What Does Luke 5:17 Mean?
And it happened on one of those days, as he was teaching, that the separated ones and the teachers of the instruction were sitting by, having come out of every village of Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem. And the strength of the Lord was there for him to heal them.
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judæa, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.THE KEY
The Lord’s power is already present in the room, with healing as its purpose.
THE MEANING
The Lord’s power is present amid teaching and watchful attention, with healing in view. Instruction and restoration meet in the same moment.
THE ROOT
τὸ ἰᾶσθαι
to iasthai
GROWS FROM
ἰα-
ia-
heal, restore
“to heal” in this verse is to iasthai. The phrase describes healing as the purpose for which the Lord’s power is present. Its word family includes healing itself and the healer, keeping restoration at the center of the scene.
ALSO GROWS
iasis: healing
ἴασις
The related noun names healing as the same root’s expressed result.
iatros: physician, healer
ἰατρός
This branch names the one associated with bringing healing, linking the act to a healer.
δύναμις
dynamis
GROWS FROM
δυνα-
dyna-
be able, have capacity
“strength” in this verse is dynamis. The word names ability or capacity, and the verse says that capacity is present for healing. Power here is not detached force; its purpose is carried in the sentence itself.
ALSO GROWS
dynamai: to be able, can
δύναμαι
This verb makes the root’s sense of capacity explicit.
dynatos: able, powerful
δυνατός
This related word shows capacity as something active and effective.
THE PATTERN
The Lord’s word and power are present with healing as their purpose.
He sends his word and heals them, and slips them free from their pits.And the whole crowd sought to touch him, for strength went out from him and healed them all.How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Set-Apart Breath and with power, who went through, doing good and healing all who were pressed down by the Slanderer, for God was with him.THE THREAD
And the whole crowd sought to touch him, for strength went out from him and healed them all.Luke 6:19 uses the same Greek words for power (dynamis) and healing (iaomai). It makes visible what Luke 5:17 states: the power present for healing moves outward and heals.
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