Luke 8:51
What does Luke 8:51 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:51 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:51 means
Luke 8:51 records that when Jesus arrived at Jairus’ house, he allowed only Peter, John, James, and the child’s parents to enter. Jesus limits access to a few close disciples and the family, perhaps to create an atmosphere of faith and to protect the child’s dignity. The choice of Peter, John, and James—Jesus’ inner circle—indicates he wanted reliable witnesses. Excluding the larger crowd also reduces sensationalism and allows a sacred, focused moment of restoration. The verse underscores careful pastoral discretion in moments of deep spiritual significance.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And when he came into the house, he suffered no man to go in, save Peter, and James, and John, and the father and the mother of the maiden.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And when he came to the house, he suffered not any man to enter in with him, save Peter, and John, and James, and the father of the maiden and her mother.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And when he came to the house he did not let any man go in with him, but only Peter and John and James, and the father of the girl and her mother.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862And having come to the house, he suffered no one to go in, except Peter, and James, and John, and the father of the child, and the mother;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And when he was come to the house, he suffered not any man to go in with him, but Peter and James and John, and the father and mother of the maiden.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And when he came to the house he suffered no one to go in but Peter and John and James and the father of the child and the mother.
Context
Following Jesus’ encouragement to believe, this verse sets the scene for the climactic miracle. The restriction of attendants mirrors earlier private explanations of parables to the disciples: some truths and works are witnessed intimately by those prepared to receive them. It prepares the emotional and theological intensity of the resurrection scene.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 2 Kings 4:34
And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands: and he stretched himself upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm.
- Isaiah 42:2
He will not cry, nor lift up his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street.
- Luke 6:14
Simon, whom he also named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip and Bartholomew,
- Mark 5:37
And he suffered no man to follow with him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.
- Luke 9:28
And it came to pass about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter and John and James, and went up into the mountain to pray.
- 1 Kings 17:19
And he said unto her, Give me thy son. And he took him out of her bosom, and carried him up into the chamber, where he abode, and laid him upon his own bed.
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