The Meaning of Luke 7:22 Explained

Luke 7:22

KJV: Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

YLT: And Jesus answering said to them, 'Having gone on, report to John what ye saw and heard, that blind men do see again, lame do walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf do hear, dead are raised, poor have good news proclaimed;

Darby: And Jesus answering said to them, Go, bring back word to John of what ye have seen and heard: that blind see, lame walk, lepers are cleansed, deaf hear, dead are raised, poor are evangelized;

ASV: And he answered and said unto them, Go and tell John the things which ye have seen and heard; the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good tidings preached to them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then  Jesus  answering  said  unto them,  Go your way,  and tell  John  what things  ye have seen  and  heard;  how  that the blind  see,  the lame  walk,  the lepers  are cleansed,  the deaf  hear,  the dead  are raised,  to the poor  the gospel is preached. 

What does Luke 7:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 7:11-23 - "god Hath Visited His People"
Nain lay near the plain of Esdraelon, on the slopes of Little Hermon. Two confluent streams met there-those with Christ and those with death, Luke 7:11-12. He wipes away tears by removing the cause. When the young are being borne by their young companions to graves of sin, it is thus that the Master arrests them. See Ephesians 5:14. There was a threefold gradation in the power He put forth-to Jairus' daughter, just dead; to this young man, on the way to burial; and to Lazarus, who was three days dead. The depression from John's long confinement in the gloomy fortress of Machaerus, east of the Dead Sea, and the fact that Jesus had not sent to deliver him, were the double root of this sad lapse from the position taken up on the Jordan bank, when he recognized and indicated the Lamb of God. But our Lord did not chide; He understood, Psalms 103:9. His miracles of mercy and power are His best evidences, and He left John to draw his own conclusions, Isaiah 35:5-6. May ours be the blessedness of the un-offended, who will trust Christ, even though He does not hasten to deliver them just as they had hoped! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 7

1  Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
10  heals his servant, being absent;
11  raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
18  answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
24  testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
31  compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
36  and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
44  he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance

Greek Commentary for Luke 7:22

What things ye have seen and heard [α ειδετε και ηκουσατε]
In Matthew 11:4, present tense “which ye do hear and see.” Rest of Luke 7:22, Luke 7:23 as in Matthew 11:4-6, which see notes for details. Luke mentions no raisings from the dead in Luke 7:21, but the language is mainly general, while here it is specific. Σκανδαλιζομαι — Skandalizomai used here has the double notion of to trip up and to entrap and in the N.T. always means causing to sin. [source]
The blind receive, etc []
Better, are receiving, are walk ing, even while Jesus is speaking and John is in doubt. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 7:22

Matthew 9:32 Dumb [κωφὸν]
The word is also used of deafness (Matthew 11:5; Mark 7:32; Luke 7:22). It means dull or blunted. Thus Homer applies it to the earth; the dull, senseless earth (“Iliad,” xxiv., 25). Also to a blunted dart (“Iliad,” xi., 390). The classical writers use it of speech, hearing, sight, and mental perception. In the New Testament, only of hearing and speech, the meaning in each case being determined by the context. [source]
Mark 10:51 Rabboni [αββουνει]
The Aramaic word translated Lord (Kurie) in Matthew 20:33 and Luke 18:41. This very form occurs again in John 20:16.That I may receive my sight (ινα αναβλεπσω — hina anablepsō). To recover sight (ανα — anȧ), see again. Apparently he had once been able to see. Here ινα — hina is used though τελω — thelō is not (cf. Mark 10:35). The Messiah was expected to give sight to the blind (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Luke 7:22). [source]
Mark 10:51 That I may receive my sight [ινα αναβλεπσω]
To recover sight The Messiah was expected to give sight to the blind (Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18; Luke 7:22). [source]
Luke 4:18 To the poor [πτωχοις]
Jesus singles this out also as one of the items to tell John the Baptist in prison (Luke 7:22). Our word Gospel is a translation of the Greek Ευαγγελιον — Euaggelion and it is for the poor.He hath sent me (απεσταλκεν με — apestalken me). Change of tense to perfect active indicative. He is now on that mission here. Jesus is God‘s Apostle to men (John 17:3, Whom thou didst send).Proclaim As a herald like Noah (2 Peter 2:5).To the captives (αιχμαλωτοις — aichmalōtois). Prisoners of war will be released (αιχμη — aichmē a spear point, and αλωτος — halōtos from αλισκομαι — haliskomai to be captured). Captured by the spear point. Common word, but here only in the N.T.Set at liberty First aorist active infinitive of αποστελλω — apostellō Same verb as απεσταλκεν — apestalken above. Brought in here from Isaiah 58:6. Plummer suggests that Luke inserts it here from memory. But Jesus could easily have turned back the roll and read it so.Them that are bruised (τετραυσμενους — tethrausmenous). Perfect passive participle of τραυω — thrauō an old verb, but here only in the N.T. It means to break in pieces broken in heart and often in body as well. One loves to think that Jesus felt it to be his mission to mend broken hearts like pieces of broken earthenware, real rescue-mission work. Jesus mends them and sets them free from their limitations. [source]
Luke 7:22 What things ye have seen and heard [α ειδετε και ηκουσατε]
In Matthew 11:4, present tense “which ye do hear and see.” Rest of Luke 7:22, Luke 7:23 as in Matthew 11:4-6, which see notes for details. Luke mentions no raisings from the dead in Luke 7:21, but the language is mainly general, while here it is specific. Σκανδαλιζομαι — Skandalizomai used here has the double notion of to trip up and to entrap and in the N.T. always means causing to sin. [source]
John 5:21 Quickeneth whom he will [ους τελει ζωοποιει]
Present active indicative of ζωοποιεω — zōopoieō (from ζωοποιος — zōopoios making alive), common in Paul (1 Corinthians 15:45, etc.). As yet, so far as we know, Jesus had not raised the dead, but he claims the power to do it on a par with the power of the Father. The raising of the son of the widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17) is not far ahead, followed by the message to the Baptist which speaks of this same power (Luke 7:22; Matthew 11:5), and the raising of Jairus‘ daughter (Matthew 9:18, Matthew 9:22-26). Jesus exercises this power on those “whom he wills.” Christ has power to quicken both body and soul. [source]
Romans 1:8 Is proclaimed [καταγγέλλεται]
The different compounds of the simple verb ἀγγέλλω toannounce, are interesting. The simple verb occurs only at John 20:18. Ἁναγγέλλειν is to report with the additional idea of bringing tidings up to or back to the person receiving them. So John 5:15. The impotent man brought back information to the Jews. Compare Mark 5:14. So Christ will send the Comforter, and He will bring back to the disciples tidings of things to come. John 16:13-15. See Acts 14:27; 2 Corinthians 7:7; 1 Peter 1:12. Ἁπαγγέλλειν is to announce with a reference to the source from ( ἀπό ) which the message comes So Matthew 2:8; Acts 12:14. Compare Luke 7:22; Luke 8:34, Acts 5:22. -DIVIDER-
-DIVIDER-
Καταγγέλλειν is to proclaim with authority, as commissioned to spread the tidings throughout, down among those that hear them, with the included idea of celebrating or commending. So here. Compare Acts 16:21; Acts 17:3. Thus in ἀναγγέλλειν therecipient of the news is contemplated; in ἀπαγγέλλειν thesource; in καταγγέλλειν the relation of the bearer and hearer of the message. The first is found mostly in John, Mark, and Acts; the second in the Synoptists and Acts; the third only. in the Acts and Paul. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 7:22 mean?

And answering He said to them Having gone relate to John what you have seen heard Blind receive sight lame walk lepers are cleansed deaf hear dead are raised poor are gospelized
καὶ ἀποκριθεὶς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες ἀπαγγείλατε Ἰωάννῃ εἴδετε ἠκούσατε τυφλοὶ ἀναβλέπουσιν χωλοὶ περιπατοῦσιν λεπροὶ καθαρίζονται κωφοὶ ἀκούουσιν νεκροὶ ἐγείρονται πτωχοὶ εὐαγγελίζονται

ἀποκριθεὶς  answering 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Πορευθέντες  Having  gone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
ἀπαγγείλατε  relate 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀγγέλλω 
Sense: to bring tidings (from a person or a thing), bring word, report.
Ἰωάννῃ  to  John 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰωάννης 
Sense: John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ.
εἴδετε  you  have  seen 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: εἶδον 
Sense: to see with the eyes.
ἠκούσατε  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
τυφλοὶ  Blind 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: τυφλός  
Sense: blind.
ἀναβλέπουσιν  receive  sight 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀναβλέπω  
Sense: to look up.
χωλοὶ  lame 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: χωλός  
Sense: lame.
περιπατοῦσιν  walk 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.
λεπροὶ  lepers 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λεπρός  
Sense: scaly, rough.
καθαρίζονται  are  cleansed 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: καθαρίζω 
Sense: to make clean, cleanse.
κωφοὶ  deaf 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: κωφός  
Sense: blunted, dull.
ἀκούουσιν  hear 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
νεκροὶ  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
ἐγείρονται  are  raised 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
πτωχοὶ  poor 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πτωχός  
Sense: reduced to beggary, begging, asking alms.
εὐαγγελίζονται  are  gospelized 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: εὐαγγελίζω  
Sense: to bring good news, to announce glad tidings.