The Meaning of Luke 20:37 Explained

Luke 20:37

KJV: Now that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

YLT: 'And that the dead are raised, even Moses shewed at the Bush, since he doth call the Lord, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;

Darby: But that the dead rise, even Moses shewed in the section of the bush, when he called the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob;

ASV: But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the place concerning the Bush, when he calleth the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now  that  the dead  are raised,  even  Moses  shewed  at  the bush,  when  he calleth  the Lord  the God  of Abraham,  and  the God  of Isaac,  and  the God  of Jacob. 

What does Luke 20:37 Mean?

Study Notes

God Elohim.
.

Context Summary

Luke 20:27-40 - The God Of The Living
Here our Lord answers the materialism of His time. He speaks with the note of absolute certainty concerning the unseen, Hebrews 11:27. Its inhabitants do not die or marry, nor are they subject to the conditions of our earthly life. These are the children of the resurrection. What an inspiring title! May it be applied to us as in Colossians 3:1-4? Too many are "the sons of this age," Luke 20:34, r.v., margin! They adopt this transient earth as their foster parent! We cannot belong to both, though some, like Bunyan's waterman, row in one direction, while they look in another.
How wonderful to find a proof of immortality in that passage about the bush, Exodus 3:6! The fact that Jehovah said, "I am the God of Abraham," proved that the patriarch was in existence somewhere at that moment. Those whom we describe as dead are living people who have died. Death is but a passage, a step. There is no break in the chain of existence. Yonder and here all live unto God, Romans 14:8. [source]

Chapter Summary: Luke 20

1  Jesus confirms his authority by a question of John's baptism
9  The parable of the vineyard
19  Of giving tribute to Caesar
27  He instructs the Sadducees, who denied the resurrection
41  How Jesus is the Son of David
45  He warns his disciples to beware of the scribes

Greek Commentary for Luke 20:37

Even Moses [και Μωυσης]
Moses was used by the Sadducees to support their denial of the resurrection. This passage (Exodus 3:6) Jesus skilfully uses as a proof of the resurrection. See Matthew 22:32 and Mark 12:26. [source]
Shewed [ἐμήνυσεν]
Originally to disclose something secret. Hence, generally, to make known. [source]
At the bush [ἐπὶ τῆς βάτου]
Wrong. Render as Rev., in the place concerning the bush. See on sa40" translation="">Mark 12:26.sa40 [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Luke 20:37

Mark 12:26 In the place concerning the Bush [επι του βατου]
This technical use of επι — epi is good Greek, in the matter of, in the passage about, the Bush. ατος — Batos is masculine here, feminine in Luke 20:37. The reference is to Exodus 3:3-6 (in the book of Moses, εν τηι βιβλωι — en tēi biblōi). [source]
Luke 6:44 Bramble-bush [βάτου]
Matthew has τριβολῶν , thistles. The word occurs only once outside of Luke's writings, in Mark 12:26, where it is used as the familiar title of a section of the Pentateuch. Luke also uses it in the same way (Luke 20:37). He was doubtless acquainted with it medicinally, as it was extensively used by ancient physicians. Galen has a chapter on its medicinal uses, and the medical writings abound in prescriptions of which it is an ingredient. Galen also has a saying similar to our Lord's: “A farmer could never make a bramble bear grapes.” It is the word employed by the Septuagint for the bush out of which God spoke to Moses. [source]
Luke 6:44 Bramble bush [batou)]
Old word, quoted from the lxx in Mark 12:26; Luke 20:37 (from Exodus 3:6) about the burning bush that Moses saw, and by Stephen (Acts 7:30, Acts 7:35) referring to the same incident. Nowhere else in the N.T. “Galen has a chapter on its medicinal uses, and the medical writings abound in prescriptions of which it is an ingredient” (Vincent).Gather (βατου — trugōsin). A verb common in Greek writers for gathering ripe fruit. In the N.T. only here and Revelation 14:18.Grapes Cluster of grapes. [source]
Acts 7:31 As he drew near [προσερχομενου αυτου]
Genitive absolute with present middle participle of προσερχομαι — proserchomai A voice of the Lord (πωνη κυριου — phōnē kuriou). Here the angel of Jehovah of Acts 7:30 is termed Jehovah himself. Jesus makes powerful use of these words in his reply to the Sadducees in defence of the doctrine of the resurrection and the future life (Mark 12:26; Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:37.) that God here describes himself as the God of the living. Trembled Literally, becoming tremulous or terrified. The adjective εντρομος — entromos Imperfect active, was not daring, negative conative imperfect. [source]
Acts 7:31 A voice of the Lord [πωνη κυριου]
Here the angel of Jehovah of Acts 7:30 is termed Jehovah himself. Jesus makes powerful use of these words in his reply to the Sadducees in defence of the doctrine of the resurrection and the future life (Mark 12:26; Matthew 22:32; Luke 20:37.) that God here describes himself as the God of the living. [source]
1 Corinthians 10:28 Shewed [μηνύσαντα]
See on Luke 20:37It implies the disclosure of a secret which the brother reveals because he thinks his companion in danger [source]
1 Corinthians 10:28 Eat not [μη εστιετε]
Present imperative with μη — mē prohibiting the habit of eating then. Pertinent illustration to the point of doing what is expedient and edifying. That shewed it (τον μηνυσαντα — ton mēnusanta). First aorist active articular participle (accusative case because of δια — dia) from μηνυω — mēnuō old verb, to point out, to disclose. See Luke 20:37. [source]
1 Corinthians 10:28 That shewed it [τον μηνυσαντα]
First aorist active articular participle (accusative case because of δια — dia) from μηνυω — mēnuō old verb, to point out, to disclose. See Luke 20:37. [source]

What do the individual words in Luke 20:37 mean?

That however are raised the dead even Moses showed at the bush when he calls [the] Lord the God of Abraham and of Isaac of Jacob
Ὅτι δὲ ἐγείρονται οἱ νεκροὶ καὶ Μωϋσῆς ἐμήνυσεν ἐπὶ τῆς Βάτου ὡς λέγει Κύριον Τὸν Θεὸν Ἀβραὰμ καὶ Ἰσαὰκ Ἰακώβ

Ὅτι  That 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
δὲ  however 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: δέ  
Sense: but, moreover, and, etc.
ἐγείρονται  are  raised 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
νεκροὶ  dead 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: νεκρός  
Sense: properly.
καὶ  even 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
Μωϋσῆς  Moses 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Μωσεύς 
Sense: the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion.
ἐμήνυσεν  showed 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: μηνύω  
Sense: to disclose or make known something secret.
ἐπὶ  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
Βάτου  bush 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Feminine Singular
Root: βάτοσ1  
Sense: a thorn or bramble bush.
λέγει  he  calls 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Κύριον  [the]  Lord 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κύριος  
Sense: he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master, lord.
Θεὸν  God 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: θεός  
Sense: a god or goddess, a general name of deities or divinities.
Ἀβραὰμ  of  Abraham 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἀβραάμ  
Sense: the son of Terah and the founder of the Jewish nation.
Ἰσαὰκ  of  Isaac 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰσαάκ  
Sense: the son of Abraham and Sarah.
Ἰακώβ  of  Jacob 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰακώβ  
Sense: was the second son of Isaac.