Luke 13:12

And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity.

Luke 13:12 (KJV)

Context

This verse belongs to the larger account in Luke 13:10-17, where Jesus is teaching in a synagogue on the Sabbath. The previous verse describes a woman who had a spirit of infirmity for eighteen years and was bowed together, unable to lift herself up. Her condition was both physical and spiritual, and it had shaped her daily life for nearly two decades.

Meaning

Jesus saw her and called her to him. The text does not say that she asked for healing; he acted on his own initiative, moved by compassion for her misery. His words, “Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity,” use the Greek verb apoluo, which means to release or set free. Jesus did not merely treat a symptom; he broke the bondage that held her, granting physical and emotional restoration.

Biblical connections

The healing on the Sabbath provoked the ruler of the synagogue, who objected that such work should not be done on that day. Jesus answered by pointing to their own practice of loosing an ox or donkey from its stall to lead it to water on the Sabbath. If they would care for an animal, how much more should this woman, a daughter of Abraham, be loosed from her long bondage? His response shows that mercy and restoration are fully consistent with the Sabbath’s purpose.

Application

Jesus still sees those who are bowed down by long affliction, and he calls them to himself. His compassion is not passive; it moves him to act. This passage invites believers to trust that Christ has authority over sickness and spiritual oppression, and to reflect his merciful character by valuing people above rigid rules.

Reflection

The woman’s immediate response was to glorify God. Her healing was not only for her own relief but also a sign of God’s merciful nature. As we read this account, we are reminded that Jesus looses us from what binds us, and our fitting response is praise.