Matthew 15 31

Matthew 15:31 kjv

Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:31 nkjv

So the multitude marveled when they saw the mute speaking, the maimed made whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:31 niv

The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:31 esv

so that the crowd wondered, when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled healthy, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. And they glorified the God of Israel.

Matthew 15:31 nlt

The crowd was amazed! Those who hadn't been able to speak were talking, the crippled were made well, the lame were walking, and the blind could see again! And they praised the God of Israel.

Matthew 15 verses

Matthew 15 31 Meaning

This verse describes the profound astonishment of a large crowd witnessing Jesus' miraculous healings, specifically mute people speaking, the maimed becoming whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing. Their reaction to these undeniable displays of divine power was to glorify, or give praise and honor to, the God of Israel. It highlights Jesus' power over all physical ailments and the recognition by the onlookers—many likely Gentiles from the Decapolis region—that this power stemmed from the one true God.

Matthew 15 31 Context

This verse is situated immediately before Jesus feeds the four thousand, likely in the Decapolis region, a Gentile area (Matthew 15:29-38). Earlier in the chapter, Jesus engaged in a dispute with the Pharisees regarding traditions versus God's commands and then had a significant interaction with a Canaanite woman, where He demonstrated His healing power extending to Gentiles. In Matthew 15:29-31, Jesus ascended a mountain and was approached by a great crowd bringing "many who were lame, blind, crippled, mute, and many others, and they laid them at His feet." The subsequent healings are the direct action preceding verse 31. The historical context indicates that Jesus was operating in an area with a strong Hellenistic and pagan influence. Therefore, the people's glorifying of "the God of Israel" is profoundly significant, indicating a turning away from pagan deities toward the one true God due to Jesus' manifest power. These miraculous healings served as irrefutable evidence of the presence and power of the God of Israel, confirming Jesus' Messianic authority and expanding God's outreach beyond purely Jewish territory.

Matthew 15 31 Word analysis

• So (ὥστε / hōste): Conveys the consequence or result of the preceding actions (Jesus healing the many afflicted).
• the multitude (ὁ ὄχλος / ho ochlos): Refers to a large gathering of people, a diverse crowd that likely included both Jews and many Gentiles from the Decapolis region, attracted by Jesus' reputation.
• marveled (ἐθαύμασαν / ethaumasan): Expresses deep astonishment, awe, and wonder. It signifies a response of profound amazement at something extraordinary and seemingly impossible.
• when they saw (βλέποντες / blepontes): Emphasizes direct observation; the miracles were visible, undeniable realities that formed the basis of their astonishment.
• the mute (κωφοὺς / kōphous): Describes those unable to speak, often implying deafness as a co-condition. Jesus restores not just sound, but the faculty of coherent speech.
• speaking (λαλοῦντας / lalousantas): From total silence or inarticulate sounds to verbal communication, demonstrating complete restoration of this vital human capacity.
• the maimed (κυλλοὺς / kyllous): Refers to those with crippled, deformed, or twisted limbs (hands or feet). This type of healing speaks to complete physical restructuring and restoration beyond mere functional impairment.
• whole (ὑγιεῖς / hygieis): Means healthy, sound, complete. It signifies a full restoration of integrity and function to limbs that were previously deformed or withered.
• the lame (χωλοὺς / chōlous): Describes individuals unable to walk properly due to a defect in their legs or feet, a common and visible affliction in that era.
• walking (περιπατοῦντας / peripatountas): Indicates the restoration of full mobility, allowing the previously immobile or crippled to move freely and unassisted.
• and the blind (τυφλοὺς / typhlous): Denotes those without sight, often a life-altering condition leaving individuals dependent on others.
• seeing (βλέποντας / blepontas): The recovery of vision, bringing light and perception to those who lived in darkness, a profound physical and symbolic transformation.
• and they glorified (ἐδόξασαν / edoxasan): Not merely to praise or thank, but to ascribe worth, honor, and exaltation to God, recognizing His power and majesty in what they witnessed.
• the God of Israel (τὸν Θεὸν Ἰσραήλ / ton Theon Israēl): This specific attribution is critical. In a predominantly Gentile area, it indicates that the crowd identified the source of Jesus' power not with pagan deities, but with the unique God of the Jewish people, the God of the Old Testament. It signifies an acknowledgement of His singular truth and power.
• "the mute speaking, the maimed whole, the lame walking, and the blind seeing": This catalog of specific healings represents a comprehensive display of divine power over diverse and profound physical disabilities, fulfilling ancient prophecies (e.g., Isa 35:5-6) about the coming Messianic age.

Matthew 15 31 Bonus section

The phrase "God of Israel" used by Gentiles highlights a crucial missionary emphasis: Jesus was revealing the one true God not only to His chosen people but also extending this revelation to those previously outside the covenant. This foreshadows the broad Gentile inclusion that would fully manifest in the early church, as Gentiles would turn from idols to serve the living God (Acts 15). These extensive and undeniable miracles also served as irrefutable polemic against the impotence of local pagan gods, proving their non-existence or lack of power compared to the "God of Israel." The sheer volume of simultaneous healings suggests that Jesus did not perform these miracles quietly or selectively, but openly, inviting the multitude to witness God's glory directly.

Matthew 15 31 Commentary

Matthew 15:31 vividly captures the profound impact of Jesus' comprehensive healing ministry. The sheer volume and variety of physical restorations—from inability to speak to articulate speech, from debilitating deformities to full physical integrity, and from blindness to sight—were clear, undeniable demonstrations of divine power. This catalog of miracles goes beyond mere compassion; it serves as compelling evidence of the active presence of God's Kingdom in Jesus Christ.

The multitude's reaction, "they marveled," speaks to the astounding nature of what they witnessed. These were not minor ailments, but chronic, visible disabilities. Their subsequent act of "glorifying the God of Israel" is highly significant, especially considering the context of the Decapolis, a largely Gentile region. It indicates a turning from pagan deities and a recognition of Yahweh, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as the true and living God whose power was being manifested through Jesus. This highlights the universal reach of God's saving grace and truth. The miracles validated Jesus' Messianic claims, prompting worship and confirming that He was indeed working by the Spirit of God. These acts of power not only brought physical healing but also pointed to the spiritual transformation and restoration that Jesus offered. Practically, this verse encourages us to marvel at God's power and to give Him glory for His works, recognizing that all true restoration, physical or spiritual, ultimately flows from Him.