Bible Strands
Matthew 8:6
“Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A Roman centurion speaks to Jesus in Capernaum, pleading for a paralyzed servant after arriving in the city (Matthew 8:5). Jesus is about to respond by offering to go and heal him (Matthew 8:7).
The words — The Greek term βέβληται (beblētai) means "has been laid," describing the servant's immobilized state, while παῖς (pais) identifies him as a servant (Matthew 8:6). The address κύριε (kurie) directly acknowledges Jesus as Lord.
The thread — Paralyzed individuals appear in Acts 9:33 with a man named Aeneas bedridden for eight years, while Matthew 4:24 notes Jesus healing all who were ill with various diseases. The master-servant dynamic also echoes Colossians 4:1, which instructs masters to treat slaves justly.
Why it lands — The centurion reports his servant’s paralysis and agony, presenting a concrete crisis before Jesus. The narrative positions the reader to observe how divine authority addresses human suffering without requiring physical presence.
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 saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Cross-references
- Matthew 4:24 News about Him spread all over Syria, and people brought to Him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering acute pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and He healed them.
- Colossians 4:1 Masters, supply your slaves with what is right and fair, since you know that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Acts 9:33 There he found a man named Aeneas who had been paralyzed and bedridden for eight years.
- Colossians 3:11 Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, or free, but Christ is all and is in all.
- Mark 2:3 Then a paralytic was brought to Him, carried by four men.
- Acts 8:7 With loud shrieks, unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, and many of the paralyzed and lame were healed.
- Acts 10:7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among his attendants.
- 1 Timothy 6:2 Those who have believing masters should not show disrespect because they are brothers, but should serve them all the more, since those receiving their good service are beloved believers. Teach and encourage these principles.
- Philemon 1:16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a beloved brother. He is especially beloved to me, but even more so to you, both in person and in the Lord.
- Matthew 9:2 Just then some men brought to Him a paralytic lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.”