Luke 5:18Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
The setting
Capernaum, Israel, ~29 AD. A crowded house where Jesus is teaching. Four desperate friends carry their paralyzed companion on a stretcher, pushing through crowds...
The emotion here: carefully documenting extraordinary friendship and faith
The original word
paralytikos (παραλυτικός) — completely helpless, unable to move any limbs
Why it matters
Palestinian houses had flat roofs made of wooden beams covered with branches, mud, and tiles
Read with care
What most readers miss in Luke 5:18
The word 'behold' signals Luke wants you to STOP and notice something extraordinary about friendship
Common misconceptionMost people focus on the paralytic's faith, but Luke emphasizes the FRIENDS' faith. Sometimes others have to carry us when we can't believe for ourselves.
The thread continues
Verses that echo Luke 5:18
Bible Genome reading
Luke 5:18 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
Luke 5:18 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 40% and a tone that is reflective. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include disability, seeking help. Notable phrases: paralyzed man; brought on a cot.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same seeking
“Pray without ceasing.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:17
“But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
— Amos 5:24
“Be it far from you to do things like that, to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be like the wicked. May that …”
— Genesis 18:25
“Call to me, and I will answer you, and will show you great things, and difficult, which you don't know.”
— Jeremiah 33:3
“Forgive us our sins, for we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. Bring us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evi…”
— Luke 11:4
Your reflection
What does Luke 5:18 mean to you, today?
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