Bible Strands
Luke 17:16
He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — The narrative describes the moment a healed leper returns to Jesus after seeing his cleansing, occurring before Jesus questions the absence of the other nine.
The words — ἔπεσεν (epesen) = he fell; ἐπὶ πρόσωπον (epi prosōpon) = on face; παρὰ τοὺς πόδας (para tous podas) = at the feet. The syntax places the physical act of prostration directly before the identification of the man as a Samaritan.
The thread — The posture of falling at a figure’s feet appears in Revelation 19:10 as an act of worship, while Acts 8:5 and Matthew 10:5 track the geographic and mission boundaries regarding Samaria.
Why it lands — The text records a marginalized outsider performing the physical act of thanksgiving before Jesus issues his question about the missing nine. It requires the reader to note that gratitude and recognition of the healer precede the subsequent rebuke of the ungrateful.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Cross-references
- Acts 8:5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them.
- Matthew 10:5 These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Do not go onto the road of the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans.
- Revelation 19:10 So I fell at his feet to worship him. But he told me, “Do not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who rely on the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
- Luke 9:52 He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.
- Luke 10:32 So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.
- Revelation 19:4 And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying: “Amen, Hallelujah!”
- Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”
- John 4:9 “You are a Jew,” said the woman. “How can You ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
- John 4:39 Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in Jesus because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I ever did.”
- Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”