Luke 17:12
What does Luke 17:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 17:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 17:12 means
As Jesus approaches a village, ten men with leprosy meet Him but keep their distance, as required by purity laws and social custom. Their condition isolates them physically, socially, and religiously. Yet they draw near as far as they dare, recognizing in Jesus their only hope. Their common affliction has formed a community of suffering that overrides normal divisions, foreshadowing how grace often gathers the desperate. Their posture—near yet afar—captures the human plight: longing for cleansing but barred by uncleanness. The scene invites readers to see how Jesus responds to those whom society excludes and how His authority engages our deepest uncleanness.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:
KJV
King James Version · 1611And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when he went into a certain small town he came across ten men who were lepers, and they, keeping themselves at a distance,
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and he entering into a certain village, there met him ten leprous men, who stood afar off,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And as he entered into a certain village ten leprous men met him, who stood afar off.
Context
This encounter follows Jesus’ journey note (verse 11) and sets the stage for a mercy that will test hearts. The lepers’ distance highlights their need and the cultural barriers to be crossed. Next they cry out for mercy (verse 13), and Jesus gives a command consistent with the Law’s procedures for restoration (verse 14). The cleansing will occur as they obey, and then the narrative will focus on the response of one healed man who returns to give thanks (verses 15–16), drawing Jesus’ searching questions (verses 17–18) and commendation (verse 19).
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Numbers 5:2
Command the children of Israel, that they put out of the camp every leper, and every one that hath an issue, and whosoever is unclean by the dead:
- Numbers 12:14
And Jehovah said unto Moses, If her father had but spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? let her be shut up without the camp seven days, and after that she shall be brought in again.
- Luke 5:12
And it came to pass, while he was in one of the cities, behold, a man full of leprosy: and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- 2 Kings 7:3
Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?
- 2 Kings 5:27
The leprosy therefore of Naaman shall cleave unto thee, and unto thy seed for ever. And he went out from his presence a leper as white as snow.
- Leviticus 13:45
And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and the hair of his head shall go loose, and he shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
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