And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
LUKE 17:15KJVWhat does Luke 17:15 mean?
Luke 17:15 describes how one of the ten men healed by Jesus noticed he was healed, turned around, and loudly praised God. This verse highlights the immediate and public response of gratitude from one healed man out of the group.
In this scene, Jesus has just healed ten men with leprosy as they were on their way to show themselves to the priests, as required by Jewish law. Only one of them, seeing that he was healed, comes back to give glory to God in a loud voice. The verse draws attention to his personal recognition of the miracle and his desire to honor God openly.
The Greek behind Luke 17:15
- ἰδών (idōn, "saw"): This word means more than just noticing; it often carries the sense of truly perceiving or understanding what has happened. The man recognizes the full reality of his healing.
- ἐπιστρέψας (epistrepsas, "turned back"): The Greek here suggests a deliberate action, not just a physical turn but a purposeful return, showing intention in coming back to Jesus.
- μεγάλῃ (megalē, "loud"): This word means "great" or "large," emphasizing that the man did not quietly thank God but did so with a strong, public voice.
- ἐδόξαζεν (edoxazen, "glorified"): This verb means to give honor or praise, often used for giving God the recognition He deserves. The man is not just thankful; he is actively honoring God.
Why Luke 17:15 matters
- Luke 17:15 makes it clear that only one of the ten healed men responded with open gratitude, highlighting the rarity and value of thankfulness.
- The verse emphasizes the importance of recognizing God's work and responding publicly, not just privately, with praise.
- This moment sets up the following verses, where Jesus comments on the actions of the one man compared to the others, drawing out a lesson about faith and gratitude.