Luke 7:15
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
Nain was a small village in Galilee, about six miles southeast of Nazareth. Funeral processions were immediate (same day as death) due to Palestine's hot climate and Jewish burial customs. The funeral of an only son would draw significant community participation—the widow had lost both her husband and now her sole support and family legacy. In a patriarchal society without social safety nets, a childless widow faced destitution. Jesus' intervention was not merely medical but economic, social, and theological—restoring the woman's future and demonstrating God's compassion for the vulnerable.
Questions for Reflection
- How does Jesus' authority over death in this miracle authenticate His claim to be the Messiah and Son of God?
- What does Jesus' giving the son back to his mother reveal about His concern for both physical and social restoration?
- How should this miracle shape Christian confidence in Christ's power over death and His promise of resurrection for believers?
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Analysis & Commentary
And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother. This verse records the climactic moment of Jesus' raising of the widow's son at Nain. The phrase "he that was dead" (ὁ νεκρός, ho nekros) emphasizes the reality of death—not coma or apparent death, but actual death. The verb "sat up" (ἀνεκάθισεν, anekathisen, aorist active) describes the immediate physical response to Jesus' command "Arise" (v. 14). The subsequent phrase "began to speak" (ἤρξατο λαλεῖν, ērxato lalein) proves genuine resurrection—the young man was fully restored to life and function, not merely animated.
The final clause "he delivered him to his mother" (ἔδωκεν αὐτὸν τῇ μητρὶ αὐτοῦ, edōken auton tē mētri autou) echoes Elijah's restoration of the widow's son (1 Kings 17:23). The verb "delivered" (ἔδωκεν, edōken, "gave") presents the young man as a gift from Jesus to the bereaved mother. This act demonstrates Jesus' compassion (v. 13) translated into miraculous power—He not only feels for human suffering but acts decisively to reverse it. This miracle validates Jesus as greater than Elijah, displaying His authority over death itself, foreshadowing His own resurrection and His role as "the resurrection and the life" (John 11:25).