1When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him. [8:2] And look — a man with a severe skin disease came and bowed before him in reverence, saying: Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean. [8:3] And stretching out his hand, he touched him, saying: I am willing. Be clean. And immediately his skin disease was cleansed. [8:4] And Jesus said to him: See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses prescribed — as a testimony to them.
MAT 8:1-4
The Leperʼs Prayer
In the world it was spoken into
In 1st-century Jewish society, leprosy was not merely a medical condition but a severe social and religious stigma. Lepers were considered ritually unclean (Leviticus 13–14) and were excluded from communal life, including worship in the temple and interaction with others. The leper’s approach to Jesus, bowing in reverence , was an act of desperation and humility, acknowledging Jesus’ authority as one who could override ritual impurity. Jesus’ response—touching the leper—was a radical act, violating Levitical purity laws that would have rendered Him unclean. By commanding the leper to show himself to the priest and offer the prescribed gift (Leviticus 14), Jesus upheld the Mosaic Law while demonstrating His authority to cleanse and restore. This act would have been deeply provocative to Jewish leaders, as it challenged their interpretation of purity and authority.
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How other translations render this
MAT 8:1
- KJV
- When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
- BSB
- When Jesus came down from the mountain, large crowds followed Him.
- Koinōnos
- When he came down from the mountain, large crowds followed him.
MAT 8:2
- KJV
- And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
- BSB
- Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
- Koinōnos
- And look — a man with a severe skin disease came and bowed before him in reverence, saying: Lord, if you are willing, you are able to make me clean.
MAT 8:3
- KJV
- And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- BSB
- Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
- Koinōnos
- And stretching out his hand, he touched him, saying: I am willing. Be clean. And immediately his skin disease was cleansed.
MAT 8:4
- KJV
- And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
- BSB
- Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you donʼt tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
- Koinōnos
- And Jesus said to him: See that you tell no one, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses prescribed — as a testimony to them.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
MAT 8:2
- a leper:The word translated 'a leper' referred to various severe, chronic skin diseases, not exclusively what is known as Hansen's disease today. It carried a strong social stigma, leading to isolation.
- was worshipping:The term translated 'was worshipping' describes an act of profound reverence, often involving prostration or bowing down, indicating submission and honor, whether to a divine being or a person of high status.
- Lord,:The word translated 'Lord' could be used for a master, owner, or person of authority, but in this context, it also carries a sense of divine address, acknowledging Jesus's unique power and status.
MAT 8:3
- He touched:The word translated 'He touched' implies a direct, intentional physical contact. For someone with a severe skin disease, such contact was highly unusual and often forbidden due to purity laws and social custom.