Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.
LUKE 8:39KJVWhat does Luke 8:39 mean?
Luke 8:39 records Jesus telling a man he had healed to go back to his own home and tell others about the great things God had done for him. The man then traveled through the whole city, sharing with everyone what Jesus had done for him.
Jesus is speaking to a man who had been freed from many demons. Instead of letting the man follow him as a disciple, Jesus sends him home to share his story locally. This verse highlights both the personal impact of Jesus’ actions and the importance of sharing one’s experience with others in everyday life.
The Greek behind Luke 8:39
- "Return" (ὑπόστρεφε, hypostrephe, G5290) means to go back or turn back, emphasizing that Jesus wanted the man to resume his ordinary life, not join him on the road.
- "Shew" (διηγοῦ, diēgou, G1334) carries the sense of narrating or describing in detail, suggesting the man was to give a full account of what had happened to him.
- "Published" (ἐκήρυσσεν, ekēryssen, G2784) is often used for proclaiming or announcing publicly, showing that the man’s testimony was not just private but meant for the whole community.
- The verse uses both "God" (θεός, theos, G2316) and "Jesus" (Ἰησοῦς, Iēsous, G2424), subtly connecting Jesus’ actions with God’s work, which would have stood out to early readers.
Why Luke 8:39 matters
- This verse clarifies that not everyone Jesus helped was called to leave everything and follow him physically; some were sent back to their communities to share their story.
- The connection between what "God" had done and what "Jesus" had done hints at Jesus’ unique role and identity, which is a theme throughout Luke.
- The man’s public testimony in his city shows how personal transformation can have a wider impact, spreading news of Jesus beyond the immediate circle of his followers.