The Meaning of Luke 7:5 Explained

Luke 7:5

KJV: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

YLT: for he doth love our nation, and the synagogue he did build to us.'

Darby: for he loves our nation, and himself has built the synagogue for us.

ASV: for he loveth our nation, and himself built us our synagogue.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For  he loveth  our  nation,  and  he  hath built  us  a synagogue. 

What does Luke 7:5 Mean?

Context Summary

Luke 7:1-10 - An Alien's Surprising Faith
It is interesting to find these wild flowers of natural faith, humility and love growing outside the carefully cultured garden of the Hebrew religion. God has never been without witnesses among the nations. We recall Cyrus in the Old Testament, Isaiah 45:1-7; and Cornelius in the New, Acts 10:1-8. "In every nation." See Acts 10:35. But of course the propitiation of Christ underpins the salvation of all men, Romans 3:25.
Because the centurion was under the authority of Rome and was loyally obedient to it, he was able to exercise authority; and since he was so sure that Christ was obedient and loyal to God, he felt that he, too, was able to exert authority over all other forces, especially those which were injuring and torturing human lives. Let us seek to be such obedient servants that Christ may be able to say to us also, with the absolute certainty that we shall obey, "Go" and "Come" and especially "Do this." [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 7

1  Jesus finds a greater faith in the centurion;
10  heals his servant, being absent;
11  raises from death the widow's son at Nain;
18  answers John's messengers with the declaration of his miracles;
24  testifies to the people what opinion he held of John;
31  compares this generation to the children in the marketplaces,
36  and allowing his feet to be washed and anointed by a woman who was a sinner,
44  he shows how he is a friend to sinners, to forgive them their sins, upon their repentance

Greek Commentary for Luke 7:5

For [γαρ]
This clause gives the reason why the elders of the Jews consider him “worthy” He was hardly a proselyte, but was a Roman who had shown his love for the Jews. [source]
Himself [αυτος]
All by himself and at his own expense. Us (ημιν — hēmin). Dative case, for us. It is held by some archaeologists that the black basalt ruins in Tell Hum are the remains of the very synagogue Literally, the synagogue, the one which we have, the one for us. [source]
Us [ημιν]
Dative case, for us. [source]
the synagogue []
, the one which we have, the one for us. [source]
He hath built [αὐτὸς ᾠκοδόμησεν]
He is emphatic; himself, at his own expense. [source]
A synagogue [τὴν συναγωγὴν]
The article, “the synagogue,” marks the particular synagogue which these elders represented. Hence Rev., rightly, “our synagogue.” “He did not merely avoid profaning the synagogue” (Bengel). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 7:5

Luke 8:48 In peace []
See on Luke 7:50. [source]
John 6:25 When they found him [ευροντες αυτον]
Second aorist active participle of ευρισκω — heuriskō Found him after search and in the synagogue as John explains (John 6:59) in Capernaum, perhaps that very synagogue built by a centurion (Luke 7:5). Rabbi See note on John 1:38 for this courteous title. When camest thou hither? Second perfect active indicative of γινομαι — ginomai “When hast thou come?” We sought you anxiously on the other side of the lake and could not see how you came across (John 6:22-24). [source]
Acts 14:9 Heard [ηκουεν]
Imperfect active, was listening to Paul speaking Either at the gate or in the market place (Acts 17:17) Paul was preaching to such as would listen or could understand his Greek (Koiné). Ramsay (St. Paul the Traveller, pp. 114, 116) thinks that the cripple was a proselyte. At any rate he may have heard of the miracles wrought at Iconium (Acts 14:3) and Paul may have spoken of the work of healing wrought by Jesus. This man was “no mendicant pretender,” for his history was known from his birth. Fastening his eyes upon him (ατενισας αυτωι — atenisas autōi). Just as in Acts 13:9 of Paul and Acts 1:10 which see. Paul saw a new hope in the man‘s eyes and face. He had faith Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse. To be made whole (του σωτηναι — tou sōthēnai). Genitive of articular first aorist passive infinitive (purpose and result combined) of σωζω — sōzō to make sound and also to save. Here clearly to make whole or well as in Luke 7:50 (cf. Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10). [source]
Acts 14:9 He had faith [εχει πιστιν]
Present active indicative retained in indirect discourse. To be made whole (του σωτηναι — tou sōthēnai). Genitive of articular first aorist passive infinitive (purpose and result combined) of σωζω — sōzō to make sound and also to save. Here clearly to make whole or well as in Luke 7:50 (cf. Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10). [source]
Acts 14:9 To be made whole [του σωτηναι]
Genitive of articular first aorist passive infinitive (purpose and result combined) of σωζω — sōzō to make sound and also to save. Here clearly to make whole or well as in Luke 7:50 (cf. Acts 3:16; Acts 4:10). [source]
Hebrews 11:31 With peace [μετ ' εἰρήνηνς]
The phrase only here and Acts 15:33. Quite often in lxx, as Genesis 15:15; Genesis 26:29; Exodus 18:23; Deuteronomy 20:20; Judges 8:9. In N.T. ἐν εἰρήνῃ inpeace (Acts 16:36; James 2:16): εἰς εἰρήνην intopeace (Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50; Luke 8:48); both these very often in lxx. Rahab received the spies without enmity, and did not allow them to suffer harm from others. An interesting parallel is furnished by Dante, Purg. ii. 99, in the case of the pilot-angel who conveys souls to the shore of Purgatory.“He, sooth to say, for three months past has takenWhoever wished to enter, with all peace ” (without interposing any obstacle.) [source]
James 2:16 Depart in peace [ὑπάγετε ἐν εἰρήνῃ]
Compare ὕπαγε or πορεύου εἰς εἰρηνήν , go into peace, Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50. [source]
James 2:16 And one of you say unto them [ειπηι δε τις αυτοις εχ υμων]
Third-class condition again continued from James 2:15 with second aorist active subjunctive ειπηι — eipēi in peace Present active imperative of υπαγω — hupagō Common Jewish farewell (Judges 18:6; 1 Samuel 1:17; 1 Samuel 20:42; 2 Samuel 15:9). Used by Jesus (Mark 5:34; Luke 7:50). [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 7:5 mean?

he loves for the nation of us and the synagogue he built for us
ἀγαπᾷ γὰρ τὸ ἔθνος ἡμῶν καὶ τὴν συναγωγὴν αὐτὸς ᾠκοδόμησεν ἡμῖν

ἀγαπᾷ  he  loves 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀγαπάω  
Sense: of persons.
ἔθνος  nation 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ἔθνος  
Sense: a multitude (whether of men or of beasts) associated or living together.
ἡμῶν  of  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.
συναγωγὴν  synagogue 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Feminine Singular
Root: συναγωγή  
Sense: a bringing together, gathering (as of fruits), a contracting.
ᾠκοδόμησεν  built 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: οἰκοδομέω 
Sense: to build a house, erect a building.
ἡμῖν  for  us 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 1st Person Plural
Root: ἐγώ  
Sense: I, me, my.