Devine Scripture

Luke 5:18

What does Luke 5:18 mean?

A plain-English look at Luke 5:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Luke 5:18 means

Some men bring a paralyzed man on a bed, seeking to lay him before Jesus. The verse highlights the persistence and desperation of the friends who carry the man, indicating faith that Jesus’ presence can bring healing. It also shows practical obstacles—the crowd and the man’s condition—so their resolve is notable. This opening to the story points to a communal faith: people often come to Jesus in groups, and friends play a crucial role in bringing the hurting to him. The scene prepares for both a physical and spiritual restoration.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, men bring on a bed a man that was palsied: and they sought to bring him in, and to lay him before him.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And some men had with them, on a bed, a man who was ill, without power of moving; and they made attempts to get him in and put him before Jesus.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

And lo, men bearing upon a couch a man, who hath been struck with palsy, and they were seeking to bring him in, and to place before him,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold, men brought in a bed a man who had the palsy: and they sought means to bring him in and to lay him before him.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And lo, men bringing upon a couch a man who was paralysed; and they sought to bring him in, and put [him] before him.

Context

This verse follows the arrival of religious leaders and sets the immediate action that leads to conflict. The attempt to bring the paralytic introduces the problem of access because of the crowd, which prompts a creative solution. The forthcoming rooftop lowering will display both the man’s friends’ faith and Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, producing debate with scribes and Pharisees about who can forgive—thus moving the story from compassion to confrontation.

v.17And it came to pass on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, who were come out of every village of Galilee and Judæa and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was with him to heal.

v.18This passage

v.19And not finding by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

Cross references

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

  • John 5:5

    And a certain man was there, who had been thirty and eight years in his infirmity.

  • Mark 2:3

    And they come, bringing unto him a man sick of the palsy, borne of four.

  • Acts 9:33

    And there he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had kept his bed eight years; for he was palsied.

  • Matthew 9:2

    And behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, be of good cheer; thy sins are forgiven.

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