Luke 4:42
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them.
Original Language Analysis
Γενομένης
when it was
G1096
Γενομένης
when it was
Strong's:
G1096
Word #:
1 of 25
to cause to be ("gen"-erate), i.e., (reflexively) to become (come into being), used with great latitude (literal, figurative, intensive, etc.)
ἡμέρας
day
G2250
ἡμέρας
day
Strong's:
G2250
Word #:
3 of 25
day, i.e., (literally) the time space between dawn and dark, or the whole 24 hours (but several days were usually reckoned by the jews as inclusive of
πορεύεσθαι
and went
G4198
πορεύεσθαι
and went
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
5 of 25
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
εἰς
into
G1519
εἰς
into
Strong's:
G1519
Word #:
6 of 25
to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases
ἔρημον
a desert
G2048
ἔρημον
a desert
Strong's:
G2048
Word #:
7 of 25
lonesome, i.e., (by implication) waste (usually as a noun, g5561 being implied)
τόπον·
place
G5117
τόπον·
place
Strong's:
G5117
Word #:
8 of 25
a spot (general in space, but limited by occupancy; whereas g5561 is a large but participle locality), i.e., location (as a position, home, tract, etc
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
9 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
οἱ
G3588
οἱ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
10 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
ὄχλοι
the people
G3793
ὄχλοι
the people
Strong's:
G3793
Word #:
11 of 25
a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot
ἐζήτουν
sought
G2212
ἐζήτουν
sought
Strong's:
G2212
Word #:
12 of 25
to seek (literally or figuratively); specially, (by hebraism) to worship (god), or (in a bad sense) to plot (against life)
αὐτῶν
him
G846
αὐτῶν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
13 of 25
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
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
14 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
ἦλθον
came
G2064
ἦλθον
came
Strong's:
G2064
Word #:
15 of 25
to come or go (in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively)
ἕως
unto
G2193
ἕως
unto
Strong's:
G2193
Word #:
16 of 25
a conjunction, preposition and adverb of continuance, until (of time and place)
αὐτῶν
him
G846
αὐτῶν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
17 of 25
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
καὶ
and
G2532
καὶ
and
Strong's:
G2532
Word #:
18 of 25
and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words
κατεῖχον
stayed
G2722
κατεῖχον
stayed
Strong's:
G2722
Word #:
19 of 25
to hold down (fast), in various applications (literally or figuratively)
αὐτῶν
him
G846
αὐτῶν
him
Strong's:
G846
Word #:
20 of 25
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
τοῦ
G3588
τοῦ
Strong's:
G3588
Word #:
21 of 25
the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)
μὴ
that he should not
G3361
μὴ
that he should not
Strong's:
G3361
Word #:
22 of 25
(adverb) not, (conjunction) lest; also (as an interrogative implying a negative answer (whereas g3756 expects an affirmative one)) whether
πορεύεσθαι
and went
G4198
πορεύεσθαι
and went
Strong's:
G4198
Word #:
23 of 25
to traverse, i.e., travel (literally or figuratively; especially to remove (figuratively, die), live, etc.)
Historical Context
Desert places near Capernaum provided solitude for prayer. Jesus consistently withdrew from crowds for communion with the Father (Luke 5:16, 6:12, 9:18, 11:1). This pattern demonstrates that even the incarnate Son needed time apart for prayer, modeling spiritual discipline for believers. The crowd's attempt to detain Jesus reflects ancient patronage culture—communities wanted to claim successful teachers and healers as "their" resource. Jesus' refusal and insistence on broader ministry shows mission over popularity, obedience to the Father over human expectations. His example warns against allowing ministry success or people's demands to replace God's call.
Questions for Reflection
- What does Jesus' early morning withdrawal for prayer teach about the necessity of solitude and communion with God, even during intensive ministry?
- How does Jesus' refusal to be detained by the crowd demonstrate proper priorities: divine mission over human expectations or popularity?
- In what ways might success and people's demands tempt you to abandon God's broader call for more comfortable or popular options?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place. After the intensive evening ministry, Jesus sought solitude. The phrase genomenēs de hēmeras (γενομένης δὲ ἡμέρας, when day came) indicates early morning. He exelthōn eporeueto eis erēmon topon (ἐξελθὼν ἐπορεύθη εἰς ἔρημον τόπον, departing went into a desert place) for prayer and rest. Mark 1:35 specifies He prayed. Despite crowds' needs, Jesus maintained rhythm of ministry and withdrawal.
And the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. The crowd's response—epezētoun auton (ἐπεζήτουν αὐτόν, were seeking him) and katechon auton (κατεῖχον αὐτόν, tried to detain him)—reveals their desire to monopolize Jesus' ministry. They wanted permanent residence in Capernaum. But Jesus came to preach the kingdom to all, not settle in one location. Popularity and people's demands must not derail divine mission.