Bible Strands
Luke 8:53
And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses a weeping crowd gathered at Jairus’s house after declaring the deceased girl is only asleep. They respond with derision because they are certain of her death.
The words — κατεγέλων (kategelōn) conveys active mocking, while εἰδότες (eidotes) indicates their settled conviction. These terms highlight the gap between their empirical certainty and Jesus’ claim.
The thread — This mockery parallels the rejection described in Isaiah 53:3 and the scoffing attitude recorded in Luke 16:14. It also echoes the biblical pattern of the righteous facing derision, as seen in Job 12:4.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition that human certainty often conflicts with divine possibility. It asks the reader to examine where their own convictions prevent them from hearing or accepting a word that contradicts visible reality.
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 they laughed him to scorn, knowing that she was dead.
Cross-references
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Luke 16:14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.
- Job 12:4 I am a laughingstock to my friends, though I called on God, and He answered. The righteous and upright man is a laughingstock.
- Job 17:2 Surely mockers surround me, and my eyes must gaze at their rebellion.
- Psalms 22:7 All who see me mock me; they sneer and shake their heads:
- Mark 15:44 Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus was already dead, so he summoned the centurion to ask if this was so.
- John 11:39 “Take away the stone,” Jesus said. “Lord, by now he stinks,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man. “It has already been four days.”
- John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.