Luke 8:45

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press [thee], and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424} said {G2036}, Who {G5101} touched {G680} me {G3450}? When {G1161} all {G3956} denied {G720}, Peter {G4074} and {G2532} they that were with {G3326} him {G846} said {G2036}, Master {G1988}, the multitude {G3793} throng {G4912} thee {G4571} and {G2532} press {G598} thee, and {G2532} sayest {G3004} thou, Who {G5101} touched {G680} me {G3450}?

Yeshua asked, "Who touched me?" When they all denied doing it, Kefa said, "Rabbi! The crowds are hemming you in and jostling you!"

“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked. But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”

And Jesus said, Who is it that touched me? And when all denied, Peter said, and they that were with him, Master, the multitudes press thee and crush thee.

Commentary

Luke 8:45 KJV captures a pivotal moment demonstrating Jesus' divine awareness and the nature of true faith, distinguishing it from mere physical proximity.

Context

This verse immediately follows the account of a woman who had suffered from an issue of blood for twelve years. Desperate, she approached Jesus in a large crowd, believing that simply touching the hem of His garment would heal her. The crowd was pressing in on Jesus from all sides, making Peter's observation understandable: "Master, the multitude throng thee and press [thee]." Yet, Jesus' question, "Who touched me?", implies a touch far beyond the casual bumps of a crowd.

Key Themes

  • The Touch of Faith vs. Casual Contact: The primary theme is the profound difference between being physically jostled by a crowd and making a deliberate, faith-filled connection with Jesus. Many touched Him that day, but only one received healing power.
  • Jesus' Divine Awareness: Jesus was not merely asking for information; He knew that power had gone out from Him. His question was designed to bring the woman forward and reveal her faith, not to identify an unknown person.
  • Individual Recognition in a Crowd: Despite the overwhelming multitude, Jesus was uniquely attuned to the individual act of faith. He saw beyond the physical throng to the spiritual connection.
  • Disciples' Limited Perception: Peter and the other disciples, still operating primarily on a physical plane of understanding, failed to grasp the deeper spiritual reality Jesus was addressing.

Linguistic Insights

The Greek word for "touched" here is haptomai (ἅπτομαι), which often denotes a deliberate, clinging, or laying hold of, rather than a mere accidental brush. This supports the idea that Jesus was referring to a touch of intention and faith, not just the random jostling of the crowd. The "power" (Greek: dynamis, δύναμις) that went out from Him signifies His inherent miraculous ability.

Practical Application

Luke 8:45 serves as a powerful reminder that merely being in the presence of God or among believers is not enough for spiritual transformation. It challenges us to move beyond superficial engagement to a genuine, faith-filled connection with Christ. Just as the woman with the issue of blood reached out in desperate faith, we are called to seek a personal encounter with Jesus, trusting in His power to meet our deepest needs. Our faith, no matter how small, is noticed by God and can unlock His transformative power in our lives.

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Cross-References

  • Luke 5:5 (2 votes)

    And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net.

  • Luke 9:13 (2 votes)

    But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.

  • Mark 5:30 (2 votes)

    And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

  • Mark 5:32 (2 votes)

    And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.