Bible Strands
Luke 24:16
But their eyes were kept from recognizing Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus walks alongside two disciples on the road to Emmaus, conversing with them as they approach their destination.
The words — The verb ἐκρατοῦντο (ekratounto) translates literally as "were held" or "were restrained," describing a passive action that blocked the disciples' perception.
The thread — This pattern of withheld recognition occurs in John 20:14 when Mary Magdalene does not identify Jesus, and in John 21:4 when the disciples on the shore fail to recognize Him at dawn.
Why it lands — The text explicitly states that divine restraint prevented the disciples from seeing Jesus' identity, and interpreters observe that this concealment directly sets up the sudden revelation in Luke 24:31.
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
But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Cross-references
- John 20:14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not recognize that it was Jesus.
- John 21:4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not recognize that it was Jesus.
- Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus—and He disappeared from their sight.
- Mark 16:12 After this, Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them as they walked along in the country.
- 2 Kings 6:18 As the Arameans came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD, “Please strike these people with blindness.” So He struck them with blindness, according to the word of Elisha.