Luke 7:14 (KJV)

What does Luke 7:14 mean?

Luke 7:14 describes Jesus approaching a funeral procession, touching the bier (the platform carrying the dead man), and commanding the young man to rise. The verse shows Jesus directly addressing the dead man and calling him back to life with authority.

In this scene, Jesus is outside the town of Nain, where a widow’s only son has died. As the funeral procession moves out of the city, Jesus interrupts it by physically touching the bier, which would have been unexpected and even shocking in that culture. Jesus then speaks directly to the young man, telling him to get up, demonstrating both compassion for the grieving mother and power over death.

The Greek behind Luke 7:14

• "βῆμα" (bier, transliterated as "bēma") refers to the platform or stretcher used to carry the body. The use of this word highlights the public and final nature of the situation—this was a real funeral, not just a private moment.
• "νεανίσκος" (man, transliterated as "neaniskos") means a young man, emphasizing that this was someone in the prime of life, making his death especially tragic for his mother.
• "ἐγείρω" (Arise, transliterated as "egeirō") is often used in the New Testament for resurrection or being raised up, not just waking up. Here, it signals a literal return to life, not simply standing up.

Why Luke 7:14 matters

• Luke 7:14 makes clear that Jesus’ authority extends even to death, as he commands the dead to rise with a simple word.
• The verse highlights Jesus’ compassion, as he intervenes in a moment of deep loss for the widow, who would have been left without support.
• This moment connects to other resurrection stories in the Gospels, showing a consistent theme of Jesus bringing hope and life where there is none.