“Lord, my young servant lies in bed, paralyzed and in terrible pain.”
Parallel translations
- WEB and saying, “Lord, my servant lies in the house paralyzed, grievously tormented.”
- KJV And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
- BSB “Lord, my servant lies at home, paralyzed and in terrible agony.”
- NKJV saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.”
- NASB and saying, “Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, terribly tormented.”
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 centurion explained that his servant lay at home paralyzed and suffering terribly. His concern for a servant shows compassion and brings a real need to Jesus.
Overview
The centurion describes his servant's grievous paralysis and torment, bringing the need before Jesus. His care for a household servant reflects genuine compassion, and his coming to Jesus reflects confidence that Jesus can help. The desperate condition sets the stage for the centurion's remarkable expression of faith in Jesus' word.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- Matt 4:24The report about him went out into all Syria. They brought to him all who were sick, afflicted with various diseases and torments, possessed with demons, epileptics, and paralytics; and he healed them.
- Col 4:1Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
- Acts 9:33There he found a certain man named Aeneas, who had been bedridden for eight years, because he was paralyzed.
- Col 3:11where there can’t be Greek and Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, barbarian, Scythian, bondservant, freeman; but Christ is all, and in all.
- Mark 2:3–12Four people came, carrying a paralytic to him.
- Acts 8:7For unclean spirits came out of many of those who had them. They came out, crying with a loud voice. Many who had been paralyzed and lame were healed.
- Acts 10:7When the angel who spoke to him had departed, Cornelius called two of his household servants and a devout soldier of those who waited on him continually.
- 1 Tim 6:2Those who have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brothers, but rather let them serve them, because those who partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. Teach and exhort these things.
- Phlm 1:16no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much rather to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
- Matt 9:2Behold, they brought to him a man who was paralyzed, lying on a bed. Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, “Son, cheer up! Your sins are forgiven you.”
- Job 31:13–14“If I have despised the cause of my male servant or of my female servant, when they contended with me;
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Christ at the center
Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'
How Matthew 8:6 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.