Luke 8:47 - Printer Friendly

What does Luke 8:47 mean?

ESV: And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed.

NIV: Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.

NASB: Now when the woman saw that she had not escaped notice, she came trembling and fell down before Him, and admitted in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched Him, and how she had been immediately healed.

CSB: When the woman saw that she was discovered, she came trembling and fell down before him. In the presence of all the people, she declared the reason she had touched him and how she was instantly healed.

NLT: When the woman realized that she could not stay hidden, she began to tremble and fell to her knees in front of him. The whole crowd heard her explain why she had touched him and that she had been immediately healed.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: Now when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before Him, she declared to Him in the presence of all the people the reason she had touched Him and how she was healed immediately.

Verse Commentary:

A woman who has been bleeding for twelve years has touched the hem of Jesus' cloak and immediately felt herself healed. She had snuck up on Jesus in the middle of a crowd, trying to not draw attention to herself. But He felt the healing power leave Him (Luke 8:43–46).

None of the Gospels identify what kind of bleeding the woman has suffered from, but it's most likely uterine or vaginal. As such, she is ritually unclean and so is anything she touches (Leviticus 15:25–30). Most Bible scholars say that because Jesus is holy, He cannot be made unclean, even if He touches a leper (Luke 5:12–13). They say whatever He touches becomes holy, like the altar of the tabernacle: "…Whatever touches the altar shall become holy" (Exodus 29:37).

But it's important to remember that "clean" doesn't mean "holy." Ceremonial uncleanness and sin are not the same. Many of the "clean" states depicted in the law of Moses refer to something "normal." Many of the "unclean" states refer to things that are reminders of the reality of death in the world, and thus would be inappropriate to have within the tabernacle or temple. Among other things, the tabernacle, and later the temple, served as a depiction of an Edenic state and a pointing forward to the new creation. God's presence symbolically dwelled there. Thus, aside from the sacrificial system where animal death pointed forward to Jesus and symbolically atoned for human sin so they could be in God's presence, the experience of human death and its effects should not be there. When humans dwell with God, there will be no death, neither will its related effects be present.

For example, it's not "normal" for someone to have a skin disease like leprosy or a discharge. Menstruation or discharge of semen point to life and death and were handled in specific ways, as was giving birth. When Jesus was born, that process made Mary unclean. It's not "normal"—for any one person—to die, so when Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus buried Jesus, they became unclean (John 19:38–42).

We don't know if Jesus became unclean when the woman touched Him, but it would not have been a sin if He had. Still, the stigma of being unclean and forcing uncleanness on a religious leader is so great that the woman is terrified that her presumption has been discovered.

The woman had been trying to hide. When she is found out, she trembles in fear. Jesus could have let her go without a word. Yet bringing her to the attention of the crowd turns out to be a blessing. First, now the crowd knows that she is healed and clean. There is no reason to stigmatize her or believe God is punishing her. Second, Jesus can publicly praise her faith (Luke 8:48) and show that He is willing to heal society's cast-offs. Third, like the demoniac (Luke 8:39), she has the privilege of sharing what Jesus has done for her.

Ironically, in Jesus' next miracle, He requests the details be kept quiet. He will raise a young girl, about twelve years old, from the dead, but tells her parents to keep it quiet (Luke 8:49–56). He understands that young girls do not need to be the center of scrutiny for a whole region.

Luke 8:40–56 records the third and fourth examples of Jesus providing salvation from worldly hardships—this time, illness, shame, and death. Jairus begs Jesus to come heal his daughter. Along the way, a chronically ill woman touches Jesus' robe. Jesus stops, blesses her faith, and calls her "daughter." He then raises the young girl from the dead. Jairus and the woman both show their faith through their diligence and boldness to procure Jesus' healing power. Next, Jesus will imbue His disciples with His power to continue His work. These stories are also found in Matthew 9:18–26 and Mark 5:21–43.

Chapter Summary:

Luke 8 includes portions of three sections of Jesus' Galilean Ministry. The women who support Jesus' ministry bridge the faithful outcasts of chapter 7 to the sower who spreads the news of God's kingdom (Luke 8:1–3). Luke 8:4–18 includes the parables of the sower and the lamp under the jar. These illustrate the importance of hearing Jesus' message with a mind to believe and obey. Luke 8:19–56 presents different faith reactions when Jesus' life, power, and authority elicit questions about His identity.

Chapter Context:

This passage continues Luke's pattern in the account of Jesus' Galilean ministry: alternating calls to discipleship with stories that describe the discipleship He expects. In Luke 6:17, Jesus transitioned from calling and training the Twelve to a more general call; in Luke 7, Jesus interacted specifically with those with less privilege in society. Chapter 8 reveals how people react when Jesus reveals who He is, mostly through miracles. In Luke 9:18–50, Jesus returns to intense discipleship of the Twelve to give them courage and faith, preparing them for the journey to Jerusalem and what they will witness there.

Luke was a traveling companion of Paul (Acts 16:10) and a physician (Colossians 4:14). Unlike Matthew, Mark, and John, Luke writes his gospel as an historian, rather than as a first-hand eyewitness. His extensive writings also include the book of Acts (Acts 1:1–3). These are deliberately organized, carefully researched accounts of those events. The gospel of Luke focuses on the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ. Luke's Gentile perspective presents Christ as a Savior for all people, offering both forgiveness and direction to those who follow Him.

Accessed 5/2/2024 12:09:06 PM