means "many" or "great." This highlights Jesus' widespread popularity and the constant clamor of human needs around Him. These crowds often consisted of the sick, the oppressed, the curious, and those seeking teaching or miraculous provision, representing the diverse human condition.
• met him (ἀπήντησεν αὐτῷ, apēntēsen autō): The verb apēntēsen (from apantao) denotes an encounter, often suggesting an active, even eager, meeting rather than a casual one. It implies the crowd had gathered specifically in anticipation of Jesus' arrival, signifying their hope and pressing needs which they expected Jesus to address.

Luke 9 37 Bonus section

This verse encapsulates a crucial spiritual dynamic: the transition from moments of intense spiritual revelation or "mountaintop experiences" to the practical, often messy, demands of ministry and service in the "valley" of daily life. It implies that true spiritual growth and an encounter with God's glory do not remove one from the needs of the world but rather equip and compel one to engage with them more fully. The sheer size of the "large crowd" that met Jesus upon His descent further illustrates the pervasive impact of sin and suffering on humanity, highlighting the overwhelming scope of the task Jesus had undertaken. This also serves to emphasize the inadequacy of human solutions, foreshadowed by the disciples' inability to cast out the demon in the very next passage, reinforcing the sole dependence on Jesus' divine authority and power.

Luke 9 37 Commentary

Luke 9:37 is a pivotal verse, orchestrating a profound narrative transition from Jesus' unveiled glory to His ongoing ministry amidst human suffering. The immediate return "on the next day" from the sacred mountaintop underscores Jesus' purposeful commitment to His mission, not lingering in divine affirmation but swiftly descending to engage with the world's brokenness. The "large crowd" "meeting him" emphasizes Jesus' accessible nature and the ceaseless clamor of human need that characterized His public ministry. This powerful contrast between heavenly glory and earthly groans sets the stage for the dramatic display of divine power over demonic oppression that immediately follows, demonstrating that Christ's glory is intrinsically linked to His redemptive action in a fallen world. His presence is actively sought, and He is ever-available to those in need.