King James Version

What Does Luke 18:42 Mean?

Luke 18:42 in the King James Version says “And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee. — study this verse from Luke chapter 18 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Luke 18:42 · KJV


Context

40

And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,

41

Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight.

42

And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

43

And immediately he received his sight, and followed him, glorifying God: and all the people, when they saw it, gave praise unto God.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee (Ἀνάβλεψον· ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε, Anablepson; hē pistis sou sesōken se)—The aorist imperative anablepson (receive sight!) is instantaneous command, not gradual process. But the healing's cause is crucial: thy faith hath saved thee (ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε). The verb sōzō means both 'to heal' and 'to save'—the perfect tense sesōken (has saved) indicates completed action with ongoing results. His faith didn't earn healing; rather, faith was the receptive instrument.

This faith demonstrated itself through: (1) theological confession—'Son of David', (2) persistence despite opposition, (3) specific request, (4) approaching Jesus personally. The same verb sōzō appears throughout Luke's Gospel for both physical healing and spiritual salvation (7:50, 8:48, 17:19), suggesting they're not separate categories but different aspects of kingdom wholeness. The blind beggar receives both: eyes to see and soul saved through faith in Israel's Messiah.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

In Greek, the perfect tense emphasizes results that persist—'has been saved and remains saved.' Jesus's attribution of healing to faith (not His power alone) empowered the recipient, avoiding the dependency that perpetuates charity-based power imbalances. The man leaves not just healed but affirmed in his faith-response.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus's statement 'thy faith hath saved thee' clarify faith's role as receptive trust rather than meritorious work?
  2. What connections exist between physical healing and spiritual salvation in Jesus's ministry?
  3. How did this man's faith demonstrate itself in actions, and what does that teach about genuine versus claimed faith?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 11 words
καὶ1 of 11

And

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

2 of 11
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

Ἰησοῦς3 of 11

Jesus

G2424

jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites

εἶπεν4 of 11

said

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

αὐτῷ5 of 11

unto him

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Ἀνάβλεψον·6 of 11

Receive thy sight

G308

to look up; by implication, to recover sight

7 of 11
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

πίστις8 of 11

faith

G4102

persuasion, i.e., credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of god or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon christ

σου9 of 11

thy

G4675

of thee, thy

σέσωκέν10 of 11

hath saved

G4982

to save, i.e., deliver or protect (literally or figuratively)

σε11 of 11

thee

G4571

thee


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 18:42 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 18:42 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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