Luke 23:46

KJV

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.

KJV (with Strong's)

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}.

Complete Jewish Bible

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

Berean Standard Bible

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.

American Standard Version

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

### SUMMARY
Luke 23:46 records the climactic moment of Jesus' death on the cross, capturing His final, powerful declaration of trust and submission to God the Father. With a loud cry, Jesus voluntarily commends His spirit into the Father's hands, signifying not a defeat but a conscious, deliberate act of laying down His life, fulfilling prophecy and demonstrating divine control even in His final breath. This profound statement encapsulates His unwavering faith and the voluntary nature of His atoning sacrifice.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as the culmination of Jesus' crucifixion narrative in Luke's Gospel, immediately following a series of momentous events that underscore its theological significance. Just before His death, a supernatural [darkness covered the whole land from the sixth hour until the ninth hour](/luke/23-44 "Luke 23:44 - Darkness Over the Land"), and the [veil of the temple was torn in two](/luke/23-45 "Luke 23:45 - The Tearing of the Temple Veil"), symbolizing the new access to God made possible through Jesus' sacrifice. Furthermore, Jesus had just offered a promise of paradise to the repentant thief crucified beside Him, declaring, "[Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise](/luke/23-43 "Luke 23:43 - Jesus' Promise to the Repentant Thief")". These preceding events set the stage for Jesus' final words as a demonstration of His divine authority and the cosmic implications of His death.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** Crucifixion was a brutal and agonizing form of execution designed to inflict maximum suffering and public humiliation. Victims typically died slowly from asphyxiation, their voices weakening to gasps as their bodies failed. The act of crying out with a "loud voice" at the very moment of death was highly unusual for a crucified person, indicating that Jesus was not succumbing to physical exhaustion in the typical manner but was actively yielding His life. The concept of "commending one's spirit" was familiar within Jewish tradition, often associated with a prayer of trust in God at the point of death, drawing parallels to [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust"). This act underscored Jesus' conscious control over His own life and death, contrasting sharply with the involuntary demise of other crucifixion victims.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 23:46 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights Jesus' **unwavering trust and submission** to the Father, even in the face of immense suffering and death, fulfilling His mission with complete obedience. The "loud voice" emphasizes Jesus' **divine strength and control** over His own life, demonstrating that His death was a **voluntary sacrifice** rather than a forced end, a theme echoed in [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority to Lay Down His Life"). Furthermore, His final words, echoing [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust"), underscore the theme of **fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy** concerning the Messiah's suffering and redemptive work. This climactic moment solidifies the **atoning nature of His death** and the **triumph of God's redemptive plan**, setting the stage for the glorious [resurrection](/luke/24-6 "Luke 24:6 - The Resurrection of Jesus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Jesus (Greek, _Iēsoûs'_):** The name of our Lord, derived from the Hebrew "Jehoshua," meaning "Yahweh is salvation." Here, it identifies the specific individual who, despite immense suffering, maintains divine authority and purpose, emphasizing the personal nature of His sacrifice.
* **commend (Greek, _paratíthēmi'_):** Meaning "to place alongside," or "to deposit (as a trust or for protection)." This word signifies a deliberate, conscious act of entrusting something valuable into safe keeping. Jesus is not merely losing His spirit but actively depositing it into the Father's care, highlighting the voluntary and secure nature of His final act.
* **gave up the ghost (Greek, _ekpnéō'_):** Literally meaning "to expire" or "to breathe out." This phrase, an older English idiom for "breathed his last," emphasizes the finality of physical death but, in Jesus' case, also carries the connotation of a conscious, deliberate yielding of life, rather than a passive succumbing.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice":** This opening phrase is highly significant. In the context of crucifixion, victims typically lost their ability to speak loudly as their bodies weakened and breathing became impossible. Jesus' "loud voice" indicates a supernatural strength and control, demonstrating that His death was not a result of physical collapse but a deliberate, willed act. It underscores His divine power even in His moment of human weakness.
* **"he said, 'Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit:'":** This is Jesus' final utterance on the cross in Luke's account, a prayer of profound trust and submission. Addressing God as "Father" reaffirms His unique relationship with the first person of the Trinity. The phrase "into thy hands I commend my spirit" directly echoes [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust"), demonstrating Jesus' conscious fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and His complete reliance on God's sovereign care. It is an act of entrusting His very essence, His soul and life, into the Father's safekeeping.
* **"and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.":** This concluding clause describes the physical act of death. The phrase "gave up the ghost" (or "breathed His last") in English translates the Greek word _ekpnéō_, which implies exhaling one's last breath. Coupled with the preceding "loud voice" and the act of "commending" His spirit, this emphasizes that Jesus' death was not a passive event but an active, voluntary surrender of His life, a powerful and deliberate act of sacrifice.

#### Literary Devices
Luke 23:46 is rich with literary devices that amplify its theological impact. The most striking is **Irony**: while crucifixion typically leads to a weak, gasping death, Jesus cries out with a "loud voice." This stark contrast highlights His divine power and control, subverting the expected outcome of such a brutal execution. There is also clear **Allusion** to [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust"), where Jesus consciously quotes the Psalmist, linking His suffering and trust to the prophetic tradition and demonstrating His deliberate fulfillment of Scripture. The act of "commending His spirit" can be seen as **Symbolism**, representing not just the surrender of life but the secure transfer of His being into the Father's sovereign care, a powerful image of trust. Finally, the entire scene, particularly Jesus' control over His death, serves as **Foreshadowing** of His impending resurrection and ultimate victory over death, indicating that His "giving up" of life was a temporary, strategic act within God's larger redemptive plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 23:46 stands as a profound theological statement on the nature of Christ's death and the character of God. It underscores the voluntary nature of Jesus' sacrifice, emphasizing that His death was not a defeat but a deliberate act of obedience to the Father's will and a conscious surrender of His life. This act of "commending His spirit" speaks to the deep, unbroken communion between the Father and the Son, even in the darkest hour, affirming God's sovereignty over life and death. The "loud voice" at the moment of expiration further testifies to Jesus' divine power and control, demonstrating that He truly "laid down His life" rather than having it taken from Him. This scene is foundational to understanding the atonement, revealing a Savior who willingly offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of humanity, establishing a new covenant through His blood.

* [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust")
* [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority to Lay Down His Life")
* [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Obedience to Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Jesus' final words on the cross offer profound comfort and a powerful model for believers facing life's ultimate transition or any moment of profound vulnerability. His unwavering trust in the Father, even in the agony of crucifixion, teaches us to surrender our lives, our fears, and our very being into God's sovereign hands. This verse assures us that for those who belong to Christ, death is not an end but a transition of the spirit into the secure and loving care of the Father. It reminds us that our lives, and indeed our deaths, are ultimately in God's control, not subject to random chance or the power of evil. Reflecting on Jesus' voluntary and powerful act of redemption strengthens our faith in His completed work on the cross, providing peace in the midst of suffering and hope in the face of the unknown. It calls us to live lives of similar trust and obedience, knowing that our ultimate destiny rests in the hands of a faithful God.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' "loud voice" at the moment of death challenge common perceptions of weakness and defeat, and what does this imply about His identity?**
* **In what areas of your life do you struggle to "commend your spirit" or your circumstances into God's hands, and what can you learn from Jesus' example?**
* **How does the voluntary nature of Jesus' death, highlighted in this verse, deepen your understanding of His love and the atonement?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus cry out with a loud voice just before He died, when most crucified victims would be weak?**

Answer: Jesus' loud cry is significant because it defied the typical physical deterioration of crucifixion victims, who usually died from asphyxiation and would be too weak to utter a strong sound. This detail, recorded by Luke, suggests that Jesus was not merely succumbing to physical exhaustion but was in control of His own death. It demonstrates His divine power and authority, even in His final moments, reinforcing that He voluntarily "laid down His life" rather than having it taken from Him, as He stated in [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority to Lay Down His Life"). His strong voice indicates a conscious, deliberate act of surrender, not a passive collapse.

**What does "he gave up the ghost" mean in modern terms?**

Answer: The King James Version phrase "he gave up the ghost" is an older English idiom that means "he breathed his last" or "he expired." In the Greek text, the verb used is _ekpnéō_ (G1606), which literally means "to breathe out" or "to expire." It signifies the moment of physical death, when the spirit departs from the body. In the context of Jesus, this phrase emphasizes the finality of His physical death on the cross, which was a necessary part of His atoning work, but also, given the "loud voice" and "commending His spirit," it implies a voluntary and deliberate act rather than a forced cessation of life.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Luke 23:46 profoundly reveals the Christ-centered nature of God's redemptive plan. Jesus' final words, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit," are not merely a dying man's prayer but the ultimate act of the Son's obedience and trust, fulfilling the prophetic pattern of the suffering Messiah found in passages like [Psalm 31:5](/psalms/31-5 "Psalm 31:5 - A Prayer of Trust"). His "loud voice" at the moment of death signifies His divine control, demonstrating that His life was not taken from Him but willingly laid down, as He himself declared in [John 10:18](/john/10-18 "John 10:18 - Jesus' Authority to Lay Down His Life"). This voluntary surrender is the very heart of the atonement, where the sinless Son of God offered Himself as the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for humanity's sin, [becoming sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Our Righteousness"). His death, therefore, is not a tragic end but the triumphant completion of His mission, paving the way for His glorious resurrection and ascension, through which He [conquered death and hell](/1_corinthians/15-55-57 "1 Corinthians 15:55-57 - Victory Over Death"). Thus, His commending of His spirit into the Father's hands assures believers that through Christ, their own spirits are safe in God's eternal care, securing their hope of [eternal life in Him](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life").

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

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?