Luke 18:40
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him,
Original Language Analysis
σταθεὶς
stood
G2476
σταθεὶς
stood
Strong's:
G2476
Word #:
1 of 14
to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)
ὁ
G3588
ὁ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
3 of 14
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
G2424
Ἰησοῦς
Jesus
Strong's:
G2424
Word #:
4 of 14
jesus (i.e., jehoshua), the name of our lord and two (three) other israelites
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
6 of 14
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἀχθῆναι
to be brought
G71
ἀχθῆναι
to be brought
Strong's:
G71
Word #:
7 of 14
properly, to lead; by implication, to bring, drive, (reflexively) go, (specially) pass (time), or (figuratively) induce
πρὸς
unto
G4314
πρὸς
unto
Strong's:
G4314
Word #:
8 of 14
a preposition of direction; forward to, i.e., toward (with the genitive case, the side of, i.e., pertaining to; with the dative case, by the side of,
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
9 of 14
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
ἐγγίσαντος
when he was come near
G1448
ἐγγίσαντος
when he was come near
Strong's:
G1448
Word #:
10 of 14
to make near, i.e., (reflexively) approach
αὐτόν
he
G846
αὐτόν
he
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
12 of 14
the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons
Historical Context
Rabbis rarely initiated contact with beggars or disabled persons, who were often considered under divine curse (cf. John 9:2's question about sin causing blindness). Jesus's stopping and commanding the man's approach upends social and religious convention, demonstrating kingdom values that prioritize people over protocol.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus's stopping for one desperate person challenge our efficiency-driven culture that values productivity over people?
- What does requiring the crowd to bring the beggar teach about communal responsibility for marginalized access to Christ?
- When has Jesus halted your planned agenda to redirect attention to someone you'd overlooked?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him (σταθεὶς δὲ ὁ Ἰησοῦς ἐκέλευσεν αὐτὸν ἀχθῆναι πρὸς αὐτόν, statheis de ho Iēsous ekeleusen auton achthēnai pros auton)—Statheis (having stood, stopped) is decisive. Jesus halts the entire procession for one marginalized man. Keleuō (to command, order) carries authority—what the crowd tried to prevent, Jesus mandates. The aorist passive infinitive achthēnai (to be brought) means others must escort the blind man through the crowd that had blocked him.
This reversal is radical: the rebukers become facilitators. Those who said 'be quiet' must now say 'come.' Jesus's authority transforms gatekeepers into servants. And when he was come near, he asked him (ἐγγίσαντος δὲ αὐτοῦ ἐπηρώτησεν αὐτόν, engisantos de autou epērōtēsen auton)—the genitive absolute engisantos (having come near) shows progressive movement. Jesus doesn't shout questions from distance but waits for proximity, honoring the man with personal attention.