Luke 17:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At a village, ten men with leprosy meet Jesus, standing at the distance the law required.
What Does Luke 17:12 Mean?
The law of Moses required those with leprosy to live outside the camp and keep apart from the healthy (Leviticus 13:45-46). These ten have formed a small company of shared misery; their disease has erased even the old divide between Jew and Samaritan, as verse 16 will reveal.
They stand "afar off": close enough to be heard, too far to be touched. It is a picture of what disease, shame, and exclusion do — and of how many people still relate to God, calling from a distance they assume is permanent. But they have placed themselves on the road Jesus is walking, and that is enough. No distance is too great for His mercy to cross.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 17:12
What does Luke 17:12 mean?
At a village, ten men with leprosy meet Jesus, standing at the distance the law required.