And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

LUKE 4:17KJV
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Luke 4:17 (KJV)

What does Luke 4:17 mean?

Luke 4:17 describes how Jesus was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah when He was in the synagogue, and He deliberately opened it to a specific place where something important was written. This moment sets up Jesus reading a passage that He will soon connect to Himself.

In this scene, Jesus is in a synagogue in Nazareth, His hometown, during a Sabbath gathering. The custom was for someone to read from the Scriptures, and Jesus is given the scroll (not a bound book, but a rolled manuscript) of Isaiah. The verse emphasizes that Jesus actively searches for and finds a particular passage, showing intention and purpose in what He is about to read.

The Greek behind Luke 4:17

  • βιβλίον (biblion, "book" or "scroll"): This word refers to a scroll, not a modern book, highlighting the historical setting and the physical act of unrolling to find a passage.
  • εὗρεν (heuren, "found"): The Greek word here means to find after searching, suggesting that Jesus intentionally looked for a specific place in the scroll, not just reading at random.
  • τόπος (topos, "place"): This word means a specific spot or section, underlining that Jesus had a particular passage in mind.

Why Luke 4:17 matters

  • Luke 4:17 shows that Jesus’ reading was not accidental or routine; He chose a passage with intention, setting up a significant declaration about Himself.
  • This verse connects Jesus directly to the Old Testament prophet Isaiah, preparing the reader for Jesus’ claim that the prophecy is being fulfilled in their hearing.
  • Understanding the deliberate action in this verse helps clarify that what follows is central to Jesus’ mission and identity, not just a random Scripture reading.

Where else these words appear

“delivered” Greek G1929 · used in 10 verses

  • Matthew 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
  • Luke 11:12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
  • John 13:26 Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.

“Esaias” Greek G2268 · used in 21 verses

  • Matthew 3:3 For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
  • Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
  • Acts 8:30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?

“where” Greek G3757 · used in 27 verses

  • Matthew 2:9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
  • John 11:41 Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
  • Acts 28:14 Where we found brethren, and were desired to tarry with them seven days: and so we went toward Rome.

“book” Greek G975 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 19:7 They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away?
  • Revelation 1:11 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.
  • Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places.