Luke 7:14

KJV

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he came {G4334} and touched {G680} the bier {G4673}: and {G1161} they that bare {G941} him stood still {G2476}. And {G2532} he said {G2036}, Young man {G3495}, I say {G3004} unto thee {G4671}, Arise {G1453}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Then he came close and touched the coffin, and the pallbearers halted. He said, "Young man, I say to you: get up!"

Berean Standard Bible

Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”

American Standard Version

And he came nigh and touched the bier: and the bearers stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 7:14 records the climactic moment of Jesus' compassionate intervention at the funeral procession in Nain, where He encounters a grieving widow who has lost her only son. Moving beyond societal norms and ritual purity laws, Jesus approaches the bier, halting the procession with a touch, and then, with unparalleled divine authority, commands the deceased young man to "Arise." This powerful word immediately brings the young man back to life, demonstrating Jesus' absolute sovereignty over death and His profound empathy for human suffering.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Luke 7:14 is situated within a series of powerful demonstrations of Jesus' authority and compassion. Immediately preceding this event, Jesus heals the centurion's servant in Capernaum (Luke 7:1-10), showcasing His power over disease even from a distance and commending the centurion's great faith. The narrative then shifts to Nain, presenting a stark contrast: from a request for healing to an unsolicited act of resurrection. This miracle is followed by John the Baptist's disciples questioning Jesus' identity (Luke 7:18-23), to which Jesus responds by pointing to His works, including raising the dead, as evidence of His messianic claims. The raising of the widow's son thus serves as a pivotal sign, affirming Jesus' divine identity and foreshadowing His ultimate victory over death.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The scene in Nain vividly portrays the devastating impact of death in ancient Jewish society, particularly for a widow. The loss of an "only son" (Luke 7:12) meant not only immense emotional grief but also the complete loss of economic support and social standing. Widows were among the most vulnerable members of society, often dependent on the charity of others. The funeral procession itself was a public display of mourning, with professional mourners often hired to lament loudly. Furthermore, touching a dead body or anything associated with it, like a bier (Luke 7:14), would render a person ceremonially unclean according to Mosaic Law (Numbers 19:11-13). Jesus' willingness to approach and touch the bier, rather than being defiled, signifies His transcendence of ritual law and His direct engagement with human suffering and death, bringing life and purity instead.
* **Key Themes:** This verse powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in Luke's Gospel and the broader biblical narrative. It highlights **Divine Compassion**, as Jesus is "moved with compassion" for the widow (Luke 7:13), demonstrating God's active empathy for the suffering. It unequivocally establishes Jesus' **Authority Over Death**, portraying Him as the Lord of life who can command the dead to rise, a power previously seen in the Old Testament only through prophets acting on God's behalf, but here exercised by Jesus directly. This miracle also serves as a profound sign of **Jesus' Messianic Identity**, fulfilling prophecies of a coming deliverer who would bring life and restoration. The immediate and public nature of the miracle also underscores the theme of **God's Power Manifest**, confirming His presence and activity among His people, bringing hope and challenging the finality of death, foreshadowing the ultimate triumph found in [the resurrection of Jesus Christ](/luke/24-6 "Luke 24:6 - The Resurrection of Jesus").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **touched (Greek, _háptomai'_):** This word (G680) means to attach oneself to, or to touch in various implied relations. In this context, Jesus' physical touch of the bier is significant. While Jewish law would declare one unclean for touching a corpse or its associated objects (Numbers 19:11), Jesus' touch does not defile Him; rather, it is an act of power that precedes the imparting of life. It signifies His direct, unmediated engagement with the realm of death and His ability to transcend ritual purity laws through His inherent holiness and life-giving power.
* **stood still (Greek, _hístēmi'_):** This verb (G2476) means to stand (transitively or intransitively), to cause to stand, or to halt. The immediate cessation of movement by those bearing the bier signifies the sudden, authoritative interruption of a solemn procession by Jesus. It creates a moment of dramatic pause and anticipation, drawing all attention to Jesus and His impending action. This stillness underscores the extraordinary nature of the event about to unfold, as the natural course of death is momentarily suspended.
* **Arise (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This imperative verb (G1453) means to waken, rouse, lift up, or rise. It is a direct, authoritative command, not a prayer or a request. The same word is frequently used in the New Testament to describe Jesus' own resurrection and the resurrection of others from the dead (e.g., [Matthew 28:6](/matthew/28-6 "Matthew 28:6 - The Angel's Message of Resurrection")). Its use here emphasizes Jesus' inherent power over life and death, demonstrating that He possesses the authority to summon the dead back to life by His mere word.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he came and touched the bier":** This clause describes Jesus' physical approach and action. His coming signifies His intentional intervention, not a casual encounter. The act of touching the bier is profoundly symbolic and counter-cultural. In a society where contact with the dead brought ritual impurity, Jesus' touch demonstrates His divine authority to reverse the effects of death and impurity. His touch is not one of defilement, but of life-giving power, initiating the miraculous transformation.
* **"and they that bare [him] stood still":** This describes the immediate and involuntary reaction of the pallbearers to Jesus' action. Their sudden halt signifies the interruption of the funeral procession, a powerful visual cue that something extraordinary is about to happen. It creates a dramatic pause, drawing the attention of the entire grieving crowd and setting the stage for Jesus' authoritative declaration. This stillness highlights Jesus' commanding presence and the immediate impact of His actions.
* **"And he said, ‹Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.›":** This is the pivotal, authoritative command. Jesus addresses the deceased directly, demonstrating His personal power over death. The phrase "I say unto thee" underscores the directness and inherent authority of His word; it is not a prayer to God, but a divine command from God Himself. The single word "Arise" (Greek: _egeírō_) is a powerful, life-imparting imperative, demonstrating that life is restored by His sovereign will and word alone, without any elaborate ritual or prolonged effort.

#### Literary Devices
The narrative of Luke 7:14 employs several powerful literary devices. **Dramatic Irony** is evident as the funeral procession, steeped in the finality of death, unknowingly carries the deceased into the presence of the very Lord of Life. The mourners are focused on burial, while Jesus is about to bring resurrection. **Symbolism** is rich; the bier itself symbolizes death's dominion, which Jesus directly confronts and overcomes. The young man, dead and then resurrected, symbolizes humanity's spiritual death and the new life offered through Christ. The scene also employs **Contrast**, juxtaposing the profound grief and despair of the widow and the community with the sudden, overwhelming joy and wonder of life restored. This stark contrast amplifies the miraculous nature of Jesus' power. Furthermore, the event serves as **Foreshadowing**, pointing forward to Jesus' own resurrection from the dead and His ultimate victory over the grave, as well as the future resurrection of all believers.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The resurrection of the widow's son at Nain is a profound theological statement about the person and power of Jesus Christ. It unequivocally declares His divine nature and His absolute sovereignty over life and death. Unlike Old Testament prophets who raised the dead through prayer and God's intervention (e.g., Elijah raising the son of the widow of Zarephath in [1 Kings 17:17-24](/1_kings/17-17-24 "1 Kings 17:17-24 - Elijah Raises the Widow's Son")), Jesus acts with inherent authority, commanding life back into a lifeless body by His own word. This miracle is not merely a display of power but an outpouring of divine compassion, demonstrating that God is intimately acquainted with human suffering and actively intervenes to bring hope and restoration. It underscores the truth that Jesus is indeed "the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), capable of reversing death's dominion.

* [John 5:21](/john/5-21 "John 5:21 - The Son Gives Life")
* [Romans 6:4](/romans/6-4 "Romans 6:4 - Newness of Life")
* [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus' Victory Over Death")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The miracle at Nain offers enduring hope and comfort to all who face loss, grief, or seemingly insurmountable despair. It reminds us that Jesus is not a distant, unfeeling deity, but a God of profound compassion who is deeply moved by our suffering. His willingness to interrupt a funeral procession and directly confront death demonstrates His active presence in our darkest moments. For those experiencing the pain of loss, this passage testifies to Jesus' ultimate power over death and His ability to bring life where there is only despair. It encourages believers to trust in His sovereignty and His promise of future resurrection, knowing that He holds the keys to life and death. Furthermore, it challenges us to cultivate a similar compassion for those who grieve and suffer, prompting us to be instruments of God's comfort and hope in a broken world. This narrative calls us to recognize Jesus' authority in every area of life, even over what seems final, and to live with the profound hope that death does not have the final word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' compassion in this passage challenge or affirm your understanding of God's character?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need Jesus' "Arise" command to bring new life or hope?**
* **How can we, as followers of Christ, embody His compassion for those who are grieving or suffering in our communities?**
* **What does this miracle teach us about the ultimate victory of Christ over death, both physical and spiritual?**

### FAQ

**Why did Jesus choose to perform this miracle in Nain, and what is its significance?**

Answer: Nain was a small, obscure village in Galilee, not a major center like Capernaum or Jerusalem. Its obscurity highlights that Jesus' compassion and power are not limited to prominent places or people; He cares for the marginalized and overlooked. The significance lies in the specific circumstances: a widow who had lost her *only* son. This situation represented complete destitution and despair in ancient society. By raising this young man, Jesus not only demonstrated His power over death but also provided profound social and economic restoration to a truly vulnerable individual, showcasing His comprehensive care for the whole person. This miracle also echoes Old Testament accounts of prophets raising the dead (e.g., [1 Kings 17](/1_kings/17 "1 Kings 17 - Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath")), subtly affirming Jesus' prophetic and messianic identity.

**What is the significance of Jesus touching the bier, given Jewish purity laws?**

Answer: According to Mosaic Law, touching a dead body or anything associated with it, such as a bier, would render a person ceremonially unclean for a period (Numbers 19:11-13). Jesus' action of touching the bier is highly significant because it demonstrates His divine transcendence of these ritual laws. He does not become defiled by contact with death; instead, His touch brings life and purity. This act foreshadows how Jesus, through His sacrifice, would cleanse humanity from the defilement of sin and death, transforming what is unclean into something holy and alive. It signifies that He is the source of true purity and life, not subject to the limitations of the Law He came to fulfill.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The resurrection of the widow's son at Nain stands as a powerful Christ-centered fulfillment, not merely as an isolated miracle, but as a vivid demonstration of Jesus' ultimate identity and mission. This event points directly to Jesus as the embodiment of God's life-giving power, foreshadowing His own triumphant resurrection from the grave (e.g., [Luke 24:6-7](/luke/24-6-7 "Luke 24:6-7 - The Empty Tomb and the Angel's Words")) and His victory over the spiritual death that afflicts all humanity. Just as He commanded the young man to "Arise" and brought physical life, so too does He call spiritually dead sinners to "Arise" and receive new life through faith in Him (e.g., [Ephesians 2:1-5](/ephesians/2-1-5 "Ephesians 2:1-5 - From Death to Life in Christ")). The compassion Jesus showed the widow at Nain is a perfect illustration of His divine empathy for a fallen world, ultimately culminating in His sacrifice on the cross to conquer death and sin for all time (e.g., [Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Jesus' Victory Over Death")). This miracle assures us that because Jesus is the "resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), those who believe in Him, though they die, yet shall live, looking forward to the glorious hope of eternal resurrection (e.g., [1 Corinthians 15:20-22](/1_corinthians/15-20-22 "1 Corinthians 15:20-22 - Christ, the Firstfruits of Resurrection")).

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

John 11:43

And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth.

John 11:44

And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

John 5:25

Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.

Acts 9:40

But Peter put them all forth, and kneeled down, and prayed; and turning [him] to the body said, Tabitha, arise. And she opened her eyes: and when she saw Peter, she sat up.

Acts 9:41

And he gave her [his] hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

John 11:25

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

John 5:28

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,