Luke 5:12
What does Luke 5:12 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:12 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:12 means
While Jesus is in a town, a man full of leprosy approaches him, falls on his face, and begs, ‘Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.’ The man’s posture and words show desperate humility and trust in Jesus’ power and willingness. Calling Jesus ‘Lord’ and acknowledging both desire and possibility (‘if thou wilt, thou canst’) expresses faith that leaves the outcome to Jesus’ will. The verse foregrounds the social isolation of the leper—his approach is bold and costly—and highlights Jesus’ role as the one who can both heal and restore outcasts.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And 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.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And 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.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And it came about that while he was in one of the towns, there was a leper there: and when he saw Jesus he went down on his face in prayer to him, saying, Lord, if it is your pleasure, you have power to make me clean.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And it came to pass, in his being in one of the cities, that lo, a man full of leprosy, and having seen Jesus, having fallen on <FI>his<Fi> face, he besought him, saying, `Sir, if thou mayest will, thou art able to cleanse me;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy who, seeing Jesus and falling on his face, besought him saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And it came to pass as he was in one of the cities, that behold, there was a man full of leprosy, and seeing Jesus, falling upon his face, he besought him saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou art able to cleanse me.
Context
This healing follows the call of the first disciples and demonstrates Jesus’ authority in personal, intimate acts of mercy. The leper’s bold approach contrasts with social norms that kept lepers distant, showing that Jesus attracts those whom society rejects. What follows is a physical touch and immediate cleansing, which will provoke both instruction to observe the law and increased publicity, prompting Jesus to withdraw at times for prayer. The verse connects compassion with authority.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Genesis 18:14
Is anything too hard for Jehovah? At the set time I will return unto thee, when the season cometh round, and Sarah shall have a son.
- Joshua 5:14
And he said, Nay; but as prince of the host of Jehovah am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?
- Luke 17:12
And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:
- Mark 9:22
And oft-times it hath cast him both into the fire and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us.
- Matthew 8:8
And the centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof; but only say the word, and my servant shall be healed.
- Leviticus 13:1
And Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
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