Luke 4:27

27 And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian." ¹

Luke 4:27 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 4:27

And many lepers were in Israel
The leprosy was a disease very common among the Jews; hence those laws concerning it in ( Leviticus 13:1-14:57 ) and it seems by this account, that it was very prevalent,

in the time of Eliseus the prophet;
that is, the prophet Elisha; who, by the Septuagint, in 1Ki 19:16
and, in other places, is called "Elisaie": and none of them was cleansed; from their leprosy, by any direction of the prophet,

saving Naaman, the Syrian:
or but Naaman, who was not an Israelite, but a Syrian: he was cleansed and cured of his leprosy, being ordered by Elisha to dip himself seven times in Jordan, which he did, and was healed, ( 2 Kings 5:14 ) .

Luke 4:27 In-Context

25 Listen to me: it is true that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a severe famine spread throughout the whole land.

26 Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon.

27 And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian."

28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with anger.

29 They rose up, dragged Jesus out of town, and took him to the top of the hill on which their town was built. They meant to throw him over the cliff,

Cross References

• 1. 4.27 2 Kings 5.1-14.