Matthew 8:17 kjv
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Matthew 8:17 nkjv
that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying: "He Himself took our infirmities And bore our sicknesses."
Matthew 8:17 niv
This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases."
Matthew 8:17 esv
This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases."
Matthew 8:17 nlt
This fulfilled the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah, who said, "He took our sicknesses
and removed our diseases."
Matthew 8 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 53:4 | Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. | Original prophecy fulfilled by Christ's suffering. |
| Isa 53:5 | But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace… | Further detail on the suffering servant's work. |
| Isa 53:11 | Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. | Emphasizes bearing iniquities for justification. |
| Matt 4:23 | And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. | Jesus's extensive healing ministry in Galilee. |
| Matt 9:35 | And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. | Summarizes Jesus's continued healing mission. |
| Mark 1:32 | That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. | Parallel account of many healings, showing the volume. |
| Luke 4:40 | Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. | Parallel account emphasizing the comprehensiveness of His healing. |
| Acts 10:38 | how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. | Apostolic testimony to Jesus's healing work. |
| 1 Pet 2:24 | He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. | Links Christ's bearing sins with spiritual and physical healing. |
| Gal 3:13 | Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us… | Redemption from the curse, which includes sickness. |
| Heb 9:28 | so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. | Christ bearing sins, a parallel to bearing sickness. |
| Jn 1:29 | The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" | Jesus as the "sin-bearer." |
| Ex 15:26 | saying, "If you will diligently listen to the voice of the Lord your God, and do that which is right in his eyes... I will put none of the diseases on you that I put on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, your healer." | God's identity as "the Lord who heals you." |
| Psa 103:3 | who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, | God's power to forgive sins and heal diseases. |
| Matt 11:4-5 | And Jesus answered them, "Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them." | Jesus's miracles as evidence of His messianic claims. |
| Luke 7:21 | In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. | Confirmation of comprehensive healing. |
| Jn 20:30-31 | Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. | Miracles as signs pointing to Jesus's identity. |
| Rom 8:23 | And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. | Future redemption includes physical bodies. |
| Rev 21:4 | He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." | Eschatological promise of an end to suffering and illness. |
| Isa 35:5-6 | Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy… | OT prophecy of future messianic healing. |
| Acts 3:6-8 | But Peter said, "I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" And he took him by the right hand and raised him up, and immediately his feet and ankles were made strong. | Disciples continue the healing ministry in Jesus's name. |
Matthew 8 verses
Matthew 8 17 Meaning
Matthew 8:17 highlights that Jesus's widespread healing ministry was a direct fulfillment of prophecy, specifically from Isaiah 53:4. It signifies that the Messiah's compassionate work includes taking upon Himself and bearing human infirmities and diseases, thereby demonstrating His power over the physical consequences of a fallen world. This divine act of healing shows Jesus's profound identification with human suffering and His ultimate mission to redeem humanity holistically.
Matthew 8 17 Context
Matthew 8:17 serves as an interpretive summary by the Gospel writer. It immediately follows an intense evening of healings, including Peter's mother-in-law, and "many who were sick or oppressed by demons" (Matt 8:16), indicating a large volume of healing. The broader context of Matthew 8-9 showcases Jesus's comprehensive authority—over sickness, demons, nature, and even death itself. These miracles authenticate Jesus's identity as the promised Messiah to a predominantly Jewish audience. Matthew, more than other Gospel writers, frequently employs "fulfillment formulas" to link events in Jesus's life directly to Old Testament prophecies, affirming that Jesus is the culmination of God's redemptive plan for Israel. For the original Jewish readers, who often saw sickness as linked to sin or spiritual uncleanness, Jesus's power to heal would powerfully demonstrate His divine authority and cleansing power.
Matthew 8 17 Word analysis
This was to fulfill (ἵνα πληρωθῇ - hina plērōthē): This Greek phrase translates as "in order that it might be fulfilled." It's a common "fulfillment formula" in Matthew, indicating divine intentionality and purpose behind Jesus's actions. It signifies that Jesus's life and ministry are the climax and realization of God's prophetic word.
what was spoken through (τὸ ῥηθὲν διὰ - to rhēthen dia): This emphasizes that the words did not originate solely from Isaiah but were divinely inspired and delivered through him, highlighting the prophetic authority.
the prophet Isaiah (Ἠσαΐου τοῦ προφήτου - Ēsaiou tou prophētou): Specifically identifies the revered Old Testament prophet, whose prophecies about the Messiah were foundational to Jewish expectations.
He (αὐτὸς - autos): Refers explicitly to Jesus, making Him the subject of the prophetic fulfillment.
took (ἔλαβεν - elaben): From the Greek verb lambanō, meaning to take, seize, or receive. In this context, it implies an act of willingly taking upon oneself, internalizing, or accepting a burden.
our illnesses (τὰς ἀσθενείας ἡμῶν - tas astheneias hēmōn): The Greek term astheneia refers broadly to weaknesses, infirmities, frailties, or sicknesses. It can encompass general human physical and spiritual feebleness. The "our" emphasizes humanity's shared susceptibility.
and bore (ἐβάστασεν - ebastasēn): From the Greek verb bastazō, meaning to lift, carry, or endure. This term suggests a heavier, more enduring action than elaben, implying carrying a burden, like bearing a heavy load or a responsibility, even to the point of suffering.
our diseases (τὰς νόσους ἡμῶν - tas nosous hēmōn): The Greek term nosos refers more specifically to diseases, ailments, or sicknesses. Paired with astheneia, it conveys the full spectrum of physical brokenness, from general weakness to specific pathological conditions.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "He took our illnesses and bore our diseases": This direct quotation from the Greek Septuagint translation of Isaiah 53:4 describes the suffering servant. In its original context in Isaiah, "griefs" (חֳלָיֵנוּ - ḥolāyēnū) and "sorrows" (מַכְאֹבֵינוּ - makhʾōvēnū) often carry strong connotations of spiritual and physical consequences of sin. Matthew, divinely guided, applies this prophecy specifically to Jesus's physical healing ministry. This shows that the Messiah's redemptive work is comprehensive; it touches not only the spiritual root (sin) but also its devastating physical consequences (sickness, suffering). While the ultimate and fullest "bearing" of sin and its curse would occur on the cross, Jesus's pre-Calvary healing ministry was a powerful demonstration and foreshadowing of that complete work, visibly displaying His empathy, authority, and the nature of His restorative power.
Matthew 8 17 Bonus section
The application of Isaiah 53:4 by Matthew here underscores the holistic nature of Christ's redemptive work. While the prophecy’s deepest fulfillment occurred at the cross in terms of sin-bearing, Matthew highlights that its implications extend to physical suffering. This suggests that in Jesus's earthly ministry, He actively bore the consequences of a fallen world (which include disease) even before He bore its ultimate cause (sin) on Calvary. The healings were therefore not incidental acts, but essential components of His messianic identity and mission, foreshadowing the full bodily redemption awaiting believers and pointing towards a future new heaven and new earth where sickness will be no more. It also reveals the profound empathy of Christ, who truly understood and took upon Himself human suffering in all its forms.
Matthew 8 17 Commentary
Matthew 8:17 acts as the divinely inspired lens through which Matthew wishes his readers to understand Jesus's miraculous healing works. These aren't just isolated acts of benevolence, but crucial signs demonstrating His Messiahship and His profound mission. By applying Isaiah 53:4, a prophecy primarily understood as the Servant bearing the spiritual burden of sin, Matthew broadens its application to encompass physical healing. This isn't a reinterpretation, but a deeper understanding of the comprehensive scope of Christ's suffering and redemptive work. He literally "bore" the weight of human sickness through His compassion and power, acting as a living embodiment of the prophetic suffering Servant. This pre-Cross ministry of healing served as a tangible manifestation of the same identification with suffering humanity that would lead Him to bear the ultimate burden of sin on the cross. It proclaims that through Christ, the fallen human condition—in its spiritual and physical brokenness—is addressed and overcome. It reminds believers that Jesus is compassionate towards our infirmities, having literally taken them upon Himself.