Luke 4:39

and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Jesus stands over Simon’s mother-in-law and commands her high fever to depart after the household appeals to Him on her behalf. She immediately rises and begins serving those present.

The words — The text records Jesus ἐπετίμησεν (epetimēsen), literally “He rebuked,” directed at the fever itself. This verb denotes a formal command that forces a condition to cease its operation.

The thread — This same verb of rebuke appears when Jesus silences a demon in a synagogue (Luke 4:35), dismisses demons claiming His identity (Luke 4:41), and calms a storm at sea (Luke 8:24). The pattern establishes His authority over both spiritual forces and natural afflictions.

Why it lands — The narrative records a physical illness departing instantly upon a spoken command, followed by immediate functional restoration. It requires the reader to recognize that Jesus’ word terminates disorder and restores purpose without delay or negotiation.

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

καὶkaiAnd ἐπιστὰςepistashaving stood ἐπάνωepanōover αὐτῆςautēsher ἐπετίμησενepetimēsenHe rebuked τῷtōthe πυρετῷ,puretōfever,καὶkaiand ἀφῆκενaphēkenit left αὐτήν·autēnher;παραχρῆμαparachrēmaimmediately δὲdethen ἀναστᾶσαanastasahaving arisen διηκόνειdiēkoneishe was serving αὐτοῖς.¶autoisthem.

King James Version

And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Cross-references

Luke 4:41 Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.
Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm.
Luke 8:2 as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,
2 Corinthians 5:14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died.
Psalms 116:12 How can I repay the LORD for all His goodness to me?