Chapter

Luke 4:34

ESV "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God."
NIV "Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
NASB Leave us alone! What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!'
CSB "Leave us alone! What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
NLT Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!'
KJV Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.
NKJV saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are— the Holy One of God!”

What does Luke 4:34 mean?

This verse begins with a simple exclamation in Greek: Ea! This is somewhat like English shouts of "Oh!" or "Ahh!" In this context, one could imagine a person shaking their head and waving their hands, as if brushing something away. This is why some translations render the demon saying, "leave us alone!" The spirit's immediate reaction to Jesus (Luke 4:31–33) is a desire that He would go away.

Luke's phrasing here uses a plural word: the demon does not say "me" or "I," but specifically says "us." That might mean there is more than one demon involved (Mark 5:9). It might be the demon speaking on behalf of itself and the possessed man. Or this might be a reference to the entire realm of evil spirits—asking what Jesus plans to do with the demons who are in the world.

Beyond mentioning Jesus by name, the demon refers to Him as "the Holy One of God." This echoes the prediction made by Gabriel to Mary before Jesus was born (Luke 1:35). It matches Peter's description of Him (John 6:69). The person to Whom this evil spirit speaks is both fully human (Acts 19:15), as well as God the Son (James 2:19).
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