Bible Strands
Luke 24:39
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to his disciples immediately after appearing among them in a locked room. He addresses their visible distress and sudden doubts following his resurrection.
The words — ἴδετε (idete) commands "do see," while χεῖρας (cheiras) and πόδας (podas) specify "hands" and "feet." These terms ground the appearance in physical location rather than abstract vision.
The thread — The emphasis on tactile, visible proof echoes John 20:27, where Jesus invites Thomas to handle his wounds, and 1 John 1:1, which notes the apostolic witness to what was seen with their own eyes.
Why it lands — The text demands verification through physical contact to confirm the speaker is a resurrected human, not a disembodied spirit. It requires the reader to accept bodily continuity as the foundation of the resurrection claim.
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
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
Cross-references
- John 20:27 Then Jesus said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.”
- 1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our own eyes, which we have gazed upon and touched with our own hands—this is the Word of life.
- Ecclesiastes 12:7 before the dust returns to the ground from which it came and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
- John 20:20 After He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
- Numbers 16:22 But Moses and Aaron fell facedown and said, “O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, when one man sins, will You be angry with the whole congregation?”
- 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
- John 20:25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands, and put my finger where the nails have been, and put my hand into His side, I will never believe.”
- Hebrews 12:9 Furthermore, we have all had earthly fathers who disciplined us, and we respected them. Should we not much more submit to the Father of our spirits and live?
- Luke 23:46 Then Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I commit My Spirit.” And when He had said this, He breathed His last.
- Acts 1:3 After His suffering, He presented Himself to them with many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a span of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.