Luke 8:52
What does Luke 8:52 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:52 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:52 means
Luke 8:52 notes all were weeping and bewailing the child, but Jesus said, “Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.” Jesus reframes death using the metaphor of sleep, implying temporariness and future awakening. His instruction to stop grieving reveals a different perspective on death—one of confident hope rather than despair. The verse offers pastoral comfort: for believers, death is not the final word. Jesus’ characterization foreshadows his power to restore and introduces the miraculous reversal to come.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.
KJV
King James Version · 1611And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949And all the people were weeping and crying for her; but he said, Do not be sad, for she is not dead, but sleeping.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862and they were all weeping, and beating themselves for her, and he said, `Weep not, she did not die, but doth sleep;
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752And all wept and mourned for her. But he said: Weep not. The maid is not dead, but sleepeth.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890And all were weeping and lamenting her. But he said, Do not weep, for she has not died, but sleeps.
Context
This verse follows the restricted entrance and reveals the mourners’ grief. Jesus’ call to see death as sleep prepares the readers for the raising, mitigating mockery and disbelief. It echoes scriptural motifs of sleep as temporary and sets up the divided reaction in the next verse.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
- John 11:11
These things spake he: and after this he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus is fallen asleep; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.
- Exodus 24:17
And the appearance of the glory of Jehovah was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel.
- Luke 23:27
And there followed him a great multitude of the people, and of women who bewailed and lamented him.
- Genesis 27:34
When Esau heard the words of his father, he cried with an exceeding great and bitter cry, and said unto his father, Bless me, even me also, O my father.
- Jeremiah 9:17
Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come:
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