And they that were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed.

LUKE 6:18KJV
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Luke 6:18 (KJV)

What does Luke 6:18 mean?

Luke 6:18 describes people troubled by unclean spirits being healed in the crowd around Jesus. Luke presents their healing as part of what happened when people came to hear Jesus and seek help from him.

The KJV word “vexed” means more than annoyed. It pictures people suffering distress or trouble. Following the mention of diseases in verse 17, Luke names another kind of suffering among those who came.

The Greek behind Luke 6:18

  • “vexed” — ὀχλέω (ochleō): The word carries the sense of being troubled or harassed. It gives a stronger picture of distress than “vexed” may suggest to a modern reader.
  • “unclean” — ἀκάθαρτος (akathartos): The word means unclean or impure. Here it describes the spirits troubling the people, not dirt on the people themselves.
  • “healed” — θεραπεύω (therapeuō): The word can mean to treat or heal. Here it describes the people’s recovery from the trouble associated with the spirits.

Why Luke 6:18 matters

  • Luke places these people among the wider crowd seeking Jesus. Verse 17 says people came from Judea, Jerusalem, and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon, showing how far news of Jesus had reached.
  • The account links the healings to Jesus’ power. In verse 19, the crowd tries to touch him because power is coming from him and healing them.

Where else these words appear

“vexed” Greek G3791 · used in 2 verses

  • Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

“unclean” Greek G169 · used in 29 verses

  • Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.
  • Mark 5:13 And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea,(they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.
  • Acts 5:16 There came also a multitude out of the cities round about unto Jerusalem, bringing sick folks, and them which were vexed with unclean spirits: and they were healed every one.

“healed” Greek G2323 · used in 43 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 19:2 And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there.
  • Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,