King James Version

What Does Luke 8:47 Mean?

Luke 8:47 in the King James Version says “And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him befo... — study this verse from Luke chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Luke 8:47 · KJV


Context

45

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

47

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

48

And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

49

While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. The phrase "when the woman saw that she was not hid" (idousa de hē gynē hoti ouk elathen, ἰδοῦσα δὲ ἡ γυνὴ ὅτι οὐκ ἔλαθεν) reveals her failed hope for anonymous healing. The verb lanthanō (λανθάνω, "to escape notice, be hidden") indicates she realized concealment was impossible. Her response—"came trembling" (tremousa ēlthen, τρέμουσα ἦλθεν)—manifests fear, possibly from violating purity laws by touching Jesus in her unclean state, or from being exposed before the crowd.

"Falling down before him" (prosepesousa autō, προσπεσοῦσα αὐτῷ) demonstrates worship, reverence, and submission. The same posture Jairus took (v. 41), it expresses recognition of Jesus' authority and her desperate need. She "declared unto him before all the people" (apēngeilen enōpion pantos tou laou, ἀπήγγειλεν ἐνώπιον παντὸς τοῦ λαοῦ) her entire story—"for what cause she had touched him" (her chronic condition, her desperate faith) and "how she was healed immediately" (hōs iathē parachrēma, ὡς ἰάθη παραχρῆμα)—the instantaneous, complete cure.

Her public testimony accomplished what Jesus intended: removed her shame, validated her faith, restored her covenant standing, and demonstrated God's compassion for marginalized people. What she feared—exposure—became her liberation. Jesus transformed her secret shame into public honor, her hidden suffering into declared healing, her isolation into community restoration. This pattern characterizes gospel transformation: what we hide in shame, Christ redeems through public declaration of His grace.

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Historical & Cultural Context

For a woman to speak publicly before a mixed crowd was culturally unusual in first-century Judaism. Women rarely addressed public assemblies, especially on personal, shameful matters like chronic bleeding. Her willingness to declare her story "before all the people" demonstrates the desperation that drove her to Jesus and the freedom His healing brought. She had nothing left to lose—already socially dead from twelve years of isolation, Jesus' public affirmation could only improve her standing.

Her testimony served multiple purposes in early Christian understanding. First, it publicly certified the miracle, establishing witnesses for Luke's careful historical documentation (Luke 1:1-4). Second, it removed any question about her continued ritual uncleanness—the healing was complete and immediate, certified before the community. Third, it demonstrated that Jesus' contact with the unclean didn't defile Him but brought purification and restoration—a preview of the gospel's power to cleanse sinners who touch Christ in faith.

The detail "how she was healed immediately" (parachrēma, παραχρῆμα) emphasizes the instantaneous nature of the cure, ruling out natural remission or gradual improvement. Luke, the physician, carefully documents the miracle's medical impossibility, strengthening the historical case for Jesus' divine power and the reliability of eyewitness testimony in Gospel accounts.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Jesus transform the woman's feared exposure into liberation and public honor?
  2. What does her willingness to declare her story 'before all the people' teach about the relationship between shame and gospel freedom?
  3. How does this public testimony serve both the woman's complete restoration and the broader purpose of establishing credible witness to Christ's power?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 27 words
ἰδοῦσα1 of 27

saw

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

δὲ2 of 27

And

G1161

but, and, etc

3 of 27
G3588

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

γυνὴ4 of 27

when the woman

G1135

a woman; specially, a wife

ὅτι5 of 27

that

G3754

demonstrative, that (sometimes redundant); causative, because

οὐκ6 of 27

not

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἔλαθεν7 of 27

hid

G2990

to lie hid (literally or figuratively); often used adverbially, unwittingly

τρέμουσα8 of 27

trembling

G5141

to "tremble" or fear

ἦλθεν9 of 27

she came

G2064

to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)

καὶ10 of 27

and

G2532

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

προσπεσοῦσα11 of 27

falling down before

G4363

to fall towards, i.e., (gently) prostrate oneself (in supplication or homage), or (violently) to rush upon (in storm)

αὐτῷ,12 of 27

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

δι'13 of 27

for

G1223

through (in very wide applications, local, causal, or occasional)

ἣν14 of 27

what

G3739

the relatively (sometimes demonstrative) pronoun, who, which, what, that

αἰτίαν15 of 27

cause

G156

a cause (as if asked for), i.e., (logical) reason (motive, matter), (legal) crime (alleged or proved)

ἥψατο16 of 27

she had touched

G680

properly, to attach oneself to, i.e., to touch (in many implied relations)

αὐτῷ,17 of 27

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

ἀπήγγειλεν18 of 27

she declared

G518

to announce

αὐτῷ,19 of 27

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

ἐνώπιον20 of 27

before

G1799

in the face of (literally or figuratively)

παντὸς21 of 27

all

G3956

all, any, every, the whole

τοῦ22 of 27
G3588

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

λαοῦ23 of 27

the people

G2992

a people (in general; thus differing from g1218, which denotes one's own populace)

καὶ24 of 27

and

G2532

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

ὡς25 of 27

how

G5613

which how, i.e., in that manner (very variously used, as follows)

ἰάθη26 of 27

she was healed

G2390

to cure (literally or figuratively)

παραχρῆμα27 of 27

immediately

G3916

at the thing itself, i.e., instantly


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 8:47 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 8:47 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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