· Translation: KJV

Luke 4:38He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. Simon's mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her.

The setting

Capernaum, Israel, ~30 AD. After synagogue service, Jesus enters Simon Peter's house. The modern location is near the Sea of Galilee in northern Israel.

The emotion here: recording with growing amazement at Jesus' power extending to personal relationships

The original word

pyretos (πυρετός) — burning fever, suggesting severe illness possibly life-threatening

Why it matters

Houses in Capernaum were small, single-story stone structures with flat roofs

Read with care

What most readers miss in Luke 4:38

This happens immediately after Jesus cast out demons in synagogue - the disciples are testing if Jesus can heal their own family

Common misconceptionPeople think this is just about physical healing, but Luke is showing Jesus cares about our family relationships and everyday concerns, not just 'spiritual' matters.

Bible Genome reading

Luke 4:38 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerLuke
Eragospel
Primary emotionseeking
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power50%
Quotability35%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance70%
Standalone50%
Themes:illnessintercession

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open Luke 4

Luke 4:38 comes from the book of Luke, written during the gospel period. These words are attributed to Luke. The dominant emotion in this verse is seeking, with a comfort power of 50% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include illness, intercession. Notable phrases: Simon's mother-in-law; great fever; begged him for her.

Your reflection

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