Luke 7 · Verse 12

Luke 7:12

Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
Luke 7:12, King James Version

Luke 7:12 in other translations

BSBAs He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.
WEBNow when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only born son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.
ASVNow when he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, there was carried out one that was dead, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
YLTand as he came nigh to the gate of the city, then, lo, one dead was being carried forth, an only son of his mother, and she a widow, and a great multitude of the city was with her.
DARBYAnd as he drew near to the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she a widow, and a very considerable crowd of the city was with her.
BBENow when he came near the door of the town, a dead man was being taken out, the only son of his mother, who was a widow: and a great number of people from the town were with her.
WebsterNow when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and many people of the city were with her.

What does Luke 7:12 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
12. carried out--"was being carried out." Dead bodies, being ceremonially unclean, were not allowed to be buried within the cities (though the kings of David's house were buried m the city of David), and the funeral was usually on the same day as the death. only son, &c.--affecting particulars, told with delightful simplicity.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 12. The gate of the city. Cities were surrounded by walls, to defend them from their enemies. They were entered through gates placed at convenient distances from each other. In most cities it was not allowed to bury the dead within the walls; hence they were borne to some convenient burial-place in the vicinity of the city.

A dead man carried out. A funeral procession. Anciently no Jews were buried within the walls of the city, except the kings and distinguished persons, 1Sam 28:3;2Kgs 21:18. The custom of burying within cities, and especially within the walls of churches or in their vicinity, had its origin among Christians very early; yet perhaps few customs are more deleterious to health than burials within large cities, especially within the walls of frequented buildings. The effluvia from dead bodies is excessively unwholesome. Burial places should be in situations of retirement, far from the tread of the gay and busy world, where all the feelings may be still and calm, and where there can be no injury to health from the mouldering bodies of the dead.

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 12 Carried out - The Jews always buried their dead without the city, except those of the family of David. No burying places should be tolerated within cities or towns; much less in or about churches and chapels. This custom is excessively injurious to the inhabitants; and especially to those who frequent public worship in such chapels and churches. God, decency, and health forbid this shocking abomination. On the impropriety of burying in towns, churches, and chapels, take the following testimonies: Extra urbem soliti sunt alii mortuos sepelire: Nos Christiani, eos non in urbes solum, sed et in Templa recepimus, quo fit ut multi faetore nimis, fere exanimentur. Schoettgen. "Others were accustomed to bury their dead without the city. We Christians not only bury them within our cities, but receive them even into our churches! Hence many nearly lose their lives through the noxious effluvia." "Both the Jews and other people had their burying places without the city: - Et certe ita postulat ratio publicae sanitatis, quae multum laedi solet aura sepulchrorum: - and this the health of the public requires, which is greatly injured by the effluvia from graves." - Rosenmuller. From long observation I can attest that churches and chapels situated in grave-yards, and those especially within whose walls the dead are interred, are perfectly unwholesome; and many, by attending such places, are shortening their passage to the house appointed for the living. What increases the iniquity of this abominable and deadly work is, that the burying grounds attached to many churches and chapels are made a source of private gain. The whole of this preposterous conduct is as indecorous and unhealthy as it is profane. Every man should know that the gas which is disengaged from putrid flesh, and particularly from a human body, is not only unfriendly to, but destructive of, animal life. Superstition first introduced a practice which self-interest and covetousness continue to maintain. For a general improvement of all the circumstances of this miracle, see the end of the chapter.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Luke 7:11-18

When the Lord saw the poor widow following her son to the grave, he had compassion on her. See Christ's power over death itself. The gospel call to all people, to young people particularly, is, Arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light and life. When Christ put life into him, it appeared by the youth's sitting up. Have we grace from Christ? Let us show it. He began to speak: whenever Christ gives us…

Read the full comment on Luke 7:11-18 →

Luke 7:12 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.

ὡςhōsAsG5613
δὲdethenG1161
ἤγγισενēngisenHe drew nearG1448
τῇtēato theG3588
πύλῃpulēgateG4439
τῆςtēsof theG3588
πόλεως,poleōstown,G4172
καὶkaialsoG2532
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
ἐξεκομίζετοexekomizetowas being carried outG1580
τεθνηκὼςtethnēkōs[one] having diedG2348
μονογενὴςmonogenēsonly begottenG3439
υἱὸςhuiossonG5207
τῇtēafrom theG3588
μητρὶmētrimotherG3384
αὐτοῦ,autouof him,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
αὐτὴautēsheG846
ἦνēnwasG1510
χήρα·chēraa widow;G5503
καὶkaiAndG2532
ὄχλοςochlosa crowdG3793
τῆςtēsof theG3588
πόλεωςpoleōstownG4172
ἱκανὸςhikanosconsiderableG2425
ἦνēnwasG1510
σὺνsunwithG4862
αὐτῇ.autēaher.G846

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

Cross references for Luke 7:12

  • Luke 8:42

    For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

  • Luke 8:52

    And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.

  • 2 Samuel 14:7

    And, behold, the whole family is risen against thine handmaid, and they said, Deliver him that smote his brother, that we may kill him, for the life of his brother whom he slew; and we will destroy the heir also: and so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth.

  • Genesis 22:12

    And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.

  • Acts 9:39

    Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.

  • 1 Timothy 5:4-5

    But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth in supplications and prayers night and day.

  • Job 29:13

    The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me: and I caused the widow’s heart to sing for joy.

  • 2 Kings 4:20

    And when he had taken him, and brought him to his mother, he sat on her knees till noon, and then died.

  • 1 Kings 17:12

    And she said, As the Lord thy God liveth, I have not a cake, but an handful of meal in a barrel, and a little oil in a cruse: and, behold, I am gathering two sticks, that I may go in and dress it for me and my son, that we may eat it, and die.

  • Genesis 22:2

    And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

  • Acts 9:41

    And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.

  • 2 Kings 4:16

    And he said, About this season, according to the time of life, thou shalt embrace a son. And she said, Nay, my lord, thou man of God, do not lie unto thine handmaid.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
the only.
8:42; Ge 22:2,12; 2Sa 14:7; 1Ki 17:9,12,18,23; 2Ki 4:16,20
Zec 12:10
a widow.
Job 29:13; Ac 9:39,41; 1Ti 5:4,5; Jas 1:27
and much.
8:52; Joh 11:19

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

Context

  • Luke 7:11

    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.

  • Luke 7:12

    Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

  • Luke 7:13

    And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

Read all of Luke 7

Luke 7:12 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y como llegó cerca de la puerta de la ciudad, he aquí que sacaban fuera á un difunto, unigénito de su madre, la cual también era viuda: y había con ella grande compañía de la ciudad.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et comme il approchait de la porte de la ville, voici, on portait dehors un mort, fils unique de sa mère, et elle était veuve; et une foule considérable de la ville était avec elle.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als er sich aber dem Tore der Stadt näherte, siehe, da wurde ein Toter herausgetragen, der eingeborene Sohn seiner Mutter, und sie war eine Witwe; und eine zahlreiche Volksmenge aus der Stadt war mit ihr.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Cum autem appropinquaret portæ civitatis, ecce defunctus efferebatur filius unicus matris suæ: et hæc vidua erat: et turba civitatis multa cum illa.