Luke 23:46

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

And {G2532} when Jesus {G2424} had cried {G5455} with a loud {G3173} voice {G5456}, he said {G2036}, Father {G3962}, into {G1519} thy {G4675} hands {G5495} I commend {G3908} my {G3450} spirit {G4151}: and {G2532} having said {G2036} thus {G5023}, he gave up the ghost {G1606}.

Crying out with a loud voice, Yeshua said, “Father! Into your hands I commit my spirit.” With these words he gave up his spirit.

Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.

And Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said this, he gave up the ghost.

Commentary

Context of Luke 23:46

This verse records the final words and death of Jesus Christ on the cross, as recounted in Luke's Gospel. It immediately follows several profound events: the miraculous darkness that covered the land from the sixth to the ninth hour, and the tearing of the temple veil in two, symbolizing new access to God. Jesus had just assured the repentant thief of his place in paradise (Luke 23:43). This climactic moment represents the culmination of Jesus' earthly ministry and His ultimate sacrifice for humanity.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Unwavering Trust and Submission: Jesus' cry, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," is a profound expression of complete trust and submission to God, even in the face of death. He entrusts His very being into the Father's sovereign care.
  • Voluntary Sacrifice: The phrase "he gave up the ghost" (KJV) emphasizes the voluntary nature of Jesus' death. Unlike a person who succumbs to exhaustion or injury, Jesus actively yielded His life. This aligns with His earlier declaration that He had the power to lay down His life and take it up again.
  • Divine Strength and Control: That Jesus "cried with a loud voice" is significant. Victims of crucifixion typically died from asphyxiation, their voices becoming weak and gasping. Jesus' strong cry demonstrates that He was still in control, not utterly depleted, even at the moment of death. This contrasts with the typical agonizing end of crucifixion.
  • Fulfillment of Scripture: Jesus' words echo Psalm 31:5, "Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth." This demonstrates His conscious fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy regarding the Messiah's suffering and obedience.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek phrase for "cried with a loud voice" is phōnē megalē (φωνῇ μεγάλῃ), reinforcing the idea of a powerful, controlled utterance rather than a weak, dying gasp. The verb "commend" is paratithēmi (παρατίθεμαι), which means to "place beside" or "entrust," often used for depositing something valuable for safekeeping. This highlights Jesus' conscious act of committing His spirit to the Father, not merely losing it. The KJV phrase "gave up the ghost" is an older idiom for "breathed his last" or "yielded his spirit," emphasizing the willing release of His life.

Practical Application

This verse offers profound comfort and instruction for believers. Jesus' final words provide a model for how to face life's ultimate transition: with trust in God's hands. It assures us that death is not an end but a transition of the spirit into the care of the Father for those who belong to Him. It underscores the completed work of Christ on the cross, a voluntary and powerful act of redemption. For those facing suffering or the end of life, Jesus' example here provides a powerful testimony to God's sovereignty and faithfulness, offering peace in the midst of the unknown. His death was not a defeat, but a triumphant step towards His resurrection and ultimate victory.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Psalms 31:5

    Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O LORD God of truth.

  • Acts 7:59

    And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

  • John 19:30

    When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

  • 1 Peter 2:23

    Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed [himself] to him that judgeth righteously:

  • Mark 15:34

    And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

  • Mark 15:41

    (Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem.

  • Matthew 27:46

    And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
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