And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.

LUKE 5:19KJV
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Luke 5:19 (KJV)

What does Luke 5:19 mean?

Luke 5:19 describes how some men, unable to get through the crowd to bring their paralyzed friend to Jesus, climbed onto the roof, removed the tiles, and lowered him on his bed right in front of Jesus. This verse shows the extraordinary effort and determination these friends took to reach Jesus despite obstacles.

In this scene, Jesus is teaching inside a crowded house, and the friends of a paralyzed man are desperate to get him to Jesus for healing. The verse highlights both the physical setting—a packed house and a rooftop made of tiles—and the lengths to which people would go, even dismantling part of the roof, to bring someone in need directly to Jesus’ attention.

The Greek behind Luke 5:19

  • "διὰ τῶν κεράμων" (dia tōn keramōn, "through the tiling"): The Greek word for "tiling" refers to the clay or baked tiles that formed the roof, showing this was a typical house construction of the time. The friends literally removed these tiles to make an opening.
  • "κατέβασαν" (katebasan, "let down"): This word means to lower or let down, emphasizing the careful and deliberate action of lowering the man on his bed through the opening.
  • "μέσον" (meson, "midst"): The Greek word for "midst" shows the man was placed right in the center, directly in front of Jesus, making it impossible for Jesus or the crowd to ignore him.

Why Luke 5:19 matters

  • Luke 5:19 clears up any idea that the friends simply found a back door or window; instead, they went to the extreme of opening the roof, which shows their faith and determination.
  • The verse emphasizes the physical barriers people faced in reaching Jesus, highlighting the crowded and popular nature of his ministry at this point.
  • This detail sets up the dramatic moment that follows, where Jesus responds not just to the paralyzed man, but to the faith and effort of his friends, connecting the physical actions to the spiritual message of the passage.

Where else these words appear

“couch” Greek G2826 · used in 2 verses

  • Luke 5:24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins,(he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.

“let” Greek G2524 · used in 4 verses

  • Acts 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.
  • Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth:
  • Acts 11:5 I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

“bring” Greek G1533 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
  • Luke 11:4 And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
  • 1 Timothy 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

“housetop” Greek G1430 · used in 7 verses

  • Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.
  • Mark 13:15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house:
  • Luke 17:31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back.