The Meaning of Luke 24:51 Explained

Luke 24:51

KJV: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.

YLT: and it came to pass, in his blessing them, he was parted from them, and was borne up to the heaven;

Darby: And it came to pass as he was blessing them, he was separated from them and was carried up into heaven.

ASV: And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he parted from them, and was carried up into heaven.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  it came to pass,  while  he  blessed  them,  he was parted  from  them,  and  carried up  into  heaven. 

What does Luke 24:51 Mean?

Study Notes

heaven
The Scriptures distinguish three heavens: first, the lower heavens, or the region of the clouds; secondly, the second or planetary heavens; and, thirdly, the heaven of heavens, the abode of God.
while he blessed them
The attitude of our Lord here characterizes this age. It is one of grace; an ascended Lord is blessing a believing people with spiritual blessings. The Jewish age was marked by temporal blessings as the reward of an obedient people. Deuteronomy 28:1-15 .
In the kingdom-age spiritual and temporal blessings unite.
heaven
The Scriptures distinguish three heavens: first, the lower heavens, or the region of the clouds; secondly, the second or planetary heavens; and, thirdly, the heaven of heavens, the abode of God.

Context Summary

Luke 24:44-53 - "witnesses Of These Things"
The risen Savior is the key to Scripture. The pages of Holy Writ need the illumination that falls from His face. Whenever you open the Old Testament, described here under its customary Hebrew threefold division, be sure to ask Him to open your understanding also!
Repentance is turning from sin. It is the act of the will. In remitting sin Christ not only forgives, but stands between the sinner and the consequences.
The "beginning" must be Jerusalem, because the Jew is first in the divine order, Romans 1:16. But the end is the uttermost part of the earth. We are not called to be defenders, but witnesses of the truth. We speak what we know and testify what we have seen. Our fellow-witness is the Holy Spirit, Acts 5:32.
Those outspread hands have never been withdrawn. They are still extended over us in benediction, and from heaven itself rain down perennial Messing. Let us rejoice in Him with great joy; may each lowly home be a temple full of praise!
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 24

1  Jesus' resurrection is declared by two angels to the women who come to the tomb
9  They report it to others
13  Jesus himself appears to the two disciples that went to Emmaus;
36  afterwards he appears to the apostles, and reproves their unbelief;
47  gives them a charge;
49  promises the Holy Spirit;
50  and so ascends into heaven

Greek Commentary for Luke 24:51

He parted from them [διεστη απ αυτων]
Second aorist active (intransitive) indicative of διιστημι — diistēmi He stood apart (δια — dia) and he was gone. Some manuscripts do not have the words “and was carried into heaven.” But we know that Jesus was taken up into heaven on a cloud (Acts 1:9). [source]
And was carried up into heaven []
Some texts omit. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 24:51

Luke 22:59 After the space of about one hour [διαστασης ωσει ωρας μιας]
Genitive absolute with second aorist active participle feminine singular of διιστημι — diistēmi This classical verb in the N.T. is used only by Luke (Luke 22:59; Luke 24:51; Acts 27:28). It means standing in two or apart, about an hour intervening. [source]
Acts 1:2 Was received up [ανελημπτη]
First aorist passive indicative of αναλαμβανω — analambanō Common verb to lift anything up (Acts 10:16) or person as Paul (Acts 20:13). Several times of the Ascension of Jesus to heaven (Mark 16:19; Acts 1:2, Acts 1:11, Acts 1:22; 1 Timothy 3:16) with or without “into heaven” This same verb is used of Elijah‘s translation to heaven in the lxx (2 Kings 2:11). The same idea, though not this word, is in Luke 24:51. See note on Luke 9:51 for αναλημπσις — analēmpsis of the Ascension. Had given commandment (εντειλαμενος — enteilamenos). First aorist middle participle of εντελλω — entellō (from εν — en and τελλω — tellō to accomplish), usually in the middle, old verb, to enjoin. This special commandment refers directly to what we call the commission given the apostles before Christ ascended on high (John 20:21-23; Matthew 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Corinthians 15:6; Luke 24:44-49). He had given commands to them when they were first chosen and when they were sent out on the tour of Galilee, but the immediate reference is as above. Through the Holy Spirit In his human life Jesus was under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. This applies to the choice of the apostles (Luke 6:13) and to these special commands before the Ascension. Whom he had chosen (ους εχελεχατο — hous exelexato). Aorist middle indicative, not past perfect. The same verb (εκλεχαμενος — eklexamenos) was used by Luke in describing the choice of the twelve by Jesus (Luke 6:13). But the aorist does not stand “for” our English pluperfect as Hackett says. That is explaining Greek by English. The Western text here adds: “And ordered to proclaim the gospel.” [source]
Acts 1:9 He was taken up [επαιρω]
(επαιρω — epe4rthe4). First aorist passive indicative of ανεπερετο — epairō old and common verb meaning to lift up. In Luke 24:51 we have “he was borne up” (ανελημπτη — anephereto) and in Acts 1:2, Acts 1:11; 1 Timothy 3:6 “was received up” (υπελαβεν — anelēmpthē). Received (υπολαμβανω — hupelaben). Second aorist active indicative of απο των οπταλμων αυτων — hupolambanō literally here “took under him.” He seemed to be supported by the cloud. “In glory” Paul adds in 1 Timothy 3:16. -DIVIDER-
Out of their sight (απο — apo tōn ophthalmōn autōn). From their eyes (apo with ablative case). [source]

1 Peter 2:5 To offer up [ἀνενέγκαι]
The usual Old-Testament (Septuagint) term for offering of sacrifice. Lit., to bring up to the altar. Compare Hebrews 13:15. The force of ἀνά , up, appears in the fact of the altar being raised. The word is often used of carrying from a lower to a higher place. Thus Matthew 17:1; Luke 24:51. In this sense 1 Peter 2:24of this chapter is suggestive, where it is said that Christ bare ( ἀνήνεγκεν ) our sins: carried them up to the cross. See note there. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 24:51 mean?

And it came to pass in the blessing of Him them He was separated from them was carried up into - heaven
καὶ ἐγένετο ἐν τῷ εὐλογεῖν αὐτὸν αὐτοὺς διέστη ἀπ’ αὐτῶν ἀνεφέρετο εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν

ἐγένετο  it  came  to  pass 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Middle, 3rd Person Singular
Root: γίνομαι  
Sense: to become, i.
εὐλογεῖν  blessing 
Parse: Verb, Present Infinitive Active
Root: εὐλογέω 
Sense: to praise, celebrate with praises.
αὐτὸν  of  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
διέστη  He  was  separated 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: διί̈στημι  
Sense: to place separately, put asunder, disjoin.
ἀνεφέρετο  was  carried  up 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀναφέρω  
Sense: to carry or bring up, to lead up.
εἰς  into 
Parse: Preposition
Root: εἰς  
Sense: into, unto, to, towards, for, among.
τὸν  - 
Parse: Article, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
οὐρανόν  heaven 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: οὐρανός  
Sense: the vaulted expanse of the sky with all things visible in it.