Luke 24 · Verse 37

Luke 24:37

But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
Luke 24:37, King James Version

Luke 24:37 in other translations

BSBBut they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.
WEBBut they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
ASVBut they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they beheld a spirit.
YLTand being amazed, and becoming affrighted, they were thinking themselves to see a spirit.
DARBYBut they, being confounded and being frightened, supposed they beheld a spirit.
BBEBut they were full of fear, being of the opinion that they were seeing a spirit.
WebsterBut they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

What does Luke 24:37 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on Luke 24:37-38
37-38. a spirit--the ghost of their dead Lord, but not Himself in the body (Ac 12:15; Mt 14:26). thoughts--rather, "reasonings"; that is, whether He were risen or no, and whether this was His very self.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 37.

(b) "supposed they had" Mk 6:49

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 37 And supposed that they had seen a spirit - But if there be no such thing as a disembodied spirit, would not our Lord have shown them their error? Instead of this, he confirms them in their opinion, by saying, A spirit hath not flesh and bones as you see me have, Luk 24:39; therefore he says, handle me and see me. They probably imagined that it was the soul only of our blessed Lord which they saw; but they were soon fully convinced of the identity of his person, and the reality of his resurrection; for, 1. They saw his body. 2. They heard him speak. 3. They handled him. 4. They saw him eat a piece of broiled fish and honeycomb, which they gave him. In these things it was impossible for them to have been deceived.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 24:36-49

Jesus appeared in a miraculous manner, assuring the disciples of his peace, though they had so lately forsaken him, and promising spiritual peace with every blessing. Many troublesome thoughts which disquiet our minds, rise from mistakes concerning Christ. All the troublesome thoughts which rise in our hearts at any time, are known to the Lord Jesus, and are displeasing to him. He spake with them on their…

Read the full comment on Luke 24:36-49 →

Luke 24:37 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.

πτοηθέντεςptoēthentesHaving been terrifiedG4422
δὲdehoweverG1161
καὶkaiandG2532
ἔμφοβοιemphoboifilled with fearG1719
γενόμενοιgenomenoihaving beenG1096
ἐδόκουνedokounthey were thinking [themselves]G1380
πνεῦμαpneumaa spiritG4151
θεωρεῖν.theōreinto see.G2334

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

Cross references for Luke 24:37

  • Matthew 14:26-27

    And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.

  • Mark 6:49-50

    But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid.

  • Job 4:14-16

    Fear came upon me, and trembling, which made all my bones to shake. Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, there was silence, and I heard a voice, saying,

  • 1 Samuel 28:13

    And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

  • Acts 12:15

    And they said unto her, Thou art mad. But she constantly affirmed that it was even so. Then said they, It is his angel.

  • Luke 16:30

    And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
16:30; 1Sa 28:13; Job 4:14-16; Mt 14:26,27; Mr 6:49,50; Ac 12:15

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

Context

  • Luke 24:36

    And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

  • Luke 24:37

    But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

  • Luke 24:38

    And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?

Read all of Luke 24

Luke 24:37 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Entonces ellos espantados y asombrados, pensaban que veían espíritu.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et eux, tout effrayés et remplis de crainte, croyaient voir un esprit.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Sie aber erschraken und wurden von Furcht erfüllt und meinten, sie sähen einen Geist.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Conturbati vero et conterriti, existimabant se spiritum videre.