“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?”
The full verse · Luke 13:16 · KJV
this , a of , hath , , these , be on the ?
Asked by
Jesus: the Son of God and promised Messiah, teaching in a synagogue on the sabbath, where He had just healed a woman bowed together for eighteen years (Luke 13:10-13)
Asked to
Synagogue Leader: "the ruler of the synagogue," indignant that Jesus had healed on the sabbath (Luke 13:14), whom Jesus answers as "Thou hypocrite"; when He finished, "all his adversaries were ashamed" (Luke 13:15, 17)
The Scene
Right after asking whether each of them would loose his ox or ass to water it on the sabbath, Jesus turns to the woman He has just healed (Luke 13:15-16).
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionJesus moves from the animal to the woman to show how much greater her claim was. If an ox could be loosed from the stall for a day's thirst, how much more should she be loosed from eighteen years of bondage? Barnes notes that as a "daughter of Abraham" she was a Jewess, and the ruler, who professed special regard for the Jewish people, "should have rejoiced that she was loosed from this infirmity." Gill calls her "Not only a woman, or rational creature, and much preferable, as such, to an irrational one." The word "ought" asks whether it was not right, even necessary, that she be set free on this day.
The Response
What Scripture recordsNo reply is recorded. Luke records: "And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him" (Luke 13:17). The answer was plain to everyone. The woman herself had already "glorified God" when she was made straight (Luke 13:13).
Historical Context
The world behind the words"Daughter of Abraham" means a descendant of Abraham, a member of God's covenant people. Barnes explains, "She was therefore a Jewess." Luke describes her as having "a spirit of infirmity eighteen years" so that she "was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself" (Luke 13:11).
"Ought" translates edei, "it was necessary." "Bound" (edesen) and "bond" (desmou) come from the same root. "Loosed" is luthenai, from luo, the same verb Jesus used for loosing the ox in Luke 13:15, so His question pairs the two acts of untying.
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThis question reveals Jesus as the One who sets captives free. He names the real enemy: "Satan hath bound" her. Matthew Henry says that because Satan "had a hand in the affliction," healing her was "not only an act of charity to the poor woman, but of piety to God, to break the power of the devil." He adds that as a daughter of Abraham she was "entitled to the Messiah's blessings, to the bread which belongs to the children."
The sabbath was the fitting day for this. A day God gave for rest became the day a woman bound for eighteen years could stand up straight. Jesus' question shows that setting her free on that day was not a breach of the sabbath but something that "ought" to be done.
Look Closer
Why does Jesus call the woman "a daughter of Abraham"?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, You loosed a woman bound for eighteen years; what in my life, or in someone I love, are You inviting me to bring to You for freedom?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- Why do you think the ruler could not rejoice at the woman's healing?
- Tell about a time you saw God set someone free from something that had held them a long time. How did people around them respond?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
Jesus sees people who have been bowed down a long time. Eighteen years did not make the woman a lost cause. If you or someone you love has carried a long burden, bring it to Him.
When God frees someone, rejoice with them. The ruler missed the joy because he was focused on his rule. Be among "all the people" who rejoiced (Luke 13:17).
This does not mean every long illness is caused directly by Satan. Luke tells us this woman "had a spirit of infirmity" (Luke 13:11), and Jesus named Satan in her case. Be careful not to label other people's suffering without the clear word He gave here.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?”
“Unto what is the kingdom of God like? And whereunto shall I resemble it?”
“Which of you shall have an ass or an ox fallen into a pit, and will not straightway pull him out on the sabbath day?”