Luke 8:55

Luke 8:55, in plain English

Her spirit came back, and she got up immediately. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Even after a resurrection, He cared about a hungry child.

Why it's here

Her spirit returned: she had truly been dead. And then the most human detail: Jesus told them to feed her. After the most spectacular miracle, He noticed the practical need. That is who He is.

Who's speaking

Luke describes the resurrection, and Jesus speaks practical instructions.

Where it sits in the story

Life rushed back into the girl and she stood up instantly. And in a tender detail, Jesus told her stunned parents to get her something to eat. The God who raises the dead also feeds the hungry.

The scholarly reading

Her pneuma ('spirit') returned (epestrepsen), and she arose parachrēma ('immediately'). Jesus' practical instruction to give her food (phagein) confirms the physical reality of the resurrection and shows pastoral care for her bodily needs.

Language and setting

The return of the pneuma establishes that actual death had occurred (the spirit had departed) and was now reversed. The instruction to feed her echoes Elijah's provision for the Zarephath widow's son and grounds the miracle in tangible, physical reality.

Voice

Luke narrates the miraculous result, and Jesus gives practical instructions.

Significance

The girl's spirit returned to her body and she stood up immediately. With characteristic practical compassion, Jesus reminded the astonished parents to give their newly alive daughter something to eat.

53And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”

55Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.

56Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Read all of Luke 8 — A storm, a legion of demons, a bleeding woman, and a dead girl — Jesus moves through a world of chaos and brings order with a word or a touch.