The Meaning of Luke 4:20 Explained

Luke 4:20

KJV: And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

YLT: And having folded the roll, having given it back to the officer, he sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing on him.

Darby: And having rolled up the book, when he had delivered it up to the attendant, he sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed upon him.

ASV: And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down: and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he closed  the book,  and he gave [it] again  to the minister,  and sat down.  And  the eyes  of all them  that were  in  the synagogue  were fastened  on him. 

What does Luke 4:20 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Probably Luke narrated these events step by step because his Gentile readers would have been unfamiliar with synagogue worship. His description also heightens the sense of anticipation in the story. The people present were alert and expectant, waiting to hear Jesus" comments on the passage.

Context Summary

Luke 4:14-30 - "his Own Received Him Not"
A wide gap occurs here, embracing the important transactions of John 1:29-51; John 2:1-25; John 3:1-36; John 4:1-54.
What a flutter in Mary's heart when she saw her son sitting in the teacher's place of His native synagogue! How gratified at the reception given to the opening sentences! What a sword pierced her heart at the sudden revulsion of feeling! They were jealous that He performed only a few private miracles; but He could not do more because of their unbelief. See Mark 6:5.
Note that our Lord here sounded forth the silver trumpet of jubilee. Seizing on the imagery of the gladdest festival of Hebrew life, He likened Himself to a priest proclaiming the acceptable year of the Lord. Not yet the day of vengeance! Compare Luke 4:19 with Isaiah 61:1-2. This is Christ's program for the present age. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 4

1  The fasting and temptation of Jesus
14  He begins to preach
16  The people of Nazareth marvel at words, but seek to kill him
33  He cures one possessed of a demon,
38  Peter's mother-in-law,
40  and various other sick persons
41  The demons acknowledge Jesus, and are reproved for it
42  He preaches through the cities of Galilee

Greek Commentary for Luke 4:20

He closed the book [πτυχας το βιβλιον]
Aorist active participle of πτυσσω — ptussō Rolled up the roll and gave it back to the attendant who had given it to him and who put it away again in its case. [source]
Sat down [εκατισεν]
Took his seat there as a sign that he was going to speak instead of going back to his former seat. This was the usual Jewish attitude for public speaking and teaching (Luke 5:3; Matthew 5:1; Mark 4:1; Acts 16:13).Were fastened on him (ησαν ατενιζοντες αυτωι — ēsan atenizontes autōi). Periphrastic imperfect active and so a vivid description. Literally, the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing fixedly upon him. The verb ατενιζω — atenizō occurs in Aristotle and the Septuagint. It is from the adjective ατενης — atenēs and that from τεινω — teinō to stretch, and copulative or intensive α — a not α — a privative. The word occurs in the N.T. here and in Luke 22:56, ten times in Acts, and in 2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:13. Paul uses it of the steady eager gaze of the people at Moses when he came down from the mountain when he had been communing with God. There was something in the look of Jesus here that held the people spellbound for the moment, apart from the great reputation with which he came to them. In small measure every effective speaker knows what it is to meet the eager expectations of an audience. [source]
Were fastened on him [ησαν ατενιζοντες αυτωι]
Periphrastic imperfect active and so a vivid description. Literally, the eyes of all in the synagogue were gazing fixedly upon him. The verb ατενιζω — atenizō occurs in Aristotle and the Septuagint. It is from the adjective ατενης — atenēs and that from τεινω — teinō to stretch, and copulative or intensive α — a not α — a privative. The word occurs in the N.T. here and in Luke 22:56, ten times in Acts, and in 2 Corinthians 3:7, 2 Corinthians 3:13. Paul uses it of the steady eager gaze of the people at Moses when he came down from the mountain when he had been communing with God. There was something in the look of Jesus here that held the people spellbound for the moment, apart from the great reputation with which he came to them. In small measure every effective speaker knows what it is to meet the eager expectations of an audience. [source]
He closed [πτύξας]
See on Luke 4:17. [source]
Minister [ὑπηρέτῃ]
See on Matthew 5:25. Lit., as Rev., attendant. Minister is likely to be misunderstood as referring to the president of the congregation, whoas the teaching elder, would have addressed the people if Jesus had not done so. It means the attendant who had charge of the sacred rolls. He was a salaried officer, a kind of chapel-clerk. [source]
Sat down []
As about to teach; that being the habitual position of a Jewish teacher. [source]
Were fastened [ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες]
The participle and finite verb denoting continuous, steadfast attention. The verb, from τείνω ,to stretch, denotes fixed attention. Indeed, the word attention itself, etymologically considered, conveys the same idea. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 4:20

Mark 1:21 And taught [εδιδασκεν]
Inchoative imperfect, began to teach as soon as he entered the synagogue in Capernaum on the sabbath. The synagogue in Capernaum afforded the best opening for the teaching of Jesus. He had now made Capernaum (Tell Hum) his headquarters after the rejection in Nazareth as explained in Luke 4:16-31 and Matthew 4:13-16. The ruins of this synagogue have been discovered and there is even talk of restoring the building since the stones are in a good state of preservation. Jesus both taught The service consisted of prayer, praise, reading of scripture, and exposition by any rabbi or other competent person. Often Paul was invited to speak at such meetings. In Luke 4:20 Jesus gave back the roll of Isaiah to the attendant or beadle (τωι υπηρετηι — tōi hupēretēi) whose business it was to bring out the precious manuscript and return it to its place. Jesus was a preacher of over a year when he began to teach in the Capernaum synagogue. His reputation had preceded him (Luke 4:14). [source]
Luke 4:17 Opened [ἀναπτύξας]
Lit., unrolled. Both this and the simple verb πτύσσω , to close (Luke 4:20), occur only once in the New Testament. The former word was used in medical language of the opening out of various parts of the body, and the latter of the rolling up of bandages. The use of these terms by Luke the physician is the more significant from the fact that elsewhere in the New Testament ἀνοίγω is used for the opening of a book (Revelation 5:2-5; Revelation 10:2, Revelation 10:8; Revelation 20:12); and εἰλίσσω , for rolling it up (Revelation 6:14). [source]
Luke 22:56 Looking steadfastly [ατενισασα]
Favourite word in Luke (Luke 4:20, etc.) for gazing steadily at one.This man also (και ουτος — kai houtos). As if pointing to Peter and talking about him. The other Gospels (Mark 14:67; Matthew 26:69; John 18:25) make a direct address to Peter. Both could be true, as she turned to Peter. [source]
Acts 7:55 Looked up steadfastly []
Compare Acts 1:10; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; and see on Luke 4:20. [source]
Acts 3:4 Fastening his eyes [ἀτενἵσας]
See on Luke 4:20; and compare Acts 1:10. [source]
Acts 23:1 Earnestly beholding []
See on Luke 4:20. Some, who hold that Paul's eyesight was defective, explain this steadfast look in connection with his imperfect vision. [source]
Acts 13:9 Set his eyes on him []
See on Luke 4:20. [source]
Acts 10:4 When he looked [ἀτενίσας]
Rev., more accurately, fastening his eyes. Compare Acts 7:55; and see on Luke 4:20. [source]
Acts 1:10 Looked steadfastly [ἀτενίζοντες ἦσαν]
See on Luke 4:20. [source]
Acts 1:10 Were looking steadfastly [ατενιζοντες ησαν]
Periphrastic imperfect active of ατενιζω — atenizō a late intensive verb (intensive α — a and τεινω — teinō to stretch). Common in Acts and also in Luke 4:20; Luke 22:56 as well as Acts 10:4, which see. [source]
Acts 11:6 When I had fastened my eyes [ατενισας]
This personal touch Peter adds from his own experience. See Luke 4:20 and Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12 for this striking verb atenizō to stretch the eyes towards, first aorist active participle here. [source]
Acts 13:5 They had also [ειχον δε και]
Imperfect active, descriptive. As their attendant (υπηρετην — hupēretēn). Literally, “under-rower” (υπο ηρετης — hupoχαζζαν — ēretēs) in the trireme. Probably here minister (chazzan) or assistant in the synagogue as in Luke 4:20. Cf. Matthew 5:25. It is not clear what John Mark did, though he was evidently selected by Barnabas as his cousin. He may have helped in the baptizing. There were probably others also in the company (Acts 13:13). The “also” may mean that Mark did some preaching. Barnabas was probably the leader in the work in these Jewish synagogues. [source]
Acts 13:9 Filled with the Holy Spirit [πιμπλημι]
First aorist (ingressive) passive participle of ατενισας — pimplēmi with the genitive case. A special influx of power to meet this emergency. Here was a cultured heathen, typical of the best in Roman life, who called forth all the powers of Paul plus the special help of the Holy Spirit to expose the wickedness of Elymas Barjesus. If one wonders why the Holy Spirit filled Paul for this emergency rather than Barnabas, when Barnabas was named first in Acts 13:2, he can recall the sovereignty of the Holy Spirit in his choice of agents (1 Corinthians 12:4-11) and also the special call of Paul by Christ (Acts 9:15; Acts 26:17.). Fastened his eyes (atenisas). As already in Luke 4:20; Luke 22:56; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 10:4. [source]
Acts 13:9 Fastened his eyes [atenisas)]
As already in Luke 4:20; Luke 22:56; Acts 3:4, Acts 3:12; Acts 6:15; Acts 10:4. [source]
Acts 13:16 Paul stood up [αναστας Παυλος]
The Jewish custom was to sit while speaking (Luke 4:20), but the Greek and Roman was to stand (Acts 17:22). It is possible as Lewin (Life of St. Paul, Vol. 1, p. 141) suggests that here Paul stepped upon the platform and then took his seat as he began to speak or he may have followed the Greek and Roman custom. Paul is the leader now and the more gifted speaker (Acts 14:12), so that he responds to the courteous invitation of the rulers. [source]
Acts 3:4 Fastening his eyes [ατενισας]
First aorist (ingressive) active participle of ατενιζω — atenizō For this verb see note on Luke 4:20 and note on Acts 1:10. Peter fixed his eyes on the beggar and invited him to look (βλεπσον — blepson) on them. [source]
1 Corinthians 4:1 Ministers of Christ [υπηρετας Χριστου]
Paul and all ministers (διακονους — diakonous) of the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 3:5) are under-rowers, subordinate rowers of Christ, only here in Paul‘s Epistles, though in the Gospels (Luke 4:20 the attendant in the synagogue) and the Acts (Acts 13:5) of John Mark. The so (ουτως — houtōs) gathers up the preceding argument (3:5-23) and applies it directly by the as (ως — hōs) that follows. [source]
2 Corinthians 3:7 Steadfastly behold [ἀτενίσαι]
See on Luke 4:20. [source]
2 Corinthians 3:7 Engraven on stones [εντετυπωμενη λιτοις]
Perfect passive participle of εντυποω — entupoō late verb, to imprint a figure Used by Aristeas (67) of the “inlaid” work on the table sent by Ptolemy Philadelphus to Jerusalem. Λιτοις — Lithois in locative case. Came with glory (εγενητη εν δοχηι — egenēthē en doxēi). In glory. As it did, condition of first class, assumed as true. See Exodus 34:29, Exodus 34:35. Look steadfastly Late verb from ατενης — atenēs (stretched, intent, τεινω — teinō and α — a intensive) as in Luke 4:20; Acts 3:4. Was passing away (καταργουμενην — katargoumenēn). Late verb, to render of no effect, and present passive participle here as in 1 Corinthians 2:6. [source]
2 Corinthians 3:7 Look steadfastly [ατενισαι]
Late verb from ατενης — atenēs (stretched, intent, τεινω — teinō and α — a intensive) as in Luke 4:20; Acts 3:4. Was passing away (καταργουμενην — katargoumenēn). Late verb, to render of no effect, and present passive participle here as in 1 Corinthians 2:6. [source]
James 2:2 If there come in [εαν εισελτηι]
Condition of third class (supposable case) with εαν — ean and second (ingressive) aorist active subjunctive of εισερχομαι — eiserchomai your synagogue The common word for the gathering of Jews for worship (Luke 12:11) and particularly for the building where they met (Luke 4:15, Luke 4:20, Luke 4:28, etc.). Here the first is the probable meaning as it clearly is in Hebrews 10:25 “A gold-fingered man,” “wearing a gold ring.” The word occurs nowhere else, but Lucian has χρυσοχειρ — chrusocheir (gold-handed) and Epictetus has χρυσους δακτυλιους — chrusous daktulious (golden seal-rings). “Hannibal, after the battle of Cannae, sent as a great trophy to Carthage, three bushels of gold-rings from the fingers of Roman knights slain in battle” (Vincent).In fine clothing “In bright (brilliant) clothing” as in Matthew 11:8; Luke 23:11; Acts 10:30. In contrast with “vile clothing” υπαρος — Ruparos (late word from ρυπος — rupos filth, 1 Peter 3:21) means filthy, dirty. In N.T. only here and Revelation 22:11 (filthy).Poor man (πτωχος — ptōchos). Beggarly mendicant (Matthew 19:21), the opposite of πλουσιος — plousios (rich). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 4:20 mean?

And having rolled up the scroll having delivered [it] to the attendant He sat down of all the eyes in the synagogue were fixed upon Him
Καὶ πτύξας τὸ βιβλίον ἀποδοὺς τῷ ὑπηρέτῃ ἐκάθισεν πάντων οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ ἦσαν ἀτενίζοντες αὐτῷ

πτύξας  having  rolled  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: πτύσσω  
Sense: to fold together, roll up.
βιβλίον  scroll 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: βιβλίον  
Sense: a small book, a scroll, a written document.
ἀποδοὺς  having  delivered  [it] 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποδίδωμι  
Sense: to deliver, to give away for one’s own profit what is one’s own, to sell.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ὑπηρέτῃ  attendant 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: ὑπηρέτης  
Sense: servant.
ἐκάθισεν  He  sat  down 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: καθίζω  
Sense: to make to sit down.
πάντων  of  all 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
ὀφθαλμοὶ  eyes 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ὀφθαλμός  
Sense: the eye.
συναγωγῇ  synagogue 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: συναγωγή  
Sense: a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits), a contracting.
ἀτενίζοντες  fixed  upon 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀτενίζω  
Sense: to fix the eyes on, gaze upon.