Luke 6:6
On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Luke specifically points out it's the right hand that's withered, emphasizing the tool of a person's daily work and interaction with the world. This detail highlights not just the man's suffering, but also the strategic way Jesus chose this particular healing to directly challenge the Sabbath laws observed by the religious leaders.
Jesus is in the synagogue teaching, and it's not the first time He's dealt with Sabbath controversies. This healing of a man with a withered right hand directly follows His teaching on the nature of the Sabbath, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the religious leaders who are hostile to His authority and actions.
On one particular Sabbath, Jesus wasn't just visiting a synagogue; He was actively teaching. But His day held another, more profound purpose. Notice the parallel activities.
Luke carefully places this healing event on a Sabbath, a day God designated for rest and worship. Jesus’ actions here highlight a tension: the religious establishment often focused on rigid rules about what couldn't be done, while Jesus emphasized God’s heart for human need.
A Day of Divine Action
Luke 6:6 tells us Jesus “entered the synagogue and was teaching.” This was His intentional ministry for the day. However, His teaching wasn't the only thing happening. The presence of the man with the withered hand, and Jesus’ subsequent healing of him, shows that the Sabbath was also a day for divine intervention and compassion.
The Heart of the Sabbath
Jesus often challenged the Pharisees' narrow interpretations of the Law. He consistently showed that the Sabbath was meant to be a blessing, a day for restoring and caring for people, not just a day for abstaining from work. This encounter sets the stage for Jesus' direct confrontation with those who opposed His understanding of God's will.
The verse specifically mentions the 'right hand.' Why is this detail important, and what does it reveal about the man's suffering and potential restoration?
The detail that it was the right hand that was withered is significant. In ancient cultures, the right hand was often associated with strength, capability, and the ability to work or engage in meaningful tasks.
A Symbol of Lost Potential
A withered right hand meant more than just an inconvenient injury; it likely represented a profound loss of function and livelihood. This man couldn’t easily perform daily tasks, greet others properly, or engage in trades that relied on manual dexterity. His condition was a constant, visible reminder of his brokenness and dependence.
Understand the original words
shabbat · Hebrew Noun
The seventh day of the week, ordained by God as a day of rest and holiness. In the Gospels, it became a focal point of conflict between Jesus and religious leaders regarding the proper interpretation of Sabbath laws.
synagōgē · Greek Noun
A Jewish house of worship and instruction where the Torah was read and taught. It served as a central institution for religious life in Jewish communities during the Second Temple period.
xēros · Greek Adjective
A term describing a state of incapacity, dryness, or paralysis of a body part. Biblically, physical infirmities are often contrasted with the restoration and wholeness brought about by the kingdom of God.
This event, set against Jesus' growing ministry and opposition, highlights the tension between religious law and divine compassion on the Sabbath.
c. AD 28-30
Jesus' Galilean Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples. His actions often challenge religious norms.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus Teaches on the Sabbath
Jesus frequently taught and performed miracles on the Sabbath, leading to conflict with religious leaders who held strict interpretations of the Law.
c. AD 28-30
Healing of the Withered Hand
Jesus enters a synagogue and heals a man with a withered right hand on the Sabbath, directly confronting the Pharisees' views on permissible actions.
c. AD 28-30
Pharisees Plot Against Jesus
The Pharisees and Herodians, angered by Jesus' teachings and miracles, begin to conspire with each other on how to destroy him.
This passage describes the same event, highlighting the Pharisees' immediate intent to accuse Jesus, demonstrating the recurring tension Jesus faced over Sabbath observance.
Mark 3:1Mark also records this healing, emphasizing Jesus' desire to do good and the presence of those watching to find fault, showing the consistent opposition Jesus encountered.
Isaiah 61:1This prophecy speaks of the Spirit of the Lord being upon the one sent to 'proclaim good news to the poor' and 'to proclaim freedom for the prisoners,' which Jesus was actively fulfilling by healing the afflicted.
John 5:16This verse reveals the intensity of the opposition Jesus faced for doing such works on the Sabbath, underscoring the hostile environment and the deep-seated religious disputes of the time.
pulpitLuke 6:6: "And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered."
Verse 6. - And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. This was the second part of his sabbath teaching. The first had taken place in the open country, in one of the corn-fields near the Lake of Gennesaret. The second was given in a synagogue p…
jfbLuke 6:6-11: "And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered."
Lu 6:6-11. Withered Hand Healed.(See on [1579]Mt 12:9-15 and Mr 3:1-7.)
Luke specifically points out it's the right hand that's withered, emphasizing the tool of a person's daily work and interaction with the world. This detail highlights not just the man's suffering, but also the strategic way Jesus chose this particular healing to directly challenge the Sabbath laws observed by the religious leaders.
Jesus is in the synagogue teaching, and it's not the first time He's dealt with Sabbath controversies. This healing of a man with a withered right hand directly follows His teaching on the nature of the Sabbath, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the religious leaders who are hostile to His authority and actions.
Jesus is in the synagogue teaching, and it's not the first time He's dealt with Sabbath controversies. This healing of a man with a withered right hand directly follows His teaching on the nature of the Sabbath, setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation with the religious leaders who are hostile to His authority and actions.
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Ask a follow-up
Ask Sola things like:
Live chat about Luke 6:6 is available in the Sola app.
Greater Impact of Healing
When Jesus healed the right hand, the restoration was immediately more impactful. It wasn't just about regaining the use of a limb; it was about restoring a person's ability to function fully, to provide, and to participate actively in life. The specificity of the 'right hand' amplifies the miracle and the compassion Jesus demonstrated.
"On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered." — Luke specifically points out it's the right hand that's withered, emphasizing the tool of a person's daily work and interaction with the world. This detail highlights not just the man's suffering,…
