Luke 4:27
What does Luke 4:27 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 4:27 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 4:27 means
In verse 27 Jesus cites Elisha: many lepers in Israel were not cleansed, but Naaman the Syrian was. This example reinforces the pattern of God’s mercy reaching outsiders. By choosing Naaman—a well-known foreign military leader—Jesus confronts national pride and expectations that God’s favors are confined to Israel. The story presses listeners to acknowledge that divine grace can and will cross boundaries. Jesus uses these historical cases to warn his hometown that expecting preferential treatment can blind people to God’s actual purposes and widen the scope of God’s saving work.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And there were a number of lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and not one of them was made clean, but only Naaman the Syrian.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and many lepers were in the time of Elisha the prophet, in Israel, and none of them was cleansed, but--Naaman the Syrian.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian.
Context
This verse follows the Elijah illustration and doubles down with Elisha’s story to drive home the point that prophets often serve outsiders. In the synagogue flow, these examples escalate tension: Jesus moves from principle to historical evidence that undermines narrow nationalism. Anticipating rejection, his use of these stories foreshadows the crowd’s anger. The narrative reveals how Jesus’ prophetic honesty unsettles expectations and provokes a reaction that will culminate in an attempted killing.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 5:1
Now Naaman, captain of the host of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master, and honorable, because by him Jehovah had given victory unto Syria: he was also a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper.
- John 17:12
While I was with them, I kept them in thy name which thou hast given me: and I guarded them, and not one of them perished, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.
- Matthew 12:4
how he entered into the house of God, and ate the showbread, which it was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them that were with him, but only for the priests?
- 1 Kings 19:19
So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing, with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed over unto him, and cast his mantle upon him.
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