12And it happened that while he was in one of the cities, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean." [5:13] And stretching out his hand, he touched him, saying, "I am willing — be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him. [5:14] And he ordered him to tell no one. "But go, show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." [5:15] But the word about him was spreading all the more, and large crowds were gathering to hear him and to be healed of their ailments. [5:16] But he would withdraw to the wilderness and pray.
LUK 5:12-16
The Leperʼs Prayer
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish society, leprosy was not merely a physical ailment but a condition that rendered a person ritually unclean, excluding them from communal and religious life. Lepers were required to live outside cities, wear torn clothes, and announce their presence to avoid contaminating others (Leviticus 13-14). The leper’s approach to Jesus, falling on his face and begging , reflects both desperation and recognition of Jesus’ authority. His plea, 'Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean,' acknowledges Jesus’ power while deferring to His will. Jesus’ response—touching the leper—was a radical act, as physical contact with a leper defiled the toucher under purity laws. By commanding the man to show himself to the priest and offer the prescribed sacrifices , Jesus aligns His healing with Mosaic law, affirming its authority while demonstrating His own power to restore ritual purity. The spreading 'word' about Jesus reflects the growing recognition of His authority and the tension it created within Jewish religious structures.
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How other translations render this
LUK 5:12
- KJV
- And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy: who seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- BSB
- While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Koinōnos
- And it happened that while he was in one of the cities, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean.
LUK 5:13
- KJV
- And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.
- BSB
- Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.
- Koinōnos
- And stretching out his hand, he touched him, saying, "I am willing — be cleansed." And immediately the leprosy left him.
LUK 5:14
- KJV
- And he charged him to tell no man: but go, and shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing, according as Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- BSB
- “Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
- Koinōnos
- And he ordered him to tell no one. "But go, show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.
LUK 5:15
- KJV
- But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
- BSB
- But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.
- Koinōnos
- But the word about him was spreading all the more, and large crowds were gathering to hear him and to be healed of their ailments.
LUK 5:16
- KJV
- And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.
- BSB
- Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.
- Koinōnos
- But he would withdraw to the wilderness and pray.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
LUK 5:12
- of leprosy;:The word translated 'leprosy' here referred to a variety of skin conditions in the ancient world, not exclusively the modern medical diagnosis of Hansen's disease. It encompassed a range of afflictions that rendered a person ritually unclean.
- [his] face:The term used here for 'face' often carried a deeper meaning than just the physical countenance; it could represent the entire person, their presence, or their honor.
LUK 5:13
- do be cleansed.:The word translated 'be cleansed' carried both a physical and a ritual sense. It meant not only to be made physically clean but also to be purified from ritual defilement, allowing re-entry into community and worship.
LUK 5:15
- report:The word translated 'report' is a very broad term that can mean 'word,' 'message,' 'account,' or even 'reason.' Here, it emphasizes the spoken message or news about Jesus.