Luke 13:10-11

The Greek phrase kai idou ("and behold" in the NASB and untranslated in the NIV) suggests that Jesus may have suddenly become aware of the woman as He was speaking. [Note: Liefeld, "Luke," p. 971.] As usual, Luke noted the extent and duration of the affliction to stress the greatness of Jesus’ cure. Evidently a demon played some part in the woman’s suffering. This meant that Jesus’ healing involved overcoming supernatural as well as natural forces.

"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight." [Note: C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters, p. 9.]

The woman’s physical condition was similar to Israel’s spiritual condition (cf. Luke 4:18-19). She may have had spondylitis ankylopoietica, a fusing of the spinal bones, or skoliasis hysterica, a hysterically induced paralysis, or some other condition. [Note: See J. Wilkinson, "The Case of the Bent Woman in Luke 13:10-17," Evangelical Quarterly 49 (1977):195-205.]