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Luke 9:45

in Luke 9

But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

But they understood not this saying, and it was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it; and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

KJV

But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.

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This verse in Luke 9

Commentary

11 notes on this verse

A commentator

Cyril of Alexandria

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 444.

Now some one perhaps will say, How were the disciples ignorant of the mystery of the cross, seeing that it was touched upon in several places by the shadows of the Law? But as Paul relates, Even unto this day, when Moses is read, the vail is upon their hearts. (2 Cor. 3:15.) It becomes then those who approach Christ, to say, Open thou my eyes, that I may behold the wonderful things out of thy law. (Ps. 119:18.)

The record, by era

The Medieval Church4 voices

A commentator

Bede

On the Gospel of Luke · Written before 735.

proposed

But they did not understand this saying. This ignorance of the disciples arises not so much from slowness as from love, because they, still being carnal and ignorant of the mystery of the cross, could not believe that he, whom they knew as the true …

A commentator

Bede

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 735.

proposed

This ignorance of the disciples proceeds not so much from slowness of understanding as from affection, for since they were yet carnal and ignorant of the mystery of the cross, they could not believe that He whom they thought to be really God would suffer death. And because they were often accustomed to hear Him speak by figure, they thought that He meant figuratively something else, by what He said of His betrayal.

A commentator

Bonaventure

Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9 · Written in the 13th century.

proposed

And since this was a hidden mystery, therefore there is added: But they did not understand this word, and it was veiled before them, so that they did not perceive it; because they were still unlearned and natural and did not understand past things, therefore …

A commentator

Theophylact of Ohrid

Catena Aurea by Aquinas · Written before 1107.

proposed

Now our Lord in condescension to their infirmities and governing them with a kind of economy, did not permit them to understand what was said of the cross; as it follows, But they understood not. Mark also the reverence of the disciples in what follows, And they feared to ask him of that saying. For fear is the first step to reverence.

The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice

But they understood not this saying,....
5 more voices on this verse

The Nineteenth Century5 voices

It was hid from them - They had imbibed the common notions of the Jews that he was to be a prince and a conqueror, to deliver the nation. They could not understand how that could be, if he was soon to be delivered into the hands of his enemies to die. In this way it was hid from them - not by God, but by their previous false belief.

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

the mighty power of God--"the majesty" or "mightiness" of God in this last miracle, the transfiguration, &c.: the divine grandeur of Christ rising upon them daily.

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

The event described in these verses took place immediately after the transfiguration. The Lord Jesus, we should remark, did not tarry long on the Mount of Olives. His communion with Moses and Elijah was very short. He soon returned to His usual work of doing good to a sin-stricken world . In His life on earth, to receive honor and have visions of glory — was the exception. To minister to others, to heal all who were oppressed by the devil, to do acts of mercy to sinners — was the rule.
The event described in these verses took place immediately after the transfiguration. The Lord Jesus, we should remark, did not tarry long on the Mount of Olives. His communion with Moses and Elijah was very short. He soon returned to His usual work of doing good to a sin-stricken world . In His life on earth, to receive honor and have visions of glory — was the exception. To minister to others, to heal all who were oppressed by the devil, to do acts of mercy to sinners — was the rule. Happy are those Christians who have learned of Jesus, to live for others more than for themselves; and who understand that it is "more blessed to give, than to receive." (Acts 20:35.) We have first, in these verses — an example of what a parent should do when he is troubled about his children. We are told of a man in severe distress about his only son. This son was possessed by an evil spirit, and grievously tormented by him, both in body and soul. In his distress, the father makes application to our Lord Jesus Christ for relief. "Master," he says, "I beseech You, look upon my son — for he is my only child." There are many Christian fathers and mothers at this day who are just as miserable about their children as the man of whom we are reading. The son who was once the "desire of their eyes," and in whom their lives were bound up — turns out to be a thief, a profligate, and a companion of sinners. The daughter who was once the flower of the family, and of whom they said, "This girl shall be the comfort of our old age!" — becomes self-willed, worldly minded, and a lover of pleasure more than a lover of God. Their hearts are well near broken. The iron seems to enter into their souls. The devil appears to triumph over them, and rob them of their choicest jewels. They are ready to cry, "I shall go sorrowing to the grave. What good shall my life do to me?"

A commentator

Adam Clarke

1762–1832

Commentary on the Bible · Written before 1832.

proposed

But they understood not - See the note on Mar 9:32.

The words behind it

23 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 18:34But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.8 worksMark 9:32But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.7 worksLuke 2:50But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.5 worksJohn 12:16At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about Him.4 worksMatthew 15:16“Do you still not understand?” Jesus asked.4 worksPsalms 119:19I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.4 works
The other 12 cross-references, with their words ▾
John 16:17–18Then some of His disciples asked one another, “Why is He telling us, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while you will see Me’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?”3 works2 Corinthians 3:14–16But their minds were closed. For to this day the same veil remains at the reading of the old covenant. It has not been lifted, because only in Christ can it be removed.3 worksMark 9:10So they kept this matter to themselves, discussing what it meant to rise from the dead.3 worksActs 7:25He assumed his brothers would understand that God was using him to deliver them, but they did not.3 worksJohn 20:9For they still did not understand from the Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.3 worksJohn 14:5“Lord,” said Thomas, “we do not know where You are going, so how can we know the way?”2 worksMark 8:16–18So they began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread.2 worksMark 8:32–33He spoke this message quite frankly, and Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him.2 worksMatthew 16:22Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. “Far be it from You, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to You!”2 worksJohn 12:34The crowd replied, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever. So how can You say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?”2 worksJohn 4:33So the disciples asked one another, “Could someone have brought Him food?”2 worksJohn 21:12“Come, have breakfast,” Jesus said to them. None of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” They knew it was the Lord.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

    Mark 9:32

    But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

    it leads to

    • Luke 18:34

      But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • Luke 2:50

      But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

    • John 16:19

      Aware that they wanted to question Him, Jesus said to them, “Are you asking one another why I said, ‘In a little while you will not see Me, and then after a little while…

    • John 12:16

      At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about…

  • Through

    Luke 18:34

    But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

    it leads to

    • Mark 9:32

      But they did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

      Reached by 2 separate paths from here.

  • Through

    John 12:16

    At first His disciples did not understand these things, but after Jesus was glorified they remembered what had been done to Him, and they realized that these very things had also been written about…

    it leads to

    • John 2:22

      After He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. Then they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

    • John 14:26

      But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have told you.

    • John 7:39

      He was speaking about the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were later to receive. For the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet been glorified.

Where this verse is studied

About Luke

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt, about 1668. Public domain.
Luke: the study guide →Read Luke 9 →
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works

This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, On the Gospel of Luke; Bede, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bonaventure, Commentary on Luke, Chapter 9; Cyril of Alexandria, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; 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) and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.

Read on in Luke 9 →