Luke 7:14
Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
Jesus deliberately touches the bier, an act that would make most people ritually unclean, showing His power over death and purification overrides any ceremonial law. His direct command, "Young man, I say to you, arise," highlights His divine authority, proving He can speak life into existence even in the face of death itself.
Jesus is on His way into the town of Nain and encounters a funeral procession: a widow is burying her only son, and a large crowd is accompanying them. Seeing the grieving mother, Jesus is filled with compassion, stops the procession, and directly addresses the deceased young man on the bier, commanding him to "Arise." This dramatic intervention, witnessed by many, leads to immediate awe and the spreading of Jesus' reputation as a great prophet.
Jesus walked into a funeral procession and did something radical. What did His actions reveal about His priorities?
When Jesus encountered the grieving widow and her dead son, He was 'moved with compassion.' This wasn't just a passive feeling; it spurred Him to action. The text tells us Jesus 'came and touched the bier.'
Defying Purity Laws
In Jewish law, touching a dead body or even a coffin meant ceremonial uncleanness. Most religious leaders would strictly avoid this. But Jesus, known for His compassion, didn't hesitate. He chose to touch the bier, prioritizing the immediate need for life and comfort over ritualistic purity.
This shows us that God's love and mercy often transcend human rules and traditions. His heart is for the hurting, and His power can overcome any barrier—even death and the 'uncleanness' associated with it.
Jesus didn't just touch the bier; He spoke a word. What made His command so astonishingly effective?
The moment Jesus spoke, saying, “Young man, I say to you, arise,” everything changed. This wasn't a hesitant plea or a hopeful suggestion. It was a divine command, infused with life-giving power.
A Word That Creates
Commentators note that Jesus knew the young man was a son, addressing him directly. Unlike the tentative prayers of prophets like Elijah or Elisha in similar situations, Jesus' words were authoritative. He wasn't asking death to release its grip; He was speaking life into existence.
This echoes God's creative power in Genesis and Jesus' own declaration that 'the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.' Jesus' word doesn't just inform; it transforms. It has the inherent power to call what is not (like a dead person) into being.
Understand the original words
soros · Greek Noun
The wooden frame or platform upon which a corpse was carried to the burial site. Touching it in Jewish law would typically render a person ceremonially unclean, showing Jesus' willingness to override ritual boundaries to bring life.
egeirō · Greek Verb
To be raised from the dead or to stand up from a position of lying down. In the New Testament, it is frequently used to describe both physical resurrection and the spiritual awakening of those dead in sin.
c. 27 AD— this verse
Jesus Enters Nain
Jesus, accompanied by many disciples and a large crowd, arrives at the gates of Nain, a village in Galilee.
c. 27 AD
Funeral Procession
As Jesus approaches Nain's gate, a funeral procession is leaving the city, carrying the body of a young man, the only son of a widowed mother.
c. 27 AD
Jesus' Compassion and Command
Seeing the grieving widow, Jesus is filled with compassion. He approaches the bier, touches it, and commands the young man to 'Arise.'
c. 27 AD
Resurrection and Restoration
The young man is restored to life, sits up, and begins to speak. Jesus then returns him to his astonished mother.
c. 27 AD
Public Reaction
Fear and awe grip the onlookers, who glorify God and spread the news of this mighty prophet and God's visitation throughout the region.
This passage shows Elijah raising the widow's son, mirroring Luke's account of Jesus raising the widow of Nain's son, highlighting a pattern of compassionate compassion for widows.
2 Kings 4:35Elisha also raised a child from death, showing a precursor to Jesus' power over death and emphasizing God's ongoing work of bringing life through His prophets.
John 11:43Jesus' command to Lazarus, 'Lazarus, come out,' directly parallels His command to the young man in Nain, demonstrating Jesus' unique authority over death and His personal, direct call to life.
Ezekiel 37:4God's command to Ezekiel to prophesy to the dry bones, 'Hear the word of the Lord,' is echoed in Jesus' authoritative word to the dead young man, illustrating God's power to bring life through His spoken word.
Romans 4:17Paul's explanation that God 'calls home what is not there as though it were' resonates with Jesus' command to the dead young man, 'Young man, I say to you, arise,' showing God's creative power through His word.
calvinLuke 7:11-17: "And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people."
- And it happened, when he departed, that he went into a city, which was called Nain, and many of his disciples, and a great multitude, went along with him. 12. And as he was approaching to the gate of the city, there was carried out a dead man, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and a great multitude from the city was with her. 13. A…
jfbLuke 7:11-17: "And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people."
Lu 7:11-17. Widow of Nain's Son Raised to Life. (In Luke only).11. Nain—a small village not elsewhere mentioned in Scripture, and only this once probably visited by our Lord; it lay a little to the south of Mount Tabor, about twelve miles from Capernaum.
Jesus deliberately touches the bier, an act that would make most people ritually unclean, showing His power over death and purification overrides any ceremonial law. His direct command, "Young man, I say to you, arise," highlights His divine authority, proving He can speak life into existence even in the face of death itself.
Jesus is on His way into the town of Nain and encounters a funeral procession: a widow is burying her only son, and a large crowd is accompanying them. Seeing the grieving mother, Jesus is filled with compassion, stops the procession, and directly addresses the deceased young man on the bier, commanding him to "Arise." This dramatic intervention, witnessed by many, leads to immediate awe and the spreading of Jesus' reputation as a great prophet.
Jesus is on His way into the town of Nain and encounters a funeral procession: a widow is burying her only son, and a large crowd is accompanying them. Seeing the grieving mother, Jesus is filled with compassion, stops the procession, and directly addresses the deceased young man on the bier, commanding him to "Arise." This dramatic intervention, witnessed by many, leads to immediate awe and the spreading of Jesus' reputation as a great prophet.
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 7:14 is available in the Sola app.
"Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”" — Jesus deliberately touches the bier, an act that would make most people ritually unclean, showing His power over death and purification overrides any ceremonial law. His direct command, "Young man, I…
