Question 1

What does Luke 8:55 mean?

Accepted Answer

Luke 8:55 describes how the girl's spirit returned to her, she immediately got up, and Jesus told those present to give her something to eat. This verse shows the moment of her restoration to life after having died. In this scene, Jesus is in the house of Jairus, whose daughter had died. Jesus had just spoken to her, and now Luke records that her "spirit came again," meaning her life was restored. The detail that she got up right away and needed food highlights both the reality of her return to life and her restored physical health.

Question 2

The Greek behind Luke 8:55

Accepted Answer

πνεῦμα (pneuma, "spirit"): This word often means "breath" or "spirit," and here it refers to the life force returning to the girl, emphasizing that she was truly dead and is now alive again. ἀνέστη (anestē, "arose"): This word means "to rise" or "stand up," underscoring the completeness of her recovery—she did not just revive but was able to get up immediately. παραχρῆμα (parachrēma, "straightway"): This word means "immediately" or "at once," stressing the suddenness and completeness of the miracle. φαγεῖν (phagein, "to eat"): Jesus’ command to give her food shows her restored physical state and reassures everyone that she is truly alive, not just appearing so.

Question 3

Why Luke 8:55 matters

Accepted Answer

Luke 8:55 makes clear that the girl was genuinely dead, not just unconscious, since her "spirit" had left and then returned. The command to give her food highlights Jesus’ practical care and the reality of her restored life, countering any idea that this was only a spiritual or symbolic event. This verse connects to the broader theme in Luke of Jesus’ authority over life and death, showing his compassion and power in a very tangible way.

Luke 8:55 (KJV)