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Luke 17:15
ESV Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice;
NIV One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice.
NASB Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,
CSB But one of them, seeing that he was healed, returned and, with a loud voice, gave glory to God.
NLT One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, 'Praise God!'
KJV And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

What does Luke 17:15 mean?

Jesus is somewhere along the border between Galilee and Samaria, traveling to Jerusalem. He has entered a village and immediately is met by ten lepers. They ask Him to heal them, and He tells them to show themselves to the priests. Only the priests can declare them physically and ceremonially clean. In faith, they turn and go. As they do so, they realize they are healed (Luke 17:11–14).

The Mosaic law states that people with skin conditions need to show themselves to the priests. The priest can determine if the disease is benign or if it's "leprosy:" from a biblical term used for one of many different serious skin diseases. If the priest decides that it is leprosy, the person is required to dress as if he is mourning and cry out "unclean, unclean" so no one else will come near and become contaminated (Leviticus 13).

When the ten lepers meet Jesus, they stay apart from Him but they don't cry out, "Unclean, unclean;" they call, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us" (Luke 17:13). Jesus responds (Luke 17:14). Now, one cries out in praise to God. He turns back to Jesus, falls at His feet, and thanks Him (Luke 17:16).

This is a testimony: from death to life to worship. Undoubtedly, the lepers had regularly declared themselves unclean. Then they begged Jesus for help. Now one praises God because he is healed. Jesus' words even suggest that this man's faith means he is spiritually renewed (Luke 17:19). This is the story of humanity. We are sinners, humiliated in our brokenness. We call out to Jesus to save us. When He does, we praise God.

Even more striking is this man is a Samaritan (Luke 17:16; John 4:9). His people are a mix of Jews and other nationalities that the Assyrians brought in after they took the northern kingdom of Israel into exile. His religion is a mix of Mosaic God-worship, King Jeroboam' apostasy (1 Kings 12:25–33), and the religions introduced by the people the Assyrians settled in the region (2 Kings 17:24–41). The Samaritan is willing to go to the Jewish priest because it is from the Jews that salvation comes (John 4:22). When he realizes God has worked through this teacher, Jesus, he rushes back in thanks.
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