Luke 9:38 kjv
And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.
Luke 9:38 nkjv
Suddenly a man from the multitude cried out, saying, "Teacher, I implore You, look on my son, for he is my only child.
Luke 9:38 niv
A man in the crowd called out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
Luke 9:38 esv
And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.
Luke 9:38 nlt
A man in the crowd called out to him, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child.
Luke 9 38 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Lk 9:40 | "...I begged Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not." | Disciples' inability to heal. |
| Lk 9:42 | "...Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit... and healed the child..." | Jesus' immediate healing power. |
| Mk 9:17 | "And one from the crowd answered and said, 'Teacher, I brought You my son...'" | Parallel account, highlights demonic oppression. |
| Mt 17:15 | "...Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and suffers severely..." | Parallel account, father's plea. |
| Lk 7:12 | "...a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother..." | Another "only son" raised by Jesus. |
| Lk 8:42 | "...He had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying." | Another parent's "only" child in need. |
| Heb 11:17 | "...Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son..." | Reference to Abraham's "only begotten" son. |
| Gen 22:2 | "...take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah..." | God's command to Abraham regarding his only son. |
| Jn 3:16 | "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..." | God giving His "only Son" for humanity. |
| Jn 1:18 | "No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." | Jesus as the unique Son of God. |
| 1 Jn 4:9 | "In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world..." | God's love shown through His only Son. |
| Mt 15:22 | "...a Canaanite woman... cried out to Him, saying, 'Have mercy on me, O Lord, Son of David! My daughter is severely demon-possessed.'" | Desperate mother's plea for her daughter. |
| Mk 10:47-48 | "...Bartimaeus... began to cry out and say, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" | Urgent public cry for Jesus' mercy. |
| Lk 18:38 | "And he cried out, saying, 'Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!'" | Blind man's earnest cry for healing. |
| Ps 103:13 | "As a father pities his children, so the LORD pities those who fear Him." | God's paternal compassion for His children. |
| Isa 49:15 | "Can a woman forget her nursing child...?" | God's profound, unforgettable love. |
| Mt 8:5-10 | "...a centurion came to Him, pleading with Him... concerning his servant, who was lying at home paralyzed and in torment." | Healing based on a person's faith for another. |
| Jn 4:46-54 | "...a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum... went to Him and implored Him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death." | Father's fervent plea for his dying son. |
| Lk 9:1 | "Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases." | The disciples had prior authority but failed. |
| Ex 3:7 | "And the LORD said: 'I have surely seen the oppression of My people who are in Egypt, and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters...'" | God hears and responds to desperate cries. |
| Lk 9:28-36 | The Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain. | Immediate context: Jesus descends from glory to suffering. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant..." | Christ's humility to descend from glory and suffer. |
| Isa 53:4-5 | "Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows..." | Jesus's purpose to bear human suffering. |
| Lk 9:11 | "...He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing." | Jesus' general practice of compassion and healing. |
Luke 9 verses
Luke 9 38 Meaning
Luke 9:38 describes a pivotal moment following the Transfiguration where a man from the gathered crowd fervently appeals to Jesus. He urgently cries out, addressing Jesus as "Teacher," imploring Him to attend to his only son. The deep plea highlights the man's immense desperation and the dire situation, emphasizing that this beloved child is his solitary offspring, intensifying the tragedy and the father's hope for compassionate intervention from the Son of God.
Luke 9 38 Context
This verse immediately follows the glorious event of the Transfiguration on the mountain (Lk 9:28-36), where Jesus' divine glory was briefly unveiled to Peter, James, and John. Descending from this peak experience of spiritual revelation, Jesus is met by the raw reality of human suffering and the inadequacy of His disciples to address it (as seen in Lk 9:40). The incident underscores the transition from divine glory to earthly need and Jesus' core mission to alleviate suffering. Historically, this scene unfolds in Galilee, where Jesus often encountered large crowds seeking healing and deliverance, reflective of a time when illness and unexplained afflictions were often attributed to spiritual causes or demonic oppression, leading people to seek supernatural intervention from those believed to have divine power.
Luke 9 38 Word analysis
- And behold (Greek: Kai idou): This phrase frequently introduces a new, important, or dramatic development in biblical narratives, especially in Luke's Gospel. It acts as an attention-getter, drawing the reader into the scene with a sense of immediacy and revelation. Here, it contrasts the sublime transfiguration with the sudden appearance of human need.
- a man from the crowd: Emphasizes the accessibility of Jesus to the common people, not just the inner circle of disciples. It also highlights the constant pressing needs of humanity that followed Jesus, regardless of His recent divine experience.
- cried out (Greek: eboēsen): A strong verb indicating a loud, urgent, and desperate call for attention. It conveys the father's profound distress and his deep need, not a casual request, but a cry born of anguish.
- Teacher (Greek: Didaskale): A respectful and common title for Jesus, acknowledging His authority and wisdom. The father recognized Jesus as a figure of authority and knowledge, implying an expectation of both understanding and the power to act. This title also implicitly places Jesus in a unique position above ordinary men, including the disciples.
- I beg You (Greek: deomai sou): Expresses a heartfelt, earnest plea, a supplication born of deep desperation. It signifies a humble and urgent appeal for help, underscoring the father's absolute reliance on Jesus.
- to look on (Greek: epiblepson): Literally means "to cast eyes upon," but implies more than mere observation. In biblical context, for God or a powerful figure to "look upon" someone often means to show favor, compassion, or to intervene providentially (e.g., Lk 1:48; Ps 119:132). The father desired Jesus' compassionate attention and intervention, not just acknowledgment of his presence.
- my son: Clearly states the object of his intense concern. This is a deeply personal plea, driven by paternal love and concern.
- for he is my only child (Greek: hoti monogenēs moi estin): This phrase carries immense emotional weight and significance in Luke's Gospel. The word monogenēs (mon-og-en-es) literally means "only begotten" or "only one of its kind." In this context, it highlights the unique and irreplaceable value of the son to his father. Luke emphasizes this specificity in similar healing narratives (Lk 7:12, the widow's only son; and Jairus' only daughter, Lk 8:42), creating a literary and theological connection that subtly foreshadows Jesus as God's monogenēs Son. This detail serves to heighten the father's agony and Jesus' profound compassion, as the stakes are incredibly high for the grieving parent, facing the potential loss of his entire lineage and the focus of his love and hope. It also establishes the exceptional nature of the child's affliction.
Words-group analysis
- "And behold, a man from the crowd cried out, saying...": This rapid progression from setting the scene to the urgent verbal expression emphasizes the spontaneity of the father's action and the immediate desperation of the situation that demands Jesus' attention. It transitions abruptly from divine glory to immediate human pain.
- "Teacher, I beg You to look on my son": This grouping illustrates the father's posture of humility and desperate reliance. He acknowledges Jesus' authority while expressing his earnest need, not just for observation, but for a compassionate and efficacious intervention on behalf of his beloved child.
- "for he is my only child": This phrase functions as the critical rationale and emotional anchor for the entire plea. It provides context for the father's urgency and agony, appealing to Jesus' compassion by stressing the irreplaceable nature of the son. This particular detail is characteristic of Luke's Gospel, where the special significance of an "only" child is often highlighted before a miraculous intervention, underscoring the profundity of the loss averted.
Luke 9 38 Bonus section
The presence of "only child" (Greek: monogenēs) in this verse subtly weaves into Luke's Gospel's broader narrative, where monogenēs is used to describe specific, unique, and highly significant relationships. Beyond the son in this passage and the widow's son in Lk 7:12, this very same word monogenēs is famously used in the Johannine writings to describe Jesus Himself as the "only begotten Son" of God (Jn 1:18, 3:16, 1 Jn 4:9). This shared terminology implicitly elevates the suffering of the child to a universal level and highlights Jesus' unique empathy, as the true monogenēs who understands profound love and unique identity. This narrative also provides a stark premonition of Jesus' journey towards His own suffering and death in Jerusalem, showing that after divine glory, the path of the Son of God involves engaging with humanity's deepest sorrows and redeeming them through His self-sacrifice. The immediate failure of the disciples to heal in this instance (Luke 9:40) serves as an educational moment, not just for them but for all who follow, that true power for healing and deliverance comes solely from the divine authority of Jesus Christ, not merely delegated ability without abiding faith.
Luke 9 38 Commentary
Luke 9:38 powerfully contrasts the glorious vision of the Transfiguration with the harsh realities of a fallen world. As Jesus descends from the mountain, He is immediately confronted with human suffering that His disciples, despite having been given authority (Lk 9:1), are powerless to remedy. The father's desperate plea for his "only child" evokes deep sympathy, for in ancient Jewish culture, an only son was especially precious, ensuring lineage and future security. This detail is specifically emphasized by Luke, drawing a parallel to other "only child" miracles (e.g., widow of Nain's son, Jairus's daughter). The father's fervent cry of "Teacher, I beg You to look on my son" is not merely a request for attention but an earnest appeal for compassionate intervention. It speaks to a faith that believes in Jesus' authority and ability to act where all others have failed. This verse sets the stage for a demonstration of Jesus' unmatched divine power in the face of human weakness and introduces the profound compassion of the Savior who descends from glory to meet suffering head-on, embodying God's deep care for humanity's distress, especially concerning the vulnerable and cherished.