Luke 24:39 · Bible study
Luke 24:39 Commentary: The Resurrection Body's Reality
Greek · 9 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
See how Jesus proves his bodily resurrection in Luke 24:39. What his flesh and bones mean for our own hope of resurrection.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Jesus proves his bodily resurrection by inviting disciples to see and touch his hands and feet, showing he is not a spirit but has flesh and bones.
- Key words: ψηλαφάω (handle, touch), σάρξ (flesh), ὀστέα (bones), πνεῦμα (spirit).
- Main debate: The nature of the resurrection body: fully physical or a transformed spiritual body that interacts with the physical world?
- Theological theme: The resurrection body is continuous with our present body yet transformed, no longer subject to decay and death.
- Best use: Apologetics for the bodily resurrection; comfort for believers facing their own mortality and hoping for a restored body.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself. Touch Me and see—for a spirit does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.”
KJV King James Version 1769
Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye behold me having.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
see my hands and my feet, that I am he; handle me and see, because a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me having.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit has not flesh and bones as ye see me having.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
See my hands and feet, that it is I myself. Handle, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me to have.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Mirad mis manos y mis pies, que yo mismo soy: palpad, y ved; que el espíritu ni tiene carne ni huesos, como veis que yo tengo.
Vede minhas mãos, e os meus pés, que sou em mesmo. Tocai-me, e vede, porque um espírito não tem carne nem ossos, como vós vedes que eu tenho.
Voyez mes mains et mes pieds, c’ est bien moi; touchez-moi et voyez: un esprit n’ a ni chair ni os, comme vous voyez que j’ ai.
Sehet meine Hände und meine Füße: ich bin' s selber. Fühlet mich an und sehet; denn ein Geist hat nicht Fleisch und Bein, wie ihr sehet, daß ich habe.
Ziet Mijn handen en Mijn voeten; want Ik ben het Zelf; tast Mij aan, en ziet; want een geest heeft geen vlees en benen, gelijk gij ziet, dat Ik heb.
Guardate le mie mani ed i miei piedi, perché son ben io; palpatemi e guardate; perché uno spirito non ha carne e ossa come vedete che ho io.
Oglądajcie ręce moje i nogi moje, żemci ja jest on; dotykajcie się mnie, a obaczcie; bo duch nie ma ciała ani kości, jako widzicie, że ja mam.
Посмотрите на руки Мои и на ноги Мои; это Я Сам; осяжите Меня и рассмотрите; ибо дух плоти и костей не имеет, как видите у Меня.
你們看 我的 手， 我的 腳， 就知道實在是 我了。摸 我 看看！ 魂 無 骨 無肉， 你們看，我 是有的。」
See; my hands and my feet: it is I myself; put your hands on me and make certain; for a spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Koine Greek)
New Testament · Koine Greek · Luke 24:39
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
All major commentators agree this verse provides direct, tangible proof of Jesus' bodily resurrection. He shows his hands and feet, still bearing the wounds from crucifixion (Barnes). He invites the disciples to “handle†him—the Greek ψηλαφήσατε means to feel the surface of something, not to manipulate it (Vincent). Because the disciples supposed they had seen a spirit (v.37), Jesus draws a sharp distinction: a spirit does not have flesh and bones. Calvin argues this distinction between flesh and spirit is perpetual, not limited to the resurrection moment. The Cambridge Bible connects the handling language to 1 John 1:1, where John uses the same Greek root. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown point out that Jesus says “flesh and bones,†not “flesh and blood,†suggesting the resurrection body is not subject to decay and mortality. Lange calls this appearance the crown of all resurrection appearances. The shared conviction is clear: Jesus' body is real, solid, and bears the marks of his suffering, yet it is transformed, no longer bound by the normal limits of earthly life.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Literal physical continuity: Jesus invites touch and eats food, showing a body that can be handled and consumes material food (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:27).
- Transformed spiritual body: Jesus appears suddenly in a locked room and later ascends, indicating a body no longer bound by normal physical laws (John 20:19; Acts 1:9); 1 Corinthians 15:44 speaks of a spiritual body.
- Appearance for accommodation: Some argue that Jesus temporarily took on a physical form for the disciples' sake, but his permanent resurrection body is different (rare view, not supported by main commentators).
What is clear: Jesus' resurrection body was real, tangible, and continuous with his pre-resurrection body, bearing the marks of crucifixion, and he offered it for physical examination.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of the resurrection body | Jesus' resurrection body is real, tangible, and continuous with his pre-resurrection body | Some traditions emphasize a fully physical body that can eat and be touched (Catholic, Evangelical); others stress a spiritual body that transcends normal physical limits (some Reformed, influenced by 1 Corinthians 15). |
| Function of Jesus eating after resurrection | Jesus ate to prove he had a real body, not a spirit | Some argue he ate because the resurrection body still requires nourishment; others say he ate only to demonstrate physicality, not because he needed food (Barnes; Calvin hints at this). |
| Meaning of 'flesh and bones' vs 'flesh and blood' | The phrase distinguishes Jesus' resurrected body from a spirit | Jamieson-Fausset-Brown suggest 'flesh and bones' implies a body no longer subject to decay, since 'flesh and blood' (with blood as life) cannot inherit the kingdom (1 Corinthians 15:50). Others see no great distinction. |
| Use in Eucharistic theology | This verse shows Christ's body is localized and can be handled | Calvin and Reformed traditions use this to argue against transubstantiation (a local, physical presence in the Supper). Catholics affirm a sacramental presence that is not locally physical in the same way as Jesus' resurrection body. |
Historical & Cultural Context
On the evening of the first Easter, the disciples were gathered in a locked room (John 20:19). Jewish tradition held that spirits could appear, and Poole notes that spirits sometimes assumed human shapes by God's permission. The disciples' terror (v.37) reflects a widespread fear of apparitions. Jesus steps into their fear and offers concrete proof. He shows his hands and feet, the parts wounded by nails, so they can see it is the same person who was crucified (Barnes). The act of eating broiled fish and honeycomb (vv.42–43) further demonstrates physical reality. Matthew Henry observes that Jesus appeared five times on that day, and this evening appearance to the gathered apostles is the most comprehensive. Luke's emphasis on history and evidence continues in Acts 1:3, where he writes that Jesus “showed himself alive after his passion by many proofs.†The Greek word for “handle†(ψηλαφάω) appears in other passages for groping in darkness (Acts 17:27; Hebrews 12:18); here it signifies careful examination. The setting—locked doors, sudden appearance, yet physical touch—underscores that the resurrection body is both material and free from earthly constraints. The Cambridge Bible mentions that Ignatius of Antioch records Jesus saying, “I am not a bodiless spirit,†showing how early Christians used this verse against docetism.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and lexical data note no significant textual variants for Luke 24:39.
Reception History
From the early church, Ignatius of Antioch (Letter to the Smyrnaeans) quotes Jesus as saying, “Take, handle me, and see that I am not a bodiless spirit,†directly using this verse to oppose those who denied Christ's real humanity. The Cambridge Bible mentions a later legend that John's hand passed through Jesus' body, but calls it baseless. In the Reformation, Calvin appealed to this verse to argue against a local, physical presence of Christ's body in the Eucharist. Matthew Henry and Barnes emphasized its evidential value for the resurrection. Modern Christians continue to see this passage as foundational for belief in a bodily resurrection and for hope that our own bodies will be raised and transformed.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Jesus meets fear with evidence. The disciples were terrified, thinking they saw a spirit. Jesus first speaks peace, then shows his hands and feet. He does not rebuke their fear but answers it with a person they can touch.
- The resurrection body is real and tangible. Jesus insists on flesh and bones. Touch and sight are invited. This body is not a ghost; it has substance, mass, and continuity with the pre-crucifixion body.
- Joy and doubt can coexist. Verse 41 records they still did not believe for joy. Their hope was so overwhelming it blocked belief. Jesus responds with more patience, eating before them. This shows that faith often grows slowly.
Five-point outline
- The disciples' mistaken assumption: they supposed a spirit (v.37).
- Jesus' patient correction: he offers his hands and feet to see and handle (v.39).
- The nature of the resurrection body: flesh and bones, not spirit; yet appearing suddenly in a locked room.
- The paradox of joy and disbelief: they were overjoyed yet could not believe it was real (v.41).
- The foundation for witness: Jesus commissions them as witnesses of these things (v.48).
Illustration hooks
- A child afraid of the dark who hears a parent's familiar voice and sees the parent's outstretched hand.
- A soldier returning home after being reported dead; the family must see and touch to believe.
- A wedding ring returned to a widow after years; the object proves the story is true.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it okay to doubt the resurrection? Jesus does not shame the disciples for their doubt; he gives them evidence.
- How can I be certain of the resurrection without physically seeing Jesus? The testimony of the eyewitnesses, recorded in Scripture, is the evidence God provides.
- What will my own resurrection body be like? This passage promises continuity with our current body, yet transformation into something no longer bound by decay.
Leading a Discussion
Jesus does not rebuke the disciples for their fear. Instead, he provides proof. He invites them to see and touch, closing the gap between their doubt and his reality. As you discuss this passage, consider how God meets our questions with grace.
Discussion questions
- What did the disciples assume about the figure they saw in the room (v.37)?
- How does Jesus respond to their fear? What does he offer as evidence?
- Why do you think Jesus emphasizes “flesh and bones†rather than simply saying he is alive?
- Read John 20:27. How does Jesus deal with Thomas's doubt compared to the disciples here?
- Verse 41 says they did not believe for joy. Have you ever been too hopeful to believe? What did that feel like?
- How does this passage help us understand the nature of the resurrection body? What does it preserve from our current life? What seems different?
- In what ways do we, like the disciples, sometimes need physical reminders of God's faithfulness? How can we help each other see and “touch†God's work?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Numbers 16:22 | They fell on their faces, and said, “God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?” |
| Ecclesiastes 12:7 | and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. |
| Luke 23:46 | Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last. |
| John 20:20 | When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord. |
| John 20:25 | The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” |
| John 20:27 | Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.” |
| Acts 1:3 | To these he also showed himself alive after he suffered, by many proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking about God’s Kingdom. |
| I Thessalonians 5:23 | May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes stresses that Jesus gave the strongest possible proof of his bodily resurrection by appealing to the disciples' senses, letting them touch him and watching him eat. This showed he was not a ghost, and it implicitly affirms that a spirit can exist separately from a body. The disciples' initial disbelief came from overwhelming joy, not doubt.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator underscores the physical reality of Jesus’ resurrection body by linking the Greek word “handle” to 1 John 1:1 and citing an early Christian witness that Christ was no mere spirit. A curious legend that Thomas’s hand passed through the body is noted as groundless.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Beholde mine handes and my feete: for it is I my selfe: handle me, and see: for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me haue.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Jesus showed the prints of nails and spear in his hands, feet, and side to prove he had the same body that suffered, not a spirit. Touch confirmed what sight alone might question, and this also evidenced his great love.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Jesus said "flesh and bones," not "flesh and blood," because blood belongs to the corruptible, animal life that cannot inherit God's kingdom. The phrase "flesh and bones" affirms the resurrection body is the same body yet transformed, governed by different physical laws.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that Jesus appeared five separate times on the day of his resurrection, each to different individuals or groups. The appearance to the eleven disciples at night was the last of these, and their initial terror and later joy show how gradually and personally Jesus convinced them of his real bodily resurrection.
Vincent's Word Studies Evangelical 1887
Vincent notes that the Greek word for handling implies feeling an object's surface without altering it, and sometimes means groping without even making contact. This distinguishes it from a more aggressive or moulding touch.