Luke 20:37 (KJV)

What does Luke 20:37 mean?

Luke 20:37 says that Moses showed, at the burning bush, that the dead are raised, because he called the Lord “the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” This means that God is still the God of these patriarchs, even though they had died long before Moses, hinting that they are still alive to God.

In this verse, Jesus is speaking to some religious leaders who questioned the idea of resurrection. He points to the story of Moses at the burning bush, where Moses refers to God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus uses this to show that God’s relationship with these men did not end with their deaths, suggesting that there is life after death.

The Greek behind Luke 20:37

• The word for “raised” (ἐγείρω, egeirō) is often used for resurrection or being brought back to life, not just waking up or standing up. This highlights that Jesus is talking about a real, ongoing life after death.
• The phrase “at the bush” (ἐπὶ τῆς βάτου, epi tēs batou) points to a specific event—the burning bush story in Exodus—showing Jesus is grounding his point in a well-known moment from Moses’ life.
• The verb “calleth” (λέγει, legei) is in the present tense, which can suggest that Moses’ words about God’s relationship with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are still meaningful and active, not just a historical statement.

Why Luke 20:37 matters

• This verse clears up the misunderstanding that the Old Testament does not speak about resurrection or life after death; Jesus shows that even Moses hinted at it.
• Luke 20:37 emphasizes that God’s promises and relationships are not limited by human death, which was a key point in Jesus’ debate with the Sadducees, who denied resurrection.
• The verse connects the story of Moses to Jesus’ teaching, showing that the belief in resurrection is rooted in the earliest parts of the Bible, not just a new idea.