What Does Luke 8:50 Mean?
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Do not fear. Only lean your full weight, and she will be delivered.
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
But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.THE KEY
The word translated “made whole” is Luke’s verb for being delivered, so the promise speaks of the girl being brought through.
THE MEANING
When a report makes loss sound final, this verse meets you at the edge of that conclusion: fear is named, but it is not given the last word. Trust is directed toward Jesus, who promises that the girl will be delivered; wholeness is spoken where the future appears closed.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse undoes the belief that death’s announcement is the final word and fear is the only truthful response.
THE ROOT
σωθήσεται
sōthēsetai
GROWS FROM
σωζ-
sōz-
To deliver, bring out safely; the verb also carries the sense of healing and being made whole.
“delivered” in this verse is sōthēsetai. The Greek verb translated “made whole” can also mean “deliver.” Luke’s wording holds healing and rescue together: the girl is promised a way through what appears to be the end.
ALSO GROWS
sōtēria: deliverance; salvation
σωτηρία
This related noun names deliverance as an outcome, echoing the promise spoken over the girl.
sōtēr: deliverer; savior
σωτήρ
This related word names the one who brings out; here, the promise rests on Jesus’ authority.
πίστευσον
pisteuson
GROWS FROM
πιστ-
pist-
Trust, rely on, entrust oneself.
“only lean your full weight” in this verse is pisteuson. The command is more than agreement with an idea: its word family carries the sense of trust that leans its weight on someone. Beside Jesus’ promise, trust rests on the one speaking.
ALSO GROWS
pistis: trust; reliance
πίστις
This noun names the trust placed in Jesus when fear rises.
pistos: firm, steady; trustworthy
πιστός
This related word points to the quality of what can bear that trust.
THE PATTERN
Fear can name the crisis without closing the future; trust keeps the promise of deliverance in view.
On the day I tremble, I lean my weight upon you.Look, God is my deliverance. I will lean my full weight and not tremble, for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song, and he has become my deliverance.Jesus said to her, Did I not say to you, that if you would trust, you would perceive the weight of God?THE THREAD
And he said to her, Daughter, take heart. Your trust has delivered you. Go into wholeness.“Hath made thee whole” and “shall be made whole” are forms of the same Greek verb, σῴζω (sōzō), which also means to deliver. Luke places that word over both the woman’s healing and the girl’s promised restoration, holding healing and deliverance together.
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