Matthew 9:8 kjv

But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.

Matthew 9:8 nkjv

Now when the multitudes saw it, they marveled and glorified God, who had given such power to men.

Matthew 9:8 niv

When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.

Matthew 9:8 esv

When the crowds saw it, they were afraid, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to men.

Matthew 9:8 nlt

Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for giving humans such authority.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 8 Meaning

Matthew 9:8 describes the reaction of the crowds to Jesus healing the paralytic man and demonstrating His authority to forgive sins. Upon witnessing this miracle, the multitude was awe-struck and filled with reverential fear, recognizing a profound divine power at work. Their response culminated in giving glory to God, acknowledging that He had bestowed such extraordinary authority, specifically the power to heal and forgive sins, upon a human being. This verse highlights the immediate impact of Jesus's miracle on the common people, who, unlike the skeptical religious leaders, recognized God's intervention through Him.

Matthew 9 8 Context

Matthew 9:8 concludes the account of Jesus healing a paralytic man. The immediate context, Matthew 9:1-7, narrates Jesus's return to Capernaum, where a paralytic is brought to Him. Instead of immediately healing, Jesus declares, "Son, your sins are forgiven you." This statement provokes the scribes, who silently accuse Him of blasphemy, arguing that only God can forgive sins. Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, challenges them: is it easier to say 'Your sins are forgiven' or 'Arise and walk'? He then states that He performed the miracle of physical healing "that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins," commanding the paralytic to rise and go home, which he does. The broader context of Matthew's Gospel establishes Jesus's messianic identity and divine authority through His teaching, miracles, and compassion. The people's reaction in verse 8 stands in stark contrast to the religious leaders' hardened hearts, highlighting a growing division in how Jesus was perceived. This incident underscores Jesus's unique identity as both fully human (Son of Man) and possessing divine prerogatives.

Matthew 9 8 Word analysis

• But when the multitudes (οἱ ὄχλοι - hoi ochloi): "Multitudes" refers to the large crowd of common people gathered. Unlike the religious authorities who immediately opposed Jesus (Mt 9:3-4), the ordinary people were generally open to His signs. Their initial perception of Jesus often focused on His power rather than His deeper theological claims.
• saw it (ἰδόντες - idontes): "Saw" implies direct, sensory perception of the miracle. The physical act of the paralytic rising and walking was undeniable proof of supernatural intervention, serving as a clear witness. This observation became the basis for their reaction.
• they marveled (ἐφοβήθησαν - ephobēthēsan): Literally means "they feared." In this biblical context, it conveys more than just fright; it signifies profound awe, astonishment, and a reverential respect in the presence of divine power. It denotes a recognition of something beyond the ordinary, inspiring deep reverence, sometimes bordering on terror, before the holy.
• and glorified (ἐδόξασαν - edoxasan): To give glory, praise, or honor. This indicates an appropriate response of worship and recognition towards the source of such mighty deeds. It's a spontaneous outpouring of worship, acknowledging God's hand in what they witnessed.
• God (τὸν Θεόν - ton Theon): The ultimate source of all power and authority. The crowd rightly attributed the miracle not to Jesus alone, but to God acting through Him, even if their understanding of Jesus's direct divinity was still developing. This shows a deep-seated monotheism.
• who had given (τῷ δόντι - tō donti): Highlights that God is the giver and origin of this power. It underscores the delegation aspect – God willingly empowered someone.
• such authority (ἐξουσίαν τοιαύτην - exousian toiautēn): "Authority" (exousia) means legitimate power, the right to act. "Such" (toiautēn) emphasizes the specific and extraordinary nature of this authority—the power to heal physical infirmity and forgive sins, which was uniquely divine prerogative according to their understanding.
• unto men (τοῖς ἀνθρώποις - tois anthrōpois): The plural "men" could refer to Jesus as a human being par excellence, a representative of humanity, or a more general sense that God bestows divine authority even on a human. At this point, the crowd likely didn't fully grasp Jesus's divine nature. Their emphasis was on God working through a human. This sets up a crucial point for later revelation: Jesus, the God-Man, receives all authority. This also foreshadows the authority Jesus would later delegate to His disciples.

• "when the multitudes saw it, they marveled, and glorified God": This phrase captures a sequence of perception, emotional reaction, and spiritual response. They didn't just see; they processed it deeply, leading to awe and worship. This contrasts with the scribes' immediate intellectual rejection.
• "glorified God, who had given such authority unto men": This is the core statement of the crowds' understanding. They recognize God's hand, attribute the power to Him, and specifically note that this unparalleled authority has been bestowed "upon men" – signaling an unprecedented divine intervention in the human realm through a specific human individual. It marks the crowds' acknowledgment of a new level of God's interaction with humanity through Jesus.

Matthew 9 8 Bonus section

The awe and reverence ("feared") experienced by the crowd highlights a common biblical response when encountering divine power. This kind of fear is not terror of punishment but a deep, overwhelming sense of the sacredness and immense power of God, which compels recognition and worship. It often precedes or accompanies a true act of worship and submission. This verse, by noting the multitudes "glorified God who had given such authority unto men," implicitly confirms Jesus's controversial claim in verse 6 regarding His authority to forgive sins. The crowd's reaction, despite not fully grasping Jesus's full divinity at this point, affirms the validity of His claims and the divine origin of His power in a way that the religious leaders refused to do. This act of giving "authority unto men" sets the stage for the New Covenant, where God works mightily through human instruments, culminating in the authority given to the apostles and ultimately to all believers (Jn 14:12, Mt 28:18-20).

Matthew 9 8 Commentary

Matthew 9:8 records the powerful and significant public reaction to Jesus's miracle of healing the paralytic, particularly the astounding claim that He possessed authority to forgive sins. While the religious leaders viewed this claim as blasphemy (Mt 9:3), the common people responded with a mixture of profound awe (ephobēthēsan, a reverential fear) and praise to God. Their glorification of God signifies their recognition that such a miraculous demonstration could only come from the divine, specifically given by God Himself "unto men." This phrasing "unto men" (plural) reveals their initial, perhaps limited, understanding. They correctly discerned that the power was divine in origin, but perhaps didn't fully comprehend Jesus's unique divinity, seeing Him more as a greatly empowered human. Yet, their response was genuine adoration of God for manifesting such authority in their midst. This incident established Jesus's powerful public image among the people, confirming His miraculous power and God's endorsement, even as it deepened the rift with those who sought to deny His claims.