Luke 7:14

Luke 7:14, in plain English

Jesus walked up, touched the coffin — and the pallbearers stopped. Then He said, 'Young man, I say to you, get up!' He spoke to death itself, and death obeyed.

Why it's here

Touching a coffin made you ceremonially unclean. But Jesus touched it anyway — and instead of death contaminating Him, His life contaminated death.

Who's speaking

Jesus acts with authority, addressing the dead man with a direct command.

Where it sits in the story

When Jesus speaks, even death listens. He stopped a funeral with three words. Nothing — absolutely nothing — is beyond His authority.

The scholarly reading

Jesus touches the soros ("coffin/bier"), causing the bearers to halt. The command neaniske, soi legō, egerthēti ("Young man, I say to you, arise") addresses the dead directly, asserting authority over death itself.

Language and setting

Touching a coffin rendered one ritually unclean (Num 19:11-16), but as with the leper, Jesus' contact transmits life rather than receiving impurity. The command echoes Elijah (1 Kings 17) and Elisha (2 Kings 4).

Voice

Jesus touches the bier, stops the procession, and commands the dead man to rise.

Significance

The scene is dramatic: Jesus halts a funeral procession and speaks to a corpse. His authority over death parallels His authority over demons, disease, and nature — all yield to His command.

12As 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.

13When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”

14Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”

15And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

16A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”

Read all of Luke 7 — A Roman centurion's faith astonishes Jesus, a widow's dead son is raised, and a sinful woman's tears become an act of worship.