Skip to content
mannafest.faith
Read

Luke 13:16

in Luke 13

Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan had bound, lo, these eighteen years, to have been loosed from this bond on the day of the sabbath?

KJV

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?

⋯

This verse in Luke 13

Commentary

16 notes on this verse

A commentator

Irenaeus

Against Heresies Book II · Written before 202.

And not only in the case of this woman have the years of her infirmity (which they affirm to fit in with their figment) been mentioned, but, lo! another woman was also healed, after suffering in like manner for eighteen years; concerning whom the Lord said, "And ought not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound during eighteen years, to be set free on the Sabbath-day?" If, then, the former was a type of the twelfth Aeon that suffered, the latter should also be a type of the eighteenth Aeon in suffering.

This site's exposition

loose his ox or his ass from the stall

on Luke 13:15-16

The Lord answers the ruler with an argument from the synagogue's own practice: doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall and lead him to watering, an act of everyday necessity nobody there would call unlawful. Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound lo these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day sets a bound daughter of the covenant against an untied animal and asks which claim is greater. The bench reads the argument as from the lesser to the greater, common in the rabbis' own method, turned here against those who used it to excuse rather than to heal.

The record, by era

The Church Fathers3 voices

A commentator

Ambrose of Milan

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 397.

proposed

Lastly, God rested from the works of the world not from holy works, for His working is constant and everlasting; as the Son says, My Father worketh until now, and I work; (John 5:17.) that after the likeness of God our worldly, not our religious, works should cease. Accordingly our Lord pointedly answered him, as it follows, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath-day loose his ox or his ass? &c. Or the fig tree represents the synagogue; afterwards in the infirm woman there follows as it were a figure of the Church, which having fulfilled the measure of the law and the resurrection, and now raised up on high in that eternal resting place, can no more experience the frailty of our weak inclinations. Nor could this woman be healed except she had fulfilled the law and grace. For in ten sentences is contained the perfection of the law, and in the number eight the fulness of the resurrection. Now this miracle is a sign of the coming sabbath, when every one who has fulfilled the law and grace, shall by the mercy of God put off the toils of this weak body. But why did He not mention any more animals, save to show that the time would come when the Jewish and Gentile nations should quench their bodily thirst, and this world's heat in the fulness of the fountain of the Lord, and so through the calling forth of two nations, the Church should be saved.

A commentator

Augustine of Hippo

SERMON 162B · Written in the 5th century.

proposed

The whole human race, like this woman, was bent over and bowed down to the ground. Someone already understands these enemies. He cries out against them and says to God, "They have bowed my soul down." The devil and his angels have bowed the souls of men and women down to the ground. He has bent them forward to be intent on temporary and earthly things and has stopped them from seeking the things that are above.Since that is what the Lord says about the woman whom Satan had bound for eighteen years, it was now time for her to be released from her bondage on the sabbath day. Quite unjustly, they criticized him for straightening her up. Who were these, except people bent over themselves? Since they quite failed to understand the very things God had commanded, they regarded them with earthbound hearts. They used to celebrate the sacrament of the sabbath in a literal, material manner and did not notice its spiritual meaning.

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 444.

proposed

Now the ruler of the synagogue is convicted a hypocrite, in that he leads his cattle to watering on the Sabbath-day, but this woman, not more by birth than by faith the daughter of Abraham, he thought unworthy to be loosed from the chain of her infirmity. Therefore He adds, And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, these eighteen years, to be loosed from this bond on the sabbath-day? The ruler preferred that this woman should like the beasts rather look upon the earth than receive her natural stature, provided that Christ was not magnified.

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 13 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

Second, drawing out a rational argument, he adds: But this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound, lo, for eighteen years, to whom mercy is owed, both because she is a woman, weak by her sex; 1 Peter 3: "Bestowing honor as on the weaker, …

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

And should not this daughter of Abraham whom Satan has bound for eighteen years long, be set free from this bondage on the Sabbath day? The daughter of Abraham is any faithful soul, the daughter of Abraham is the Church gathered from both peoples into …
9 more voices on this verse

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

proposed

But the daughter of Abraham is every faithful soul, or the Church gathered out of both nations into the unity of the faith. There is the same mystery then in the ox or ass being loosed and led to water, as in the daughter of Abraham being released from the bondage of our affections.

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Commentary on Luke · Written before 1107.

proposed

Therefore not only he, but all the others also who "opposed Jesus were put to shame" by such words of His. For it was very foolish to forbid the healing of a person on the Sabbath on the grounds that inactivity was supposedly prescribed on …

The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices

A commentator

John Wesley

1703–1791

Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament (1755)

And ought not this woman? - Ought not any human creature, which is so far better than an ox or an ass? Much more, this daughter of Abraham - probably in a spiritual as well as natural sense, to be loosed?

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

She is a daughter of Abraham, and therefore is entitled to the Messiah's blessings, to the bread which belongs to the children. " (2.) "She is one whom Satan has bound.
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham,....

The Nineteenth Century4 voices

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

ought not, &c.--How gloriously the Lord vindicates the superior claims of this woman, in consideration of the sadness and long duration of her suffering, and of her dignity notwithstanding, as an heir of the promise!

quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — starts-lowercase

We see in these verses — a striking example of diligence in the use of means of grace. We are told of a "woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed down, and could not straiten up." We do not know who this woman was. Our Lord's saying that she was "a daughter of Abraham" — would lead us to infer that she was a true believer. But her name and history are hidden from us.
We see in these verses — a striking example of diligence in the use of means of grace. We are told of a "woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed down, and could not straiten up." We do not know who this woman was. Our Lord's saying that she was "a daughter of Abraham" — would lead us to infer that she was a true believer. But her name and history are hidden from us. This alone we know — that when Jesus was "teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath" — this woman was there. Sickness was no excuse with her for staying away from God's house. In spite of suffering and infirmity — she found her way to the place where the day and the Word of God were honored, and where the people of God met together. And truly she was blessed in her deed! She found a rich reward for all her pains. She came sorrowing — and went home rejoicing! The conduct of this suffering Jewess may well put to shame many a strong and healthy professing Christian. How many in the full enjoyment of bodily vigor — allow the most frivolous excuses to keep them away from the house of God! How many are constantly spending the whole Sunday in idleness, pleasure-seeking, or business, and scoffing and sneering at those who "keep the Sabbath holy!" How many think it a great matter if they attend the public worship of God once on Sunday, and regard a second attendance as a needless excess of zeal akin to fanaticism! How many find religious services a weariness while they attend them, and feel relieved when they are over! How few know anything of David's spirit, when he said, "I was glad when they said to me: Let us go into the house of the Lord." "How lovely are your tabernacles, O Lord Almighty!" (Psalm 122:1; Psalm 84:1.) Now what is the explanation of all this? What is the reason why so few are like the woman of whom we read this day?
A daughter of Abraham - A descendant of Abraham. See the notes at Mat 1:1. She was therefore a Jewess; and the ruler of the synagogue, professing a special regard for the Jewish people, considering them as especially favored of God, should have rejoiced that she was loosed from this infirmity. Whom Satan hath bound - Satan is the name given to the prince or leader of evil spirits, called also the devil, Beelzebub, and the old serpent, Mat 12:24; Rev 12:9; Rev 20:2. By his “binding” her is meant that he had inflicted this disease upon her.

The words behind it

25 Greek words

Every Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

18 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

Luke 19:9Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.17 worksLuke 13:11and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.8 worksJohn 5:5One man there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.7 worksMark 2:27Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.6 worksLuke 8:43including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.6 worksPsalms 107:14He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.6 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
Luke 13:12When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”6 worksLuke 3:8Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.5 worksJohn 8:44You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, because he is a liar and the father of lies.4 worksActs 13:26Brothers, children of Abraham, and you Gentiles who fear God, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent.4 works2 Timothy 2:26Then they will come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, who has taken them captive to his will.4 worksRomans 4:12–16And he is also the father of the circumcised who not only are circumcised, but who also walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had before he was circumcised.3 worksMatthew 4:10“Away from Me, Satan!” Jesus declared. “For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”3 worksRevelation 12:9And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.3 worksActs 9:33There he found a man named Aeneas, who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.3 worksPsalms 41:8“A vile disease has been poured into him; he will never get up from where he lies!”3 worksLuke 16:24So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’2 works2 Corinthians 12:7or because of these surpassingly great revelations. So to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    John 8:44

    You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out his desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, refusing to uphold the truth, because there is no truth in him.…

    it leads to

    • Acts 13:10

      and said, “O child of the devil and enemy of all righteousness, you are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery! Will you never stop perverting the straight ways of the Lord?

    • 1 John 3:12

      Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain slay him? Because his own deeds were evil, while those of his brother were righteous.

    • 1 John 3:8–10

      The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the…

    • 2 Corinthians 11:3

      I am afraid, however, that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may be led astray from your simple and pure devotion to Christ.

    • Revelation 12:9

      And the great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.

  • Through

    Luke 19:9

    Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man too is a son of Abraham.

    it leads to

    • Galatians 3:7

      Understand, then, that those who have faith are sons of Abraham.

  • Through

    Mark 2:27

    Then Jesus declared, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

    it leads to

    • Colossians 2:16

      Therefore let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a feast, a New Moon, or a Sabbath.

    • Luke 6:9

      Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

Where this verse is studied

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Gustave Doré. Public domain.
Luke: the study guide →Read Luke 13 →
This page draws on 15 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Ambrose of Milan, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Augustine of Hippo, SERMON 162B; Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 13; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Irenaeus, Against Heresies Book II; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Luke (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Lightfoot, Horae Hebraicae et Talmudicae on the Gospels; John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Luke.

Read on in Luke 13 →