King James Version

What Does Luke 5:24 Mean?

Luke 5:24 in the King James Version says “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I ... — study this verse from Luke chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

Luke 5:24 · KJV


Context

22

But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?

23

Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?

24

But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

25

And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.

26

And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
But that ye may know Son of man has power earth forgive sins said unto sick palsy I say arise take up couch go unto house. Son of man Daniel 7:13 messianic title. Power exousia authority both right and ability. Earth epi tēs gēs presently available. Forgive aphienai release cancel debt. Said eipen shift from reasoning to command. I say egō soi lego emphatic. Arise egeirai resurrection language. Take up aron active participation. Couch klinidion portable bed. Go poreuou departure. House oikon home destination. Healing command demonstrates authority claimed. Physical restoration validates spiritual authority. Paralytic cooperation faith obey command. Reformed theology sees salvation as divine initiative human response. God commands sinners believe repent but also enables obedience through regeneration.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

I say unto thee ego soi lego emphatic personal address. Jesus speaks with inherent authority not citing predecessors like scribes. Command presumes immediate obedience expects results. Paralytic arose immediately walked. Physical healing instant complete verified by witnesses. Crowd amazed glorified God. Even critics could not deny miracle only dispute source Beelzebub accusation. This pattern repeated. Undeniable miracles disputed source. Hardness of heart can acknowledge facts while rejecting implications. Early church faced same opponents acknowledged miracles attributed to wrong source. Modern skeptics either deny miracles occurred or seek natural explanations. But eyewitness testimony historical evidence support Gospel accounts.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Jesus emphatic I say unto thee command demonstrate about His divine authority confidence?
  2. How does paralytic immediate obedience picture proper response to divine command enabled by grace?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 31 words
ἵνα1 of 31

that

G2443

in order that (denoting the purpose or the result)

δὲ2 of 31

But

G1161

but, and, etc

εἰδῆτε3 of 31

ye may know

G1492

used only in certain past tenses, the others being borrowed from the equivalent g3700 and g3708; properly, to see (literally or figuratively); by impl

ὅτι4 of 31

that

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

ἐξουσίαν5 of 31

power

G1849

privilege, i.e., (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely, magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token o

ἔχει6 of 31

hath

G2192

to hold (used in very various applications, literally or figuratively, direct or remote; such as possession; ability, contiuity, relation, or conditio

7 of 31
G3588

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

υἱὸς8 of 31

the Son

G5207

a "son" (sometimes of animals), used very widely of immediate, remote or figuratively, kinship

τοῦ9 of 31
G3588

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

ἀνθρώπου10 of 31

of man

G444

man-faced, i.e., a human being

ἐπὶ11 of 31

upon

G1909

properly, meaning superimposition (of time, place, order, etc.), as a relation of distribution (with the genitive case), i.e., over, upon, etc.; of re

τῆς12 of 31
G3588

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

γῆς13 of 31

earth

G1093

soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application)

ἀφιέναι14 of 31

to forgive

G863

to send forth, in various applications (as follow)

ἁμαρτίας15 of 31

sins

G266

a sin (properly abstract)

εἶπεν16 of 31

(he said

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

τῷ17 of 31
G3588

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

παραλελυμένῳ18 of 31

unto the sick of the palsy

G3886

to loosen beside, i.e., relax (perfect passive participle, paralyzed or enfeebled)

Σοὶ19 of 31

unto thee

G4671

to thee

λέγω20 of 31

I say

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

ἔγειραι,21 of 31

Arise

G1453

to waken (transitively or intransitively), i.e., rouse (literally, from sleep, from sitting or lying, from disease, from death; or figuratively, from

καὶ22 of 31

and

G2532

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

ἄρας23 of 31

take up

G142

to lift up; by implication, to take up or away; figuratively, to raise (the voice), keep in suspense (the mind), specially, to sail away (i.e., weigh

τὸ24 of 31
G3588

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

κλινίδιόν25 of 31

couch

G2826

a pallet or little couch

σου26 of 31

thine

G4675

of thee, thy

πορεύου27 of 31

and go

G4198

to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)

εἰς28 of 31

into

G1519

to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases

τὸν29 of 31
G3588

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

οἶκόν30 of 31

house

G3624

a dwelling (more or less extensive, literal or figurative); by implication, a family (more or less related, literally or figuratively)

σου31 of 31

thine

G4675

of thee, thy


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 5:24 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 5:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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