Luke 5:14
What does Luke 5:14 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 5:14 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 5:14 means
Jesus commands the healed man to tell no one but to go and show himself to the priest and offer the cleansing sacrifice as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. Jesus balances secrecy with obedience to the law: he wants ceremonial reinstatement for the man—confirmation of healing and social reintegration—while minimizing sensationalism. The priestly testimony would vindicate the healing officially. The instruction shows Jesus’ respect for Mosaic procedure and concern for the healed man’s standing, and it also reveals a pastoral strategy to control publicity and maintain the right order in Israel’s religious life.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And he charged him to tell no man: but go thy way, and show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And he gave him orders: Say nothing to any man, but let the priest see you and give an offering so that you may be made clean, as the law of Moses says, and for a witness to them.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And he charged him to tell no one, `But, having gone away, shew thyself to the priest, and bring near for thy cleansing according as Moses directed, for a testimony to them;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And he charged him that he should tell no man, but: Go, shew thyself to the priest and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And he enjoined him to tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing as Moses ordained, for a testimony to them.
Context
This verse follows the instantaneous healing and explains Jesus’ prudent response to growing attention. By directing the man to the priest, Jesus ensures the legal and social restoration of the healed leper and provides a formal witness to his miracle. However, the command to keep quiet proves ineffective, as the next verse says the report spreads and crowds increase, showing the difficulty of containing the impact of Jesus’ acts and setting up Jesus’ need to withdraw and pray.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Matthew 12:16
and charged them that they should not make him known:
- Mark 6:11
And whatsoever place shall not receive you, and they hear you not, as ye go forth thence, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony unto them.
- Leviticus 13:2
When a man shall have in the skin of his flesh a rising, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it become in the skin of his flesh the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought unto Aaron the priest, or unto one of his sons the priests:
- Leviticus 14:2
This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing: he shall be brought unto the priest:
- Matthew 9:30
And their eyes were opened. And Jesus strictly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
- Luke 17:14
And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go and show yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were cleansed.
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