Luke 7:8 Meaning and Explanation
“For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The centurion reasons from his own command: as his orders are obeyed, so Jesus' word commands sickness and is obeyed.
What Does Luke 7:8 Mean?
The centurion explains his confidence from military life. He is "set under authority" — he obeys Rome above him — and therefore his own commands carry Rome's weight: soldiers go, come, and act at his word, without his needing to be present.
His logic honors Jesus profoundly: as the centurion's word carries the empire's force, so Jesus' word carries God's. Disease, distance, and death answer to Him like soldiers under command. The insight came not from a synagogue education but from sanctified observation — he read his ordinary world and found in it a parable of Christ's power. Faith often grows just this way: taking what we know best and letting it teach us how completely Jesus can be trusted.
Luke 7:8 in the Original Language
exousia (ἐξουσία), 'authority' -- rightful power to command and be obeyed.
Frequently Asked Questions About Luke 7:8
What does Luke 7:8 mean?
The centurion reasons from his own command: as his orders are obeyed, so Jesus' word commands sickness and is obeyed.