King James Version

What Does Luke 9:21 Mean?

Luke 9:21 in the King James Version says “And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;” — study this verse from Luke chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;”

Luke 9:21 · KJV

Context

19

They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again.

20

He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God.

21

And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing;

22

Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day.

23

And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily , and follow me.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing (ὁ δὲ ἐπιτιμήσας αὐτοῖς παρήγγειλεν μηδενὶ λέγειν τοῦτο, ho de epitimēsas autois parēngeilen mēdeni legein touto)—The verb epitimaō (ἐπιτιμήσας, "sternly warned, rebuked") indicates strong, urgent command. The double verb construction (epitimēsas and parēngeilen, "charged and commanded") emphasizes Jesus's insistence on silence. This is the "messianic secret" motif prominent in Mark's Gospel—Jesus repeatedly silences demons, healed persons, and disciples about His identity.

Why the silence? Premature public proclamation of Jesus as Messiah would trigger several problems: (1) Political uprising—the crowds wanted a military-political Messiah to overthrow Rome (John 6:15), not a suffering servant; (2) Misunderstanding—popular messianic expectations centered on earthly kingdom, not spiritual salvation; (3) Premature opposition—open messianic claims would accelerate confrontation with authorities before the appointed time; (4) Incomplete revelation—the disciples don't yet understand the cross (v. 22). Jesus must redefine messiahship around suffering before public proclamation. Only after resurrection will the full truth be ready for proclamation (Luke 24:46-49). The command to silence follows immediately after Peter's confession (implied in v. 20, explicit in Matthew 16:16) to prevent misguided messianic fervor.

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Historical & Cultural Context

First-century Jewish messianic expectation was predominantly political and nationalistic. The Messiah was expected to overthrow Roman occupation, restore Israel's sovereignty, and establish God's kingdom on earth from Jerusalem. The Psalms of Solomon (circa 50 BC) and other intertestamental texts describe a warrior-king Messiah who would destroy Israel's enemies. Jesus's mission directly contradicted these expectations—He came not to conquer Rome but to conquer sin, not to establish political kingdom but spiritual reign. Premature proclamation would attract zealot followers and provoke Roman intervention. The charge to silence protected Jesus's mission until the cross and resurrection could redefine messiahship correctly.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does Jesus command silence about His messianic identity, and what does this teach about the danger of right confession with wrong understanding?
  2. How does the need to redefine messiahship around suffering (v. 22) before public proclamation challenge contemporary triumphalist versions of the gospel?
  3. In what ways might premature or incomplete proclamation of Christ today create similar misunderstandings that distort the gospel message?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 8 words
Ὁ1 of 8
G3588

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

δὲ2 of 8

“And”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἐπιτιμήσας3 of 8

“he straitly charged”

G2008

to tax upon, i.e., censure or admonish; by implication, forbid

αὐτοῖς4 of 8

“them”

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

παρήγγειλεν5 of 8

“and commanded”

G3853

to transmit a message, i.e., (by implication) to enjoin

μηδενὶ6 of 8

“no man”

G3367

not even one (man, woman, thing)

εἰπεῖν7 of 8

“them to tell”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

τοῦτο8 of 8

“that thing”

G5124

that thing

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 9:21 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 9:21 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 16:20Matthew 17:9Mark 8:30-31

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