Luke 24 · Verse 16

Luke 24:16

But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luke 24:16, King James Version

Luke 24:16 in other translations

BSBBut their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
WEBBut their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
ASVBut their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
YLTand their eyes were holden so as not to know him,
DARBYbut their eyes were holden so as not to know him.
BBEBut their eyes were not open that they might have knowledge of him.
WebsterBut their eyes were held, that they should not know him.

What does Luke 24:16 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 24:14-16

14-16. communed and reasoned--exchanged views and feelings, weighing afresh all the facts, as detailed in Lu 24:18-24. drew near--coming up behind them as from Jerusalem. eyes holden--Partly He was "in another form" (Mr 16:12), and partly there seems to have been an operation on their own vision; though certainly, as they did not believe that He was alive, His company as a fellow traveller was the last thing they…

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Barnes' Notes
Verse 16. Their eyes were holden. This expression is used merely to denote that they did not know who he was. It does not appear that there was anything supernatural or miraculous in it, or that God used any power to blind them. It may easily be accounted for without any such supposition; for,

1st. Jesus appeared in another form (Mk 16:12)--that is, different from his usual appearance.

2nd. They were not expecting to see him--indeed, they did not suppose that he was alive and it required the strongest evidence to convince them that he was really risen from the dead.

(i) "holden" Jn 20:14,15, 21:4

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 16 Their eyes were holden - It does not appear that there was any thing supernatural here, for the reason why these persons (who were not apostles, see Luk 24:33) did not recollect our Lord is given by Mark, Mar 16:12, who says that Christ appeared to them in another form.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 24:13-27

This appearance of Jesus to the two disciples going to Emmaus, happened the same day that he rose from the dead. It well becomes the disciples of Christ to talk together of his death and resurrection; thus they may improve one another's knowledge, refresh one another's memory, and stir up each other's devout affections. And where but two together are well employed in work of that kind, he will come to them, and make…

Read the full comment on Luke 24:13-27 →

Luke 24:16 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

οἱhoi<the>G3588
δὲdebutG1161
ὀφθαλμοὶophthalmoithe eyesG3788
αὐτῶνautōnof themG846
ἐκρατοῦντοekratountowere heldG2902
τοῦtou<the>G3588
μὴmēnotG3361
ἐπιγνῶναιepignōnaito knowG1921
αὐτόν.autonHim.G846

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Luke 24:16

  • John 20:14

    And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

  • John 21:4

    But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples knew not that it was Jesus.

  • Luke 24:31

    And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

  • Mark 16:12

    After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

  • 2 Kings 6:18-20

    And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. And Elisha said unto them, This is not the way, neither is this the city: follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom ye seek. But he led them to Samaria. And it came to pass, when they were come into Samaria, that Elisha said, Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see. And the Lord opened their eyes, and they saw; and, behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
31; 2Ki 6:18-20; Mr 16:12; Joh 20:14; 21:4

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Luke 24:15

    And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them.

  • Luke 24:16

    But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

  • Luke 24:17

    And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad?

Read all of Luke 24

Luke 24:16 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas los ojos de ellos estaban embargados, para que no le conociesen.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Mais leurs yeux étaient retenus, de manière qu’ils ne le reconnurent pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871		aber ihre Augen wurden gehalten, damit sie ihn nicht erkennten.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		oculi autem illorum tenebantur ne eum agnoscerent.