Devine Scripture

Luke 24:5

What does Luke 24:5 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 24:5 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 24:5 means

Faced with heavenly glory, the women are afraid and bow down, a fitting response to the holy. The angels’ question, “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” gently corrects their assumptions. They came to honor a fallen teacher; they must now learn to honor the risen Lord. The question teaches that Jesus belongs to the realm of life, not the grave. It also invites faith: stop looking for Christ in places of death and defeat. The messengers are not introducing novelty but reminding them of what Jesus had already taught—resurrection was promised, not accidental.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and as they were affrighted and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And while their faces were bent down to the earth in fear, these said to them, Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and on their having become afraid, and having inclined the face to the earth, they said to them, `Why do ye seek the living with the dead?

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And as they were afraid and bowed down their countenance towards the ground, they said unto them: Why seek you the living with the dead?

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And as they were filled with fear and bowed their faces to the ground, they said to them, Why seek ye the living one among the dead?

Context

The angelic appearance (v. 4) now yields their proclamation (v. 5), which reframes the women’s entire errand. This is the turning point from grief to gospel. Verses 6–7 will make the proclamation explicit, tying it to Jesus’ earlier predictions in Galilee. The women’s fear serves as a foil for the bold announcement that follows. Luke shows how God’s messengers both confront and comfort—exposing mistaken expectations while directing attention to Jesus’ trustworthy words. The next verses will shift from question to declaration and then to remembrance, moving the women from astonishment to conviction.

v.4And it came to pass, while they were perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel:

v.5This passage

v.6He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Cross references

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

  • Daniel 10:16

    And, behold, one in the likeness of the sons of men touched my lips: then I opened my mouth, and spake and said unto him that stood before me, O my lord, by reason of the vision my sorrows are turned upon me, and I retain no strength.

  • Mark 16:5

    And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.

  • Daniel 8:17

    So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was affrighted, and fell upon my face: but he said unto me, Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end.

  • Luke 1:12

    And Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

  • Luke 1:29

    But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this might be.

  • Acts 10:3

    He saw in a vision openly, as it were about the ninth hour of the day, an angel of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, Cornelius.

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