King James Version
What Does Luke 18:37 Mean?
“And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.”
Luke 18:37 · KJV
Context
35
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging:
36
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.
37
And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by.
38
And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
39
And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryThey told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by (ἀπήγγειλαν δὲ αὐτῷ ὅτι Ἰησοῦς ὁ Ναζωραῖος παρέρχεται, apēngeilan de autō hoti Iēsous ho Nazōraios parerchetai)—The crowd's answer is factual but minimal. Apangellō (to announce, report) conveys information without interpretation. They identify Jesus geographically—of Nazareth (ὁ Ναζωραῖος)—a designation often used dismissively (John 1:46: 'Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?').
Passeth by (παρέρχεται, parerchetai)—the present tense emphasizes the fleeting moment. Jesus is passing, not stopping. This creates urgency: the beggar must act now or miss his opportunity. The verb parerchomai can mean 'to pass away, disappear'—without intervention, Jesus will be gone, perhaps forever. This spatial passing becomes metaphor for spiritual opportunity: Christ comes near, but doesn't force engagement. The beggar must respond.
Passeth by (παρέρχεται, parerchetai)—the present tense emphasizes the fleeting moment. Jesus is passing, not stopping. This creates urgency: the beggar must act now or miss his opportunity. The verb parerchomai can mean 'to pass away, disappear'—without intervention, Jesus will be gone, perhaps forever. This spatial passing becomes metaphor for spiritual opportunity: Christ comes near, but doesn't force engagement. The beggar must respond.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
Nazareth was an insignificant village of perhaps 400 people, unmentioned in Old Testament, Josephus, or Talmud until the Christian era. Identifying Jesus this way likely conveyed low social status rather than honor. Yet this 'Nazarene' was attracting massive crowds, creating the cognitive dissonance that defined Jesus's ministry—nobody from nowhere doing works of God.
Reflection Questions
- How do human labels and geographic prejudices obscure recognition of God's work in unexpected people or places?
- What does Jesus 'passing by' teach about the urgency of responding to spiritual opportunity?
- When has God's presence felt near but fleeting, requiring immediate response from you?
Original Language Analysis
Greek · 8 wordsαὐτῷ3 of 8
“him”
G846the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Ἰησοῦς5 of 8
“Jesus”
G2424jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
Ναζωραῖος7 of 8
“of Nazareth”
G3480a nazoraean, i.e., inhabitant of nazareth; by extension, a christian
παρέρχεται8 of 8
“passeth by”
G3928to come near or aside, i.e., to approach (arrive), go by (or away), (figuratively) perish or neglect, (causative) avert
Study Guide
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
Luke 18:37 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to Luke 18:37 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge