And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;

LUKE 6:17KJV
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Luke 6:17 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:17 mean?

Luke 6:17 describes Jesus meeting a large gathering after coming down with his disciples. The people have traveled from several regions for two purposes: to hear him and to be healed of their diseases.

After Jesus chooses the twelve apostles in the preceding verses, Luke places him among a wider circle of disciples and a great crowd. The “plain” pictures a level place where Jesus stands with them. Luke’s account then leads into Jesus’ teaching beginning in verse 20.

The Greek behind Luke 6:17

  • “plain” — πεδινός (pedinos), τόπος (topos): Together these words carry the sense of a level place. The wording describes the ground where Jesus stood, not necessarily a vast plain.
  • “disciples” — μαθητής (mathētēs): The word means a learner or follower. Here it names a company around Jesus, alongside the larger multitude.

Why Luke 6:17 matters

  • The gathering reaches beyond Judea and Jerusalem. Luke also names the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, cities to the north, in a region associated with non-Jewish people. The crowd therefore comes from a broad area, though the verse does not identify each person’s background.
  • The crowd seeks both teaching and healing. The words “to hear him” and “to be healed” prepare the reader for the healing described in the following verses and the teaching that follows it.

Where else these words appear

“Tyre” Greek G5184 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
  • Mark 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
  • Luke 10:13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

“Sidon” Greek G4605 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 11:21 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
  • Mark 3:8 And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and from beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him.
  • Luke 4:26 But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

“diseases” Greek G3554 · used in 12 verses

  • Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
  • Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
  • Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

“healed” Greek G2390 · used in 28 verses

  • Matthew 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
  • Luke 8:47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.
  • John 12:40 He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart; that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.