The Meaning of Luke 17:13 Explained

Luke 17:13

KJV: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

YLT: and they lifted up the voice, saying, 'Jesus, master, deal kindly with us;'

Darby: And they lifted up their voice saying, Jesus, Master, have compassion on us.

ASV: and they lifted up their voices, saying, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they  lifted up  [their] voices,  and said,  Jesus,  Master,  have mercy  on us. 

What does Luke 17:13 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 17:11-21 - The Man Who Was Grateful
Their common misery drew these poor outcasts together and made them forget the fierce national antipathies of Jew and Samaritan. When bidden to go to the priest, before there were any outward signs of healing, they started, and thus gave evidence of their faith that they were healed. It was this faith that saved them, because faith like this lets in the whole tide of God's saving health. In the case of the poor alien, it was clear that he was not only healed, but saved, as his gratitude and worship indicated. Do we thank God, not only for His miracles, but for His daily providence?
The best things are stillest. The deepest work of God, in the individual and in the community, does not reveal itself to the newspaper reporter, but steals on the world like Spring through garden and woodland. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 17

1  Jesus teaches to avoid occasions of offense;
3  and to forgive one another
5  The power of faith
6  How we are bound to God
11  Jesus heals ten lepers
22  Of the kingdom of God, and the coming of the Son of Man

Greek Commentary for Luke 17:13

Lifted up [ηραν]
First aorist active of the liquid verb αιρω — airō f0). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 17:13

Luke 5:5 Master [επιστατα]
Used only by Luke in the N.T. and always in addresses to Christ (Luke 8:24, Luke 8:45; Luke 9:33, Luke 9:49; Luke 17:13). Common in the older writers for superintendent or overseer (one standing over another). This word recognizes Christ‘s authority. [source]
John 10:24 Came round about him [εκυκλωσαν αυτον]
Aorist active indicative of κυκλοω — kukloō old verb from κυκλος — kuklos (cycle, circle). See Acts 14:20 for the circle of disciples around Paul when stoned. Evidently the hostile Jews cherished the memory of the stinging rebuke given them by Jesus when here last, particularly the allegory of the Good Shepherd (10:1-19), in which he drew so sharply their own picture. How long dost thou hold us in suspense? Literally, “Until when dost thou lift up our soul?” But what do they mean by this metaphor? Αιρω — Airō is common enough to lift up the eyes (John 11:41), the voice (Luke 17:13), and in Psalm 25:1; Psalm 86:4 (Josephus, Ant. III. ii. 3) we have “to lift up the soul.” We are left to the context to judge the precise meaning. Clearly the Jews mean to imply doubt and suspense. The next remark makes it clear. If thou art the Christ Condition of first class assumed to be true for the sake of argument. Tell us plainly Conclusion with ειπον — eipon rather than the usual ειπε — eipe as if first aorist active imperative like λυσον — luson The point is in “plainly” Jesus declined to use the word Χριστος — Christos (Messiah) then as now because of the political bearing of the word in their minds. The populace in Galilee had once tried to make him king in opposition to Pilate (John 6:14.). When Jesus does confess on oath before Caiaphas that he is the Christ the Son of God (Mark 14:61.; Matthew 26:63.), the Sanhedrin instantly vote him guilty of blasphemy and then bring him to Pilate with the charge of claiming to be king as a rival to Caesar. Jesus knew their minds too well to be caught now. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 17:13 mean?

And they lifted up [their] voice saying Jesus Master have compassion on us
καὶ αὐτοὶ ἦραν φωνὴν λέγοντες Ἰησοῦ Ἐπιστάτα ἐλέησον ἡμᾶς

ἦραν  lifted  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
φωνὴν  [their]  voice 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: φωνή  
Sense: a sound, a tone.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Ἰησοῦ  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
Ἐπιστάτα  Master 
Parse: Noun, Vocative Masculine Singular
Root: ἐπιστάτης  
Sense: any sort of superintendent or overseer.
ἐλέησον  have  compassion  on 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐλεέω 
Sense: to have mercy on.
ἡμᾶς  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.