He fell to the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.
Parallel translations
- WEB He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan.
- KJV And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
- BSB He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.
- NKJV and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan.
- NASB and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The grateful leper falls at Jesus' feet in thanks, and Luke notes he was a Samaritan. The least expected person responds rightly to grace.
Overview
Falling at Jesus' feet is an act of worship and humble homage. Luke highlights that the thankful one was a Samaritan, a people despised by Jews, underscoring his recurring theme that God's mercy reaches outsiders. The detail foreshadows the gospel going beyond Israel to all who will receive Christ in faith and gratitude.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Acts 8:5–25Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and proclaimed to them the Christ.
- Matt 10:5Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
- Rev 19:10I 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 who hold the testimony of Jesus. Worship God, for the testimony of Jesus is the Spirit of Prophecy.”
- Rev 19:4–5The twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who sits on the throne, saying, “Amen! Hallelujah!”
- Luke 10:32–35In the same way a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.
- John 4:9The 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 dealings with Samaritans.)
- John 4:39–42From 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 1:8But 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 to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
- Luke 9:52–56and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.
- Rev 5:14The four living creatures said, “Amen!” The elders fell down and worshiped.
- Rev 4:10the twenty-four elders fall down before him who sits on the throne, and worship him who lives forever and ever, and throw their crowns before the throne, saying,
- Luke 5:8But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord.”
- John 4:21–22Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.
- Gen 17:3Abram fell on his face. God talked with him, saying,
- Mark 5:33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
- John 5:23that 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 8:48Then the Jews answered him, “Don’t we say well that you are a Samaritan, and have a demon?”
- Matt 2:11They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Acts 10:25–26When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and worshiped him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
Luke shows Jesus the Savior for all — outsiders, the poor, the nations — the one who, on the Emmaus road, opened all the Scriptures to show they were about himself.
How Luke 17:16 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.