38And rising from the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was gripped by a severe fever, and they asked him about her. [4:39] And standing over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose up and began serving them. [4:40] And when the sun was setting, all who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and laying his hands on each one of them, he was healing them. [4:41] And demons also were coming out from many, crying out and saying: "You are the Son of God!" And rebuking them, he would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
LUK 4:38-41
Jesus Heals at Peterʼs House
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Galilee, illness was often understood through both physical and spiritual lenses. Fevers, like the one afflicting Simon’s mother-in-law, were seen as life-threatening and debilitating, potentially rendering a person unable to fulfill their household duties. The term (oppressed) suggests a severe, incapacitating condition. Healing practices were diverse, ranging from herbal remedies to appeals to divine intervention. Jesus’ act of rebuking the fever carries an authoritative tone, echoing language used in exorcisms, which were common in Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts. The immediate restoration of Simon’s mother-in-law to serving underscores the completeness of the healing, restoring her to her social role. At sunset, the arrival of the sick and demon-possessed reflects a belief in Jesus’ power over both physical and spiritual afflictions. Demons were understood as malevolent spirits that could cause harm or illness, and their recognition of Jesus as the Christ aligns with Jewish apocalyptic expectations of a messianic figure who would confront evil forces.
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How other translations render this
LUK 4:38
- KJV
- And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her.
- BSB
- After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,
- Koinōnos
- And rising from the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was gripped by a severe fever, and they asked him about her.
LUK 4:39
- KJV
- And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.
- BSB
- and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.
- Koinōnos
- And standing over her, he rebuked the fever, and it left her; and immediately she rose up and began serving them.
LUK 4:40
- KJV
- Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
- BSB
- At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
- Koinōnos
- And when the sun was setting, all who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him; and laying his hands on each one of them, he was healing them.
LUK 4:41
- KJV
- And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.
- BSB
- Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
- Koinōnos
- And demons also were coming out from many, crying out and saying: "You are the Son of God!" And rebuking them, he would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 4:38
- was:The word translated 'was' here implies that the fever was holding her tightly, almost as if it had her in its grip, rather than just being present.
LUK 4:39
- He rebuked:The term translated 'He rebuked' often carried the sense of a strong, authoritative command to silence or restrain, not merely a verbal reprimand.
LUK 4:40
- ailing:The word translated 'ailing' literally means to be weak or without strength, encompassing a broader sense of physical infirmity or sickness beyond just feeling unwell.
LUK 4:41
- demons:The word translated 'demons' in the first century referred to spiritual beings, often considered malevolent or hostile, distinct from the concept of a 'god' or 'divine power.'