Devine Scripture

Luke 24:39

What does Luke 24:39 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:39 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:39 means

Jesus offers His hands and feet as proof and invites them to handle Him, explaining that a spirit does not have flesh and bones as He has. He insists on His identity—“it is I myself”—and the physical reality of His resurrection. This is not mere survival of the soul but the raising of the crucified body, transformed yet tangible. He appeals to sight and touch, the senses that anchor witness. The gospel rests on events in space and time, not only on ideas. By tying His identity to His wounds, He shows that the One who died is the One who lives forevermore.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

See; my hands and my feet: it is I myself; put your hands on me and make certain; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

see my hands and my feet, that I am he; handle me and see, because a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me having.'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having.

Context

After addressing their fear and doubts (v. 38), Jesus provides concrete evidence (v. 39). This anticipates the brief note in verse 40 that He showed His hands and feet, and then, because they still struggle to process such joy, He will ask for food and eat before them (vv. 41–43). The flow intends to settle the disciples into unshakeable certainty about the bodily resurrection, so that their later preaching of repentance and forgiveness in His name rests on solid ground (vv. 47–48).

v.38And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and wherefore do questionings arise in your heart?

v.39This passage

v.40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Hebrews 12:9

    Furthermore, we had the fathers of our flesh to chasten us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:23

    And the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

  • John 20:20

    And when he had said this, he showed unto them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad, when they saw the Lord.

  • John 20:25

    The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.

  • Numbers 16:22

    And they fell upon their faces, and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation?

  • Acts 1:3

    to whom he also showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs, appearing unto them by the space of forty days, and speaking the things concerning the kingdom of God:

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