And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
LUKE 7:38KJVWhat does Luke 7:38 mean?
Luke 7:38 describes a woman standing behind Jesus at his feet, crying, and using her tears to wash his feet. She wipes them with her hair, kisses his feet, and anoints them with ointment, showing deep humility and devotion. This act is a visible sign of her sorrow and respect for Jesus.
In this scene, Jesus is at a meal in the house of a Pharisee, and the woman approaches him quietly from behind. Her actions—washing, wiping, kissing, and anointing Jesus’ feet—are all ways of expressing repentance and honor in a culture where feet were considered dirty and lowly. The verse highlights her emotional state and the lengths she goes to in order to show her reverence.
The Greek behind Luke 7:38
- The word for "weep" (κλαίω, klaió, G2799) often means to cry openly or wail, suggesting the woman’s tears were not just silent but deeply emotional and visible.
- "Wash" (βρέχω, brechō, G1026) here means to wet or moisten, and in this context, it emphasizes that her tears were enough to actually wet Jesus’ feet, not just a few drops.
- "Wipe" (ἐκμάσσω, ekmassō, G1591) means to dry or wipe off, and the detail that she uses her hair (θρίξ, thrix, G2359) shows a personal and humble gesture, since letting down one’s hair in public was unusual and intimate for a woman in that culture.
- "Kissed" (καταφιλέω, kataphileō, G2705) is a strong word for kissing repeatedly or affectionately, not just a single polite kiss, highlighting her deep emotion and respect.
Why Luke 7:38 matters
- This verse clears up the idea that the woman’s actions were casual; the original words show her deep emotion and the extraordinary nature of her humility.
- The verse emphasizes the contrast between the woman’s humble devotion and the lack of hospitality Jesus received from the Pharisee, which becomes important in the following verses.
- Understanding the cultural meaning of washing and anointing feet helps readers see the depth of the woman’s repentance and love, which Jesus later affirms as an example of true faith and forgiveness.