King James Version

What Does Luke 9:60 Mean?

Luke 9:60 in the King James Version says “Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.” — study this verse from Luke chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.”

Luke 9:60 · KJV

Context

58

And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head.

59

And he said unto another, Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father.

60

Jesus said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the kingdom of God.

61

And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house.

62

And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back , is fit for the kingdom of God.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Let the dead bury their dead (Ἄφες τοὺς νεκροὺς θάψαι τοὺς ἑαυτῶν νεκρούς, Aphes tous nekrous thapsai tous heautōn nekrous)—this shocking statement uses 'dead' in two senses. Let the spiritually dead (those without eternal life) bury the physically dead. Those who lack resurrection life can handle death's logistics; those whom Christ calls to kingdom proclamation must prioritize the urgent mission. Jesus isn't commanding callousness but demanding radical priority: the dead can tend the dead, but the living must preach life.

But go thou and preach the kingdom of God (σὺ δὲ ἀπελθὼν διάγγελλε τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, sy de apelthōn diangelle tēn basileian tou theou)—the you is emphatic: 'but you, in contrast to the spiritually dead.' The verb diangellō means to proclaim thoroughly, publish widely. The man is called to herald the kingdom's arrival—the most urgent message in history. No earthly duty, however sacred, outranks this commission. Jesus teaches that authentic discipleship recognizes the gospel's urgency and the kingdom's absolute claim, relativizing even family obligations.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jesus's statement would have scandalized His audience. Burial of parents was a Torah duty that even excused priests from holiness requirements (Leviticus 21:2-3). Yet Jesus claims authority to override this, revealing that kingdom allegiance transcends Mosaic law. This principle resurfaces in Jesus's teaching that hating father and mother is required for discipleship (Luke 14:26)—hyperbolic language meaning that loyalty to Christ must relativize all earthly relationships, even the most sacred.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does Jesus's distinction between the spiritually dead and the living reveal about the two humanities—those in Adam and those in Christ—and how this fundamental division reorders all other loyalties?
  2. How does Christ's command to prioritize kingdom proclamation over family obligations challenge modern evangelicalism's domestication of discipleship into family values religion rather than radical kingdom mission?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 20 words
εἶπεν1 of 20

“said”

G2036

to speak or say (by word or writing)

δὲ2 of 20

“but”

G1161

but, and, etc

αὐτῷ3 of 20

“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

ὁ4 of 20
G3588

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

Ἰησοῦς,5 of 20

“Jesus”

G2424

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

Ἄφες6 of 20

“Let”

G863

to send forth, in various applications (as follow)

τοὺς7 of 20
G3588

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

νεκρούς8 of 20

“dead”

G3498

dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)

θάψαι9 of 20

“bury”

G2290

to celebrate funeral rites, i.e., inter

τοὺς10 of 20
G3588

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

ἑαυτῶν11 of 20

“their”

G1438

(him- her-, it-, them-, my-, thy-, our-, your-)self (selves), etc

νεκρούς12 of 20

“dead”

G3498

dead (literally or figuratively; also as noun)

σὺ13 of 20

“thou”

G4771

thou

δὲ14 of 20

“but”

G1161

but, and, etc

ἀπελθὼν15 of 20

“go”

G565

to go off (i.e., depart), aside (i.e., apart) or behind (i.e., follow), literally or figuratively

διάγγελλε16 of 20

“and preach”

G1229

to herald thoroughly

τὴν17 of 20
G3588

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

βασιλείαν18 of 20

“the kingdom”

G932

properly, royalty, i.e., (abstractly) rule, or (concretely) a realm (literally or figuratively)

τοῦ19 of 20
G3588

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

θεοῦ20 of 20

“of God”

G2316

a deity, especially (with g3588) the supreme divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; exceedingly (by hebraism)

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 9:60 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 9:60 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Timothy 2:3-41 Timothy 5:6John 21:15-17Luke 15:322 Timothy 4:2Revelation 3:1

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