Luke 9:5 kjv

And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Luke 9:5 nkjv

And whoever will not receive you, when you go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet as a testimony against them."

Luke 9:5 niv

If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them."

Luke 9:5 esv

And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them."

Luke 9:5 nlt

And if a town refuses to welcome you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate."

Luke 9 verses

Luke 9 5 Meaning

Luke 9:5 describes Jesus' instruction to His disciples on how to respond when their message of the kingdom is rejected in a city or household. The act of shaking off the dust from their feet is a symbolic and prophetic gesture. It signifies a complete separation from those who refuse to receive them and their message, releasing the disciples from any further responsibility towards those rejecters. It also serves as a public testimony or witness against the unrepentant individuals, indicating that they will face accountability for their refusal to accept God's gracious offer of salvation.

Luke 9 5 Context

This verse is part of Jesus' specific instructions to the twelve disciples whom He commissioned and sent out (Luke 9:1-6). Before sending them to preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick, Jesus gives them practical guidance for their mission. He tells them to take nothing for their journey, relying on God's provision and the hospitality of others (Luke 9:3). He then instructs them to stay in one house once received (Luke 9:4), highlighting the importance of the host's willingness to accept their message. Luke 9:5 immediately follows, addressing the critical situation of rejection. Historically, the act of shaking dust from one's feet was a Jewish custom, often observed by Jews returning from Gentile lands, to cleanse themselves of defilement associated with foreign soil. However, Jesus repurposes this ritual here within Jewish towns, signifying that those who reject the message of God's kingdom are considered, in spiritual terms, as defiled or estranged from God, similar to Gentiles in terms of spiritual impurity, or even worse. It emphasizes the profound seriousness of rejecting Christ's messengers, who embody the very presence and authority of God.

Luke 9 5 Word analysis

• And whoever: Greek Kai hos an (καὶ ὃς ἂν) - Introduces a general, conditional clause, meaning "And if anyone" or "and whenever anyone." It underscores the universality of the instruction for any instance of rejection.
• will not receive: Greek mē dechōntai (μὴ δέχωνται) - From dechomai (δέχομαι), meaning to welcome, accept, receive. This is not merely about physical hospitality but about accepting the person, their message, and by extension, the authority of the one who sent them. It signifies a refusal of both the messenger and the message of the kingdom.
• you: Refers directly to the disciples, who are the authorized representatives of Jesus and His message. Rejecting them is equivalent to rejecting Jesus (Luke 10:16).
• when you go out of that city: Greek exerchomenoi apo tēs poleōs ekeinēs (ἐξερχόμενοι ἀπὸ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης) - Indicates that this action is to be taken upon departing from a place where their message has been rejected. It marks a definite end to their engagement with that specific place.
• shake off: Greek ektinassete (ἐκτινάξατε) - From ektinassō (ἐκτινάσσω), meaning to shake out or shake off vigorously. It implies a definitive and intentional act, not a passive one, physically demonstrating a complete disassociation.
• the very dust: Greek ton koniorton (τὸν κονιορτὸν) - Koniortos (κονιορτὸς) means dust or fine dirt. The emphasis on "very" suggests every last particle. This dust symbolizes the impurity or the burden of unresponsiveness from that place.
• from your feet: Where dust naturally collects from travel. This action visually communicates separation and purity from the contamination of rejection. It signifies the removal of any lingering association or responsibility.
• for a testimony against them: Greek eis martyrion ep’ autous (εἰς μαρτύριον ἐπ’ αὐτοὺς) - Martyrion (μαρτύριον) means a testimony, witness, or evidence. The act itself is a public witness, serving as undeniable evidence that the disciples fulfilled their duty to proclaim the truth and that the inhabitants of that city deliberately refused it. It lays the responsibility for the rejection squarely upon them, signifying their future accountability before God. It implies a divine warning and impending judgment, not a curse from the disciples themselves.

Words-group analysis

• "And whoever will not receive you": This phrase highlights the personal accountability of individuals or communities in their response to God's messengers and His word. It signifies a volitional refusal.
• "shake off the very dust from your feet": This command outlines a stark, ritualistic act. It means cutting off all fellowship, responsibility, and association with those who have rejected the Gospel. It is a symbol of disengagement and purification, leaving the rejecters to their own consequences.
• "for a testimony against them": This crucial phrase clarifies the purpose and implication of the act. It means that the disciples, by this action, have borne witness to their commission and the truth they preached. The act serves as evidence that the message was offered and deliberately rejected, rendering the hearers without excuse on the day of judgment.

Luke 9 5 Bonus section

The symbolic act of shaking off the dust from one's feet demonstrates the complete breaking of fellowship and shared responsibility. It reflects a shift of the burden of guilt from the obedient messenger to the unresponsive hearer. This instruction emphasizes the high stakes involved in hearing and responding to the message of the Kingdom. Every person exposed to the Gospel is placed under an awesome responsibility to choose their response, and there are profound eternal consequences for rejection. It implicitly stresses that there will be no excuse for those who willfully ignore or despise the opportunity to accept the Lord.

Luke 9 5 Commentary

Luke 9:5 is a critical instruction from Jesus to His disciples concerning the solemnity of their mission and the serious implications of rejecting the divine message. It underscores that proclaiming the kingdom of God is not merely an optional offering but a life-or-death decision for the hearers. The act of shaking off the dust is not a vengeful curse, but a prophetic, symbolic separation. It declares that the disciples have faithfully discharged their duty, and any responsibility for the outcome now rests entirely with those who refused to welcome the message. It serves as a stark warning of impending divine judgment for unbelief, marking an irreversible spiritual cutoff. This principle empowers believers to preach without fear of rejection, knowing that their obligation ends once the truth has been clearly presented, and the final accounting belongs to God.For practical usage, this verse reminds us that Christians are called to faithfully proclaim the Gospel without compulsion. When met with persistent, defiant rejection, the servant of Christ, having delivered the message, can step away without guilt, committing the outcome to God's justice and mercy. It encourages discipleship rooted in faithfulness rather than human approval.