And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

LUKE 7:16KJV
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Luke 7:16 (KJV)

What does Luke 7:16 mean?

Luke 7:16 describes how the people who witnessed Jesus raise a young man from the dead were filled with awe and praised God, declaring that a great prophet had appeared among them and that God had come to help His people. The crowd recognized something extraordinary happening through Jesus and saw it as a sign of God's direct involvement with them.

In this scene, Luke reports the reaction of the crowd after Jesus brings a widow’s son back to life in the town of Nain. The people are both afraid and amazed, responding with reverence and public praise. They call Jesus a "great prophet," connecting Him to figures like Elijah and Elisha, and they interpret the miracle as evidence that God is actively caring for His people in a special way.

The Greek behind Luke 7:16

  • φόβος (phobos, "fear"): This word means more than just being scared; it often refers to a deep sense of awe or reverence in the presence of something holy or powerful. Here, it shows the crowd’s overwhelming reaction to witnessing a miracle.
  • ἐδόξαζον (edoxazon, "glorified"): This verb means to honor or praise highly. The people are not just impressed—they are giving God public credit for what has happened.
  • προφήτης (prophētēs, "prophet"): Calling Jesus a "great prophet" links Him to Old Testament figures who performed miracles, suggesting the crowd sees Him as someone sent by God with authority and power.
  • ἐπεσκέψατο (epeskepsato, "visited"): This word carries the sense of God looking in on, caring for, or intervening in the lives of His people. It’s not just a casual visit, but an act of compassion and involvement.

Why Luke 7:16 matters

  • Luke 7:16 helps clarify that the crowd did not fully understand Jesus as the Messiah yet; they saw Him as a prophet, which shows their expectations and understanding at that moment.
  • The verse highlights the connection between Jesus’ miracles and the people’s recognition of God’s presence and care, showing that the miracles were meant to point beyond themselves to God’s character.
  • This reaction sets the stage for the growing reputation of Jesus in the region and helps explain why news about Him spread so quickly, as people saw Him fulfilling roles familiar from their Scriptures.

Where else these words appear

“visited” Greek G1980 · used in 11 verses

  • Matthew 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
  • Luke 1:78 Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby the dayspring from on high hath visited us,
  • Acts 15:14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.

“all” Greek G537 · used in 43 verses

  • Matthew 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
  • Luke 8:37 Then the whole multitude of the country of the Gadarenes round about besought him to depart from them; for they were taken with great fear: and he went up into the ship, and returned back again.
  • Acts 2:44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

“fear” Greek G5401 · used in 44 verses

  • Matthew 14:26 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
  • Acts 5:5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.
  • Ephesians 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

“glorified” Greek G1392 · used in 54 verses

  • Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
  • John 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified.
  • Romans 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.