31And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and he was teaching them on the Sabbath. [4:32] And they were astonished at his teaching, because his word was with authority. [4:33] And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice: [4:34] "Ha! What is there between us and you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God." [4:35] And Jesus rebuked it, saying: "Be muzzled and come out from him." And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, it came out from him, having done him no harm. [4:36] And astonishment came upon all, and they were speaking with one another, saying: "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!" [4:37] And a report about him was going out to every place in the surrounding region.
LUK 4:31-37
Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Capernaum, a bustling Galilean fishing town, the synagogue was the center of Jewish communal and religious life. Teaching in synagogues was common for rabbis, but Jesus’ authority stood out. Unlike scribes who cited tradition, Jesus spoke with direct, unmediated power, astonishing listeners. The presence of a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue highlights the tension between purity codes and spiritual corruption. Demons were understood as malevolent forces causing physical and spiritual harm, and their recognition of Jesus as the Holy One of God underscores his divine identity. Jesus’ command to the demon, “Be silent” , uses language of muzzling an animal, emphasizing his absolute authority over unclean spirits. The expulsion of the demon into the midst of the assembly demonstrates Jesus’ power to restore order and purity in sacred spaces, challenging traditional notions of ritual cleanliness and spiritual authority.
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How other translations render this
LUK 4:31
- KJV
- And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.
- BSB
- Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people.
- Koinōnos
- And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and he was teaching them on the Sabbath.
LUK 4:32
- KJV
- And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.
- BSB
- They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
- Koinōnos
- And they were astonished at his teaching, because his word was with authority.
LUK 4:33
- KJV
- And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice,
- BSB
- In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,
- Koinōnos
- And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice:
LUK 4:34
- KJV
- Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
- BSB
- “Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
- Koinōnos
- Ha! What is there between us and you, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God.
LUK 4:35
- KJV
- And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.
- BSB
- But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus rebuked it, saying: "Be muzzled and come out from him." And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst, it came out from him, having done him no harm.
LUK 4:36
- KJV
- And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
- BSB
- All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”
- Koinōnos
- And astonishment came upon all, and they were speaking with one another, saying: "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!
LUK 4:37
- KJV
- And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.
- BSB
- And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.
- Koinōnos
- And a report about him was going out to every place in the surrounding region.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 4:32
- they were astonished:The word translated 'astonished' here implies a strong emotional reaction, a sense of being struck or overwhelmed by what was heard or seen, often to the point of being stunned.
- authority:The term translated 'authority' refers to the right or power to act, often implying a legitimate source or permission, rather than just raw strength or ability.
LUK 4:33
- unclean,:The word translated 'unclean' carried a strong sense of ritual or moral impurity, making something unfit for sacred use or association, not merely physically dirty.
LUK 4:35
- do be silent:The phrase translated 'do be silent' uses a word that literally means to muzzle, suggesting a forceful and immediate silencing, like putting a muzzle on an animal.