Luke 13:11

And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up [herself].

And {G2532}, behold {G2400}, there was {G2258} a woman {G1135} which had {G2192} a spirit {G4151} of infirmity {G769} eighteen {G1176}{G2532}{G3638} years {G2094}, and {G2532} was {G2258} bowed together {G4794}, and {G2532} could {G1410} in {G1519} no {G3361} wise {G3838} lift up {G352} herself.

A woman came up who had a spirit which had crippled her for eighteen years; she was bent double and unable to stand erect at all.

and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.

And behold, a woman that had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years; and she was bowed together, and could in no wise lift herself up.

Commentary

Context of Luke 13:11

Luke 13:11 is part of a series of teachings and healings that highlight Jesus' compassion and authority, often challenging the rigid religious traditions of His day. This particular event takes place in a synagogue on the Sabbath, a detail that becomes crucial in the subsequent verses (Luke 13:14-17). Jesus is teaching, and He observes a woman suffering from a debilitating condition for nearly two decades. This narrative immediately follows Jesus' call to repentance and warning about the consequences of not turning to God.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Divine Compassion and Healing: Jesus initiates the healing, seeing the woman's suffering and acting out of pure compassion, rather than waiting for her to ask. This demonstrates His proactive love for humanity's suffering.
  • Deliverance from Spiritual Bondage: The verse explicitly states the woman had a "spirit of infirmity." This indicates that her physical ailment had a spiritual root, highlighting Jesus' power over demonic forces that inflict suffering. Her condition wasn't merely a physical illness but a form of spiritual oppression that kept her "bound."
  • Jesus' Authority Over Sickness and Spirits: This healing powerfully illustrates Jesus' supreme authority not only over physical diseases but also over the unseen spiritual forces that cause them. He is able to set captives free, fulfilling the prophecy He spoke of concerning His ministry.
  • Freedom from Bondage: The woman had been "bowed together" for eighteen years, symbolizing a life of physical and perhaps emotional oppression. Jesus' act of healing brings immediate and complete liberation, allowing her to stand upright and glorify God.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "spirit of infirmity" translates from the Greek pneuma astheneias (πνεῦμα ἀσθενείας). This is significant because it distinguishes her condition from a common illness. The term pneuma here refers to a spirit, often implying a demonic influence, suggesting her physical disability was supernaturally induced. This emphasizes that Jesus' healing was not just a medical cure but an act of deliverance from spiritual oppression.

The description "bowed together" (Greek: synkyptousa) vividly portrays her physical state – completely bent over, unable to straighten herself. The phrase "could in no wise lift up herself" (Greek: mē dynamenē anakypsai eis to pantelēs) underscores the severity and permanence of her condition from a human perspective, making Jesus' immediate and complete healing even more miraculous.

Practical Application

Luke 13:11 offers profound insights for believers today:

  • Hope for Chronic Suffering: For those who endure long-term physical or emotional pain, this verse offers hope that Jesus sees their condition and has the power to bring relief and freedom, even after many years.
  • Recognizing Spiritual Dimensions: It reminds us that some struggles may have spiritual roots, and prayer for deliverance can be as vital as prayer for physical healing.
  • Compassion Over Legalism: Jesus' immediate action contrasts sharply with the synagogue ruler's later concern for Sabbath laws, teaching us to prioritize human need and compassion over rigid adherence to rules (Luke 13:15-16).
  • Jesus' Continued Power: The power Jesus demonstrated over sickness and evil spirits then is available today. He remains the same, able to heal, deliver, and restore lives.
Note: Commentary was generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please remember that only the commentary section is AI-generated. The main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are sourced from trusted and verified materials.
Healing a Woman Crippled for 18 Years The Parable of the Barren Fig Tree The Nature of Satan and Demons Herod Antipas: The Fox Who Killed John the Baptist The Parable of the Mustard Seed

Cross-References

  • Luke 8:2

    And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils,

  • Luke 13:16

    And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

  • Luke 8:27

    And when he went forth to land, there met him out of the city a certain man, which had devils long time, and ware no clothes, neither abode in [any] house, but in the tombs.

  • Psalms 6:2

    Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I [am] weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed.

  • Acts 4:22

    For the man was above forty years old, on whom this miracle of healing was shewed.

  • Mark 9:21

    And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

  • Luke 8:43

    And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
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