The Meaning of Luke 13:32 Explained

Luke 13:32

KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.

YLT: and he said to them, 'Having gone, say to this fox, Lo, I cast forth demons, and perfect cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am being perfected;

Darby: And he said to them, Go, tell that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and accomplish cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected;

ASV: And he said unto them, Go and say to that fox, Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures to-day and to-morrow, and the third day I am perfected.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he said  unto them,  Go ye,  and tell  that  fox,  Behold,  I cast out  devils,  and  I do  cures  to day  and  to morrow,  and  the third  [day] I shall be perfected. 

What does Luke 13:32 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 13:31-35 - The Lament For Those Who "would Not"
Our Lord was at that time in Perea, in the jurisdiction of Herod, who probably desired to get rid of Him, lest His presence should introduce political complications. Our Lord saw through and exposed his stratagem. How awful to be read by the light of divine purity! He also kept His eye on heaven's dial-plate, and knew that He was immortal till His work was done.
Jerusalem was clearly indicated as the scene of His death; and the city was already so deeply dyed with martyr blood that it would hardly have been congruous for Him to suffer anywhere else. Note that pathetic wail of disappointed love. God's brooding love desires to interpose between us and the hovering peril; but we have the awful power to neglect or reject the covering wings of the Shechinah. See Ruth 2:12 and Psalms 91:4.
In Luke 14:1-6 we have a specimen of Christ's table-talk, which He continues through the Luke 14:24. Though He knew that He was being watched, nothing could stanch His power and love. If men care for their beasts, how much more will Christ care for men! [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 13

1  Jesus preaches repentance upon the punishment of the Galilaeans and others
6  The fruitless fig tree may not stand
10  He heals the crooked woman;
18  shows the powerful working of the word, by the parable of the grain of mustard seed,
20  and of leaven;
22  exhorts to enter in at the strait gate;
31  and reproves Herod and Jerusalem

Greek Commentary for Luke 13:32

That fox [τηι αλωπεκι ταυτηι]
This epithet for the cunning and cowardice of Herod shows clearly that Jesus understood the real attitude and character of the man who had put John the Baptist to death and evidently wanted to get Jesus into his power in spite of his superstitious fears that he might be John the Baptist redivivus. The message of Jesus means that he is independent of the plots and schemes of both Herod and the Pharisees. The preacher is often put in a tight place by politicians who are quite willing to see him shorn of all real power. [source]
Cures [ιασεις]
Old word, but in the N.T. only here and Acts 4:22, Acts 4:30.I am perfected (τελειουμαι — teleioumai). Present passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō old verb from τελειος — teleios to bring to perfection, frequent in the N.T. Used in Hebrews 2:10 of the Father‘s purpose in the humanity of Christ. Perfect humanity is a process and Jesus was passing through that, without sin, but not without temptation and suffering. It is the prophetic present with the sense of the future. [source]
I am perfected [τελειουμαι]
Present passive indicative of τελειοω — teleioō old verb from τελειος — teleios to bring to perfection, frequent in the N.T. Used in Hebrews 2:10 of the Father‘s purpose in the humanity of Christ. Perfect humanity is a process and Jesus was passing through that, without sin, but not without temptation and suffering. It is the prophetic present with the sense of the future. [source]
That fox []
Herod. Describing his cunning and cowardice. [source]
Cures [ἰάσεις]
Used by Luke only. [source]
I shall be perfected [τελειοῦμαι]
The present tense: “the present of the certain future” (Meyer). The meaning is, I come to an end: I have done. Expositors differ greatly. Some interpret, “I end my career of healing, ” etc.; others, my life. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 13:32

Luke 7:21 Evil spirits [πνευμάτων πονηρῶν]
On πονηρός , evil, see Luke 3:19. It is applied to evil spirits by Luke only, with the single exception of Matthew 12:45. In accordance with its signification of evil on its active side, it is applied in medicine to that which spreads destruction or corruption; as the poison of serpents. Note, moreover, that Luke distinguishes here between disease and demoniac possession, as often. See Luke 6:17, Luke 6:18; Luke 8:2; Luke 13:32. [source]
Luke 13:33 The day following [τηι εχομενηι]
See note on Acts 20:15. The same as the third day in Luke 13:32. A proverb. [source]
James 1:15 The lust [η επιτυμια]
Note article, the lust (James 1:14) which one has.When it hath conceived (συλλαβουσα — sullabousa). Second aorist active participle of συλλαμβανω — sullambanō old word to grasp together, in hostile sense (Acts 26:21), in friendly sense of help (Philemon 4:3), in technical sense of a woman taking a man‘s seed in conception (Luke 1:24), here also of lust (as a woman), “having conceived.” The will yields to lust and conception takes place.Beareth sin Present active indicative of τικτω — tiktō to bring forth as a mother or fruit from seed, old verb, often in N.T., here only in James. Sin is the union of the will with lust. See Psalm 7:14 for this same metaphor.The sin (η αμαρτια — hē hamartia). The article refers to αμαρτια — hamartia just mentioned.When it is full-grown First aorist passive participle of αποτελεω — apoteleō old compound verb with perfective use of απο — apo in N.T. only here and Luke 13:32. It does not mean “full-grown” like τελειοω — teleioō but rather completeness of parts or functions as opposed to rudimentary state (Hort) like the winged insect in contrast with the chrysalis or grub (Plato). The sin at birth is fully equipped for its career (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5).Bringeth forth death (αποκυει τανατον — apokuei thanaton). Late compound (κυεω — kueō to be pregnant, perfective use of απο — apo) to give birth to, of animals and women, for normal birth (papyrus example) and abnormal birth (Hort). A medical word (Ropes) rather than a literary one like τικτω — tiktō The child of lust is sin, of sin is death, powerful figure of abortion. The child is dead at birth. For death as the fruit of sin see Romans 6:21-23; Romans 8:6. “The birth of death follows of necessity when one sin is fully formed” (Hort). [source]
James 1:15 Beareth sin [τικτει αμαρτιαν]
Present active indicative of τικτω — tiktō to bring forth as a mother or fruit from seed, old verb, often in N.T., here only in James. Sin is the union of the will with lust. See Psalm 7:14 for this same metaphor.The sin (η αμαρτια — hē hamartia). The article refers to αμαρτια — hamartia just mentioned.When it is full-grown First aorist passive participle of αποτελεω — apoteleō old compound verb with perfective use of απο — apo in N.T. only here and Luke 13:32. It does not mean “full-grown” like τελειοω — teleioō but rather completeness of parts or functions as opposed to rudimentary state (Hort) like the winged insect in contrast with the chrysalis or grub (Plato). The sin at birth is fully equipped for its career (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5).Bringeth forth death (αποκυει τανατον — apokuei thanaton). Late compound (κυεω — kueō to be pregnant, perfective use of απο — apo) to give birth to, of animals and women, for normal birth (papyrus example) and abnormal birth (Hort). A medical word (Ropes) rather than a literary one like τικτω — tiktō The child of lust is sin, of sin is death, powerful figure of abortion. The child is dead at birth. For death as the fruit of sin see Romans 6:21-23; Romans 8:6. “The birth of death follows of necessity when one sin is fully formed” (Hort). [source]
James 1:15 When it is full-grown [αποτελεστεισα]
First aorist passive participle of αποτελεω — apoteleō old compound verb with perfective use of απο — apo in N.T. only here and Luke 13:32. It does not mean “full-grown” like τελειοω — teleioō but rather completeness of parts or functions as opposed to rudimentary state (Hort) like the winged insect in contrast with the chrysalis or grub (Plato). The sin at birth is fully equipped for its career (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:5).Bringeth forth death (αποκυει τανατον — apokuei thanaton). Late compound (κυεω — kueō to be pregnant, perfective use of απο — apo) to give birth to, of animals and women, for normal birth (papyrus example) and abnormal birth (Hort). A medical word (Ropes) rather than a literary one like τικτω — tiktō The child of lust is sin, of sin is death, powerful figure of abortion. The child is dead at birth. For death as the fruit of sin see Romans 6:21-23; Romans 8:6. “The birth of death follows of necessity when one sin is fully formed” (Hort). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 13:32 mean?

And He said to them Having gone say to the fox that Behold I cast out demons cures I complete today tomorrow the third [day] I am perfected
Καὶ εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Πορευθέντες εἴπατε τῇ ἀλώπεκι ταύτῃ Ἰδοὺ ἐκβάλλω δαιμόνια ἰάσεις ἀποτελῶ σήμερον αὔριον τῇ τρίτῃ τελειοῦμαι

εἶπεν  He  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Πορευθέντες  Having  gone 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: πορεύομαι  
Sense: to lead over, carry over, transfer.
εἴπατε  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τῇ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Feminine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
ἀλώπεκι  fox 
Parse: Noun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: ἀλώπηξ  
Sense: a fox.
ταύτῃ  that 
Parse: Demonstrative Pronoun, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: οὗτος  
Sense: this.
Ἰδοὺ  Behold 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἰδού  
Sense: behold, see, lo.
ἐκβάλλω  I  cast  out 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἐκβάλλω  
Sense: to cast out, drive out, to send out.
δαιμόνια  demons 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: δαιμόνιον  
Sense: the divine power, deity, divinity.
ἰάσεις  cures 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Plural
Root: ἴασις  
Sense: a healing, cure.
ἀποτελῶ  I  complete 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀποτελέω  
Sense: to perfect, to bring quite to an end.
σήμερον  today 
Parse: Adverb
Root: σήμερον  
Sense: this (very) day).
αὔριον  tomorrow 
Parse: Adverb
Root: αὔριον  
Sense: tomorrow.
τρίτῃ  third  [day] 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Feminine Singular
Root: τρίτον 
Sense: the third.
τελειοῦμαι  I  am  perfected 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: τελειόω  
Sense: to make perfect, complete.