Luke 17:12

KJV

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} as he {G846} entered {G1525} into {G1519} a certain {G5100} village {G2968}, there met {G528} him {G846} ten {G1176} men {G435} that were lepers {G3015}, which {G3739} stood {G2476} afar off {G4207}:

Complete Jewish Bible

As he entered one of the villages, ten men afflicted with tzara‘at met him. They stood at a distance

Berean Standard Bible

As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance

American Standard Version

And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 17:12 introduces the poignant encounter between Jesus and ten men afflicted with leprosy as He enters a village on His journey. This verse immediately establishes the profound social and religious isolation of these individuals, who, by law and custom, were compelled to keep a significant distance from others. Despite their ostracization, their collective presence and their positioning "afar off" set the stage for a remarkable display of faith, divine compassion, and transformative healing that transcends societal and ritual barriers.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse initiates a distinct narrative unit within Luke's Gospel, following Jesus' teachings on forgiveness, faith, and service (Luke 17:1-10). It immediately precedes the healing of the ten lepers (Luke 17:13-19), a miracle unique to Luke's account. The preceding verse, [Luke 17:11](/luke/17-11 "Luke 17:11 - Jesus' Journey Through Samaria and Galilee"), specifies Jesus' route "through the midst of Samaria and Galilee," indicating His itinerant ministry and His willingness to engage with diverse populations, including those often marginalized. The story culminates not just in physical healing but in a theological lesson about gratitude and faith, particularly highlighted by the Samaritan leper's return.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In ancient Israel, "leprosy" (Hebrew: *tzara'at*) was a broad term encompassing various severe, chronic skin conditions, not solely modern Hansen's disease. According to Mosaic Law, particularly detailed in [Leviticus 13](/leviticus/13 "Leviticus 13 - Laws Concerning Skin Diseases"), individuals afflicted with leprosy were declared ritually unclean and were subject to strict regulations. They were forced to live in isolation outside of towns and villages, to wear torn clothes, and to cry out "Unclean! Unclean!" to warn others of their presence. This condition led to complete social ostracism, spiritual defilement, and exclusion from communal life and temple worship. The phrase "stood afar off" in [Luke 17:12](/luke/17-12 "Luke 17:12 - Ten Lepers Meet Jesus") precisely reflects this enforced distance, emphasizing their profound physical, social, and religious separation.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces several significant themes that resonate throughout the broader narrative and Luke's Gospel. The **profound isolation** of the lepers, underscored by their "standing afar off," powerfully illustrates the devastating social and religious consequences of their condition. Despite this isolation, their collective presence and their act of "meeting" Jesus convey their **desperate hope** and implicit faith that Jesus possessed the power to heal them, transcending all societal and ritual barriers. This encounter also immediately sets the stage for **Jesus' accessibility and compassion**, demonstrating His consistent willingness to engage with and minister to the most marginalized and ritually unclean members of society, a hallmark of His ministry as depicted by Luke. Furthermore, the very fact that these ten lepers awaited Jesus highlights His burgeoning reputation as a healer and implicitly demonstrates the **divine authority** He wielded over sickness and impurity.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **lepers (Greek, _leprós'_):** From G3015. This term refers to individuals suffering from leprosy, a condition that rendered them ritually unclean and socially ostracized under Mosaic Law. The emphasis is on their societal status as outcasts due to their affliction, rather than a precise medical diagnosis.
* **met (Greek, _apantáō'_):** From G528. This verb signifies "to meet away," or "to encounter." It suggests a deliberate movement on the part of the lepers to intercept Jesus, indicating their intentionality and desperate desire for an encounter, despite the restrictions placed upon them.
* **afar off (Greek, _pórrhōthen'_):** From G4207. This adverb means "from far" or "at a distance." It precisely describes the mandatory physical separation maintained by lepers according to the law, underscoring their profound isolation and the social stigma attached to their condition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And as he entered into a certain village":** This clause establishes the setting for the encounter, emphasizing Jesus' active, itinerant ministry. His entry into a "certain village" (Greek: _kṓmē_, a hamlet or town) highlights His presence among ordinary people, even in less prominent locales.
* **"there met him ten men that were lepers":** This introduces the subjects of the narrative—a group of ten men afflicted with leprosy. The number "ten" signifies a significant group, suggesting a shared predicament and perhaps a communal support system in their isolation. Their act of "meeting" Jesus indicates their proactive pursuit of Him, driven by hope for healing.
* **"which stood afar off":** This crucial detail underscores the profound social and ritual isolation of the lepers. According to Levitical law, lepers were required to maintain a significant distance from ritually clean individuals to prevent contamination. This phrase visually depicts their marginalized status and the barrier that separated them from society, making their appeal to Jesus all the more poignant.

#### Literary Devices
Luke employs several literary devices in this verse to establish the scene and foreshadow the narrative's significance. The **Contrast** between Jesus' active "entering" into the village and the lepers' static position "afar off" immediately highlights their respective states of inclusion and exclusion. The phrase "stood afar off" functions as powerful **Symbolism** for the lepers' complete social, religious, and physical isolation, representing the ultimate human condition of being separated from community and God due to sin and impurity. The very presence of ten lepers, a significant number, creates a sense of **Anticipation**, setting the stage for a remarkable intervention by Jesus, whose reputation for healing precedes Him. This verse also serves as **Foreshadowing**, hinting at Jesus' radical compassion and willingness to cross social and religious boundaries to minister to the marginalized, a recurring theme in Luke's Gospel.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully introduces the theme of divine compassion extended to the utterly marginalized. The lepers, by their very condition, were considered the lowest of the low, living symbols of impurity and separation from God's people. Their desperate act of meeting Jesus, even from a distance, signifies a profound act of faith—a belief that He possessed the power to transcend their ritual uncleanness and restore them. This encounter highlights Jesus' unique authority over sickness and defilement, demonstrating that His kingdom breaks down barriers of exclusion and offers radical inclusion. It underscores the truth that no human condition, no matter how dire or ritually polluting, is beyond the reach of God's redemptive power.

* [Leviticus 13:45-46](/leviticus/13-45-46 "Leviticus 13:45-46 - Laws for Lepers") - Details the Old Testament laws requiring lepers to live in isolation and declare their uncleanness.
* [Matthew 8:2-3](/matthew/8-2-3 "Matthew 8:2-3 - Jesus Heals a Leper") - Another account of Jesus' direct and compassionate healing of a leper, demonstrating His willingness to touch the unclean.
* [Luke 5:12-13](/luke/5-12-13 "Luke 5:12-13 - Jesus Cleanses a Leper") - Luke's earlier account of Jesus cleansing a leper, further establishing His authority over this debilitating condition.

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Luke 17:12 serves as a profound reminder of the human condition of isolation and the desperate need for divine intervention. Just as these ten lepers, despite their forced distance, sought out Jesus, we are called to bring our deepest needs, our "unclean" parts, and our feelings of separation—whether from God or from others—to Christ. This verse prompts us to consider who the "lepers" are in our own communities today: those marginalized by poverty, illness, social stigma, or spiritual brokenness. Jesus' willingness to encounter these men, even from a distance, challenges us to cultivate a posture of empathy and active compassion, recognizing that true ministry often involves reaching out to those on the fringes. It encourages us to dismantle the invisible walls we might erect between ourselves and others, remembering that Christ's love extends to all, regardless of their past or present condition, inviting them into a community of healing and acceptance.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what ways do I, or people I know, experience a sense of "standing afar off" from God or from community?**
* **What societal "leprosies" or stigmas exist today that cause people to be marginalized or isolated?**
* **How can I cultivate the kind of desperate hope and faith demonstrated by the lepers, bringing my deepest needs to Jesus?**
* **How does Jesus' willingness to engage with the lepers challenge my own prejudices or comfort zones in reaching out to others?**

### FAQ
**Why were the lepers "afar off"?**

Answer: The lepers were "afar off" due to strict Old Testament laws outlined primarily in [Leviticus 13](/leviticus/13 "Leviticus 13 - Laws Concerning Skin Diseases"). These laws declared individuals with certain skin diseases, broadly termed "leprosy," as ritually unclean. To prevent the spread of the disease and ritual impurity, they were commanded to live outside the camps or villages and to warn others of their presence by crying "Unclean! Unclean!" This enforced distance was a legal, social, and religious requirement, underscoring their complete isolation from community life and worship.

**Why is it significant that there were "ten" lepers?**

Answer: The number "ten" is significant for several reasons. First, it indicates a communal experience of suffering and isolation, suggesting that lepers often congregated together for mutual support, as they were excluded from mainstream society. Second, it sets up the powerful contrast later in the narrative when only one of the ten returns to give thanks ([Luke 17:15-19](/luke/17-15-19 "Luke 17:15-19 - The Samaritan Leper Returns to Give Thanks")), highlighting the theme of gratitude and true faith. While the law required isolation, it didn't forbid lepers from associating with each other.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 17:12, with its depiction of ten isolated lepers, powerfully foreshadows and illuminates the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. In the Old Covenant, leprosy was the quintessential symbol of sin's defiling power, rendering individuals unclean and separated from God's presence and His people, as detailed in [Leviticus 13](/leviticus/13 "Leviticus 13 - Laws Concerning Skin Diseases"). Jesus, by encountering and healing these lepers, demonstrates His divine authority not merely over physical illness but over the very spiritual impurity that sin represents. He is the ultimate High Priest who, unlike the Levitical priests who could only declare a leper clean, possesses the power to *make* the unclean clean, touching them and restoring them to full fellowship ([Matthew 8:3](/matthew/8-3 "Matthew 8:3 - Jesus Heals a Leper")). This act of radical inclusion anticipates the new covenant reality where, through Christ's atoning sacrifice, all who were once "afar off" due to sin are brought near by His blood ([Ephesians 2:13](/ephesians/2-13 "Ephesians 2:13 - Brought Near by the Blood of Christ")). The lepers' desperate cry for mercy mirrors humanity's spiritual need for a Savior, and Jesus' compassionate response reveals Him as the Lamb of God who truly takes away the sin of the world, cleansing and reconciling those who were utterly ostracized ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")). His ministry to these outcasts prefigures the expansive reach of the Gospel, which breaks down every wall of hostility and invites all, regardless of their past defilement, into the family of God ([Galatians 3:28](/galatians/3-28 "Galatians 3:28 - No Jew or Gentile, Slave or Free, Male or Female")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Leviticus 13:45

And the leper in whom the plague [is], his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.

Leviticus 13:46

All the days wherein the plague [shall be] in him he shall be defiled; he [is] unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp [shall] his habitation [be].

Luke 5:12

¶ And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on [his] face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

2 Kings 7:3

¶ And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die?

Luke 18:13

And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as [his] eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

2 Chronicles 26:20

And Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked upon him, and, behold, he [was] leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out from thence; yea, himself hasted also to go out, because the LORD had smitten him.

2 Chronicles 26:21

And Uzziah the king was a leper unto the day of his death, and dwelt in a several house, [being] a leper; for he was cut off from the house of the LORD: and Jotham his son [was] over the king's house, judging the people of the land.