He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
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Luke 17:16-18 sits inside this longer paragraph.
When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” As they went, they were cleansed. One of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice. He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up, and go your way. Your faith has healed you.”
Parallel Translations
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He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus answered, “Weren’t the ten cleansed? But where are the nine?
Were there none found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”
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and fell doune on his face at his fete and gave him thankes. And the same was a Samaritane.
And Iesus answered and sayde: are ther not ten clensed? But where are those nyne?
Ther are not founde that returned agane to geve God prayse save only this straunger.
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And fell downe on his face at his feete, and gaue him thankes: and he was a Samaritan.
And Iesus answered, and said, Are there not tenne clensed? but where are the nine?
There is none founde that returned to giue God praise, saue this stranger.
Cross-references (33)
- Psalms 106:13 (vv17–18) They soon forgot his works. They didn’t wait for his counsel,
- Romans 1:21 (v17) Because knowing God, they didn’t glorify him as God, and didn’t give thanks, but became vain in their reasoning, and their senseless heart…
- Psalms 50:23 (v18) Whoever offers the sacrifice of thanksgiving glorifies me, and prepares his way so that I will show God’s salvation to him.”
- Acts 8:5-25 (v16) Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ. The multitudes listened with one accord to the things that were…
- Matthew 10:5 (v16) Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
Show all 32 cross-references
- Revelation 19:10 (v16) I fell down before his feet to worship him. He said to me, “Look! Don’t do it! I am a fellow bondservant with you and with your brothers…
- Matthew 15:24-28 (v18) But he answered, “I wasn’t sent to anyone but the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” But she came and worshiped him, saying, “Lord, help…
- Genesis 3:9 (v17) Yahweh God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?”
- Luke 10:32-35 (v16) In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he…
- Revelation 19:4-5 (v16) The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!” A…
- Isaiah 42:12 (v18) Let them give glory to Yahweh, and declare his praise in the islands.
- Luke 9:52-56 (v16) and sent messengers before his face. They went and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him. They didn’t receive…
- John 4:9 (v16) The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, “How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no…
- John 4:39-42 (v16) From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me everything that I did.”…
- Acts 1:8 (v16) But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you. You will be witnesses to me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and…
- Revelation 4:10 (v16) the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns…
- Revelation 5:14 (v16) The four living creatures said, “Amen!” Then the elders fell down and worshiped.
- Revelation 14:7 (v18) He said with a loud voice, “Fear the Lord, and give him glory; for the hour of his judgment has come. Worship him who made the heaven, the…
- Genesis 17:3 (v16) Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
- Psalms 29:1-2 (v18) Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength. Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name. Worship…
- Matthew 8:10 (v18) When Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to those who followed, “Most certainly I tell you, I haven’t found so great a faith, not even in…
- Matthew 8:12 (v18) but the children of the Kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
- Matthew 19:30 (v18) But many will be last who are first; and first who are last.
- Matthew 20:16 (v18) So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
- Mark 5:33 (v16) But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
- Luke 5:8 (v16) But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
- John 4:21-22 (v16) Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father. You…
- John 5:23 (v16) that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
- John 8:7-10 (v17) But when they continued asking him, he looked up and said to them, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw the first stone at her.”…
- John 8:48 (v16) Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
- Matthew 2:11 (v16) They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they…
- Acts 10:25-26 (v16) When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him. But Peter raised him up, saying, “Stand up! I myself am…
32 distinct cross-references across this passage (33 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (13 sources)
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John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv16–18 16 And fell down on his face at his…
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Ver. 16. Giving him thanks] A thankful man is worth his weight in gold. Sed perraro grati homines reperiuntur, saith Cicero ( pro Planc.). Plerique ut accipiant importuni, donec acceperint, inquieti; ubi acceperint, ingrati, saith the father. Most pray, but pay not.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On v17 These ten lepers were a representation of all mankind;…
These ten lepers were a representation of all mankind; not more than one of ten that receive signal mercies from the bountiful hand of Divine Providence cometh to give God any suitable homage. Thus he maketh his sun to shine and his rain to fall upon the just and upon the unjust. Men howl to God upon their beds, but glorify him not when they are raised up. But this increpation of our Saviour lets us know, that this their way is their folly.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
William Burkitt 1703 · Public Domain On v17 In the face of these ten lepers we may,…
In the face of these ten lepers we may, as in a glass, behold the face and complexion of all mankind. How few are there, oh Lord! Scarce more than one in ten, who after single mercies return suitable thanks. Men howl to God upon their beds, but run away from God as soon as they are raised up by him.
Observe farther, what an exact account Christ keeps of his own dispensed favors: Were there not ten cleansed? He forgets our sins, but records his own mercies. It is one of his glorious titles, a God forgiving and forgetting iniquity; but his mercies are over all his works, and deserve everlasting remembrance. God keeps a register of his mercies towards us. Oh shall we not record the favors received from him, at once declare his bounty towards us, and our thankfulness towards him?
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Observe lastly, the thankful leper was a Samaritan, but the nine that were unthankful were Israelites.
Learn thence, that the more we are bound to God, the more shameful is our ingratitude towards him; where God may justly expect the greatest returns of praise and service, he sometimes receives least. God has more rent, and better paid him, from a smokey cottage, than he has from some stately palaces.
William Burkitt's Expository Notes on the New Testament (1700–1703) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv16–18 And Jesus answering, said,.... After the Samaritan had paid…
And Jesus answering, said,.... After the Samaritan had paid his respects to him, and made his acknowledgments in this grateful way:
were there not ten cleansed? so many applied for a cure, and so many had it:
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but where are the nine? or nine of them; here was one, but where were the rest? they went and showed themselves to the priests, and then returned to their several places of abode, and took no notice of their physician and Saviour, to make any returns to him. They are many, that are cleansed by the blood of Christ; his blood was shed for many, for the remission of sins; and by his righteousness, he justifies many; at least there are many who profess themselves to be cleansed by him, and yet there are but few that glorify him, by keeping close to the rule of his word, by giving up themselves to the churches of Christ, and by walking with them in the ordinances of the Gospel: Christ's flock, which is separated from the world, and walks in Gospel order, within the inclosures of it, is but a little flock; they are but a few names in Sardis, who have not defiled themselves, with corruptions in doctrine and discipline; and these few are often such, who have been the worst of men, the vilest of sinners, from whom it has been least expected, they should glorify Christ: publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of heaven, the Gospel church state, embrace its doctrines, and submit to its ordinances, when the Scribes and Pharisees, self-righteous persons, do not: ingratitude is a crime many are guilty of, and it is highly resented by Christ; instances of gratitude are few, but as one in ten; now and then a single Samaritan, a stranger, one that has been a vile sinner, comes and acknowledges the grace of Christ in cleansing him; comes to the ministers of Christ, and to the churches, and tells them what God has done for his soul: but where are the rest, the many others, who have received spiritual advantages, and never come to relate them, and express by words and deeds, thankfulness for them?
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv16–18 Verse 16. He was a Samaritan.] One who professed…
Verse 16. He was a Samaritan.] One who professed a very corrupt religion; and from whom much less was to be expected than from the other nine, who probably were Jews.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On v17 Where are the nine? - Jesus had commanded them…
Where are the nine? - Jesus had commanded them to go to the priest, and they were probably “literally” obeying the commandment. They were impatient to be healed and “selfish” in wishing it, and had no gratitude to God or their Benefactor. Jesus did not “forbid” their expressing gratitude to him for his mercy; he rather seems to reprove them for “not” doing it. One of the first feelings of the sinner cleansed from sin is a desire to praise his Great Benefactor; and a “real” willingness to obey his commandments is not inconsistent with a wish to render thanks to him for his mercy. With what singular propriety may this question now be asked, “Where are the nine?” And what a striking illustration is this of human nature, and of the ingratitude of man! One had come back to give thanks for the favor bestowed on him; the others were heard of no more. So now. When people are restored from dangerous sickness, here and there one comes to give thanks to God; but “where are the nine?” When people are defended from danger; when they are recovered from the perils of the sea; when a steamboat is destroyed, and a large part of crew and passengers perish, here and there one of those who are saved acknowledges the goodness of God and renders him praise; but where is the mass of them? They give no thanks; they offer no praise. They go about their usual employments, to mingle in the scenes of pleasure and of sin as if nothing had occurred. Few, few of all who have been rescued from “threatening graves” feel their obligation to God, or ever express it. They forget their Great Benefactor; perhaps the mention of his name is unpleasant, and they scorn the idea that they are under any obligations to him. Such, alas! is man, ungrateful man!
This stranger - This foreigner; or, rather, this alien, or this man of another tribe. In the “Syraic” version, “this one who is of a foreign people.” This man, who might have been least “expected” to express gratitude to God. The most unlikely characters are often found to be most consistent and grateful. Men from whom we would expect “least” in religion, are often so entirely changed as to disappoint all our expectations, and to put to shame those who have been most highly favored. The poor often thus put to shame the rich; the ignorant the learned; the young the aged.
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv17–18 Were there not ten cleansed--rather, were not the ten…
Were there not ten cleansed--rather, were not the ten cleansed? that is, the whole of them--an example (by the way) of Christ's omniscience [BENGEL].
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv16–18 16. And he was a Samaritan—A Samaritan, and like…
16. And he was a Samaritan—A Samaritan, and like Luke himself a Gentile. Full proof that the power of true faith and the mercy of God through faith, are not limited to the sons of Abraham. We have indeed in the whole narrative a significant hint of the worldly and dead faith by which Israel fell, contrasted with the faith working by love by which the true Israel rises.
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv16–17 16. he was a Samaritan] See on Luk_10:33.
16. he was a Samaritan] See on Luk_10:33.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv16–18 (16) And he was a Samaritan.—As in the parable…
(16) And he was a Samaritan.—As in the parable of the Good Samaritan, St. Luke’s purpose in the selection of the incident falls in with what may be called the Catholicity of his Gospel, the breaking down of every middle wall of partition that divided the Jew from the other nations of the world. As the narrative is peculiar to his record, we may reasonably believe that it was one of the facts with which he became acquainted in the course of his personal inquiries in Galilee and Samaria. It is significant, in this case, that the barrier had been already broken down for a time by the common pressure of calamity, but no enduring sense of fellowship had as yet taken its place. The nine would seem to have separated themselves from the Samaritan as soon as they were cleansed. Men want more than the “misery” which our common proverb associates with “strange” companions, before they learn the lesson of brotherhood in its fulness.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv16–17 And he was a Samaritan. Apparently nine of these…
And he was a Samaritan. Apparently nine of these lepers were Jews, and only one a Samaritan. This man would not have been allowed to associate with Jews but for the miserable disease with which he was afflicted, and which obliterated all distinction of race and caste. It is the same now at Jerusalem; in the leper-houses, termed "Abodes of the Unfortunate," Jews and Mohammedans will live together. Under no other circumstances will these hostile peoples do this.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v17 Connecting Statement:
Connecting Statement:
This is the end of the part of the story about Jesus healing the 10 lepers.
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Then Jesus said
Jesus responded to what the man did, but he was speaking to the group of people around him. AT: "So Jesus said to the crowd" (See: Assumed Knowledge and Implicit Information)
Were not the ten cleansed?
This is the first of three rhetorical questions. Jesus used them to show the people around him how surprised and disappointed he was that only one of the ten men came back to glorify God. AT: "Ten men were healed." or "God healed ten men." (See: Rhetorical Question)
Where are the nine?
"Why did not the other nine come back?" This can be a statement. AT: "The other nine men should have come back, too." (See: Rhetorical Question)
Were there no others who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?
This can be a statement. AT: "No one but this foreigner came back to give glory to God!" or "God healed ten men, yet only this foreigner came back to give glory to God!" (See: Rhetorical Question)
this foreigner
Samaritans had non-Jewish ancestors and they did not worship God in the same way that the Jews did.
Your faith has made you well
"Because of your faith you have become well." The idea of "faith" can be expressed with the verb "believe." AT: "Because you believe, you are well again" (See: Abstract Nouns)
translationWords
glory
alien
faith
cure
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On v16 17:16 The one man who returned to thank Jesus…
17:16 The one man who returned to thank Jesus was a Samaritan, a hated foreigner in the eyes of most Jews (see study note on 10:33).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.