Mark 5 23

Mark 5:23 kjv

And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Mark 5:23 nkjv

and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live."

Mark 5:23 niv

He pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live."

Mark 5:23 esv

and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."

Mark 5:23 nlt

pleading fervently with him. "My little daughter is dying," he said. "Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live."

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 23 Meaning

Mark 5:23 depicts Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, humbly and urgently pleading with Jesus to come to his house and heal his critically ill twelve-year-old daughter. His earnest appeal stems from a belief in Jesus' power, specifically through the laying on of hands, to restore her from the brink of death and allow her to live. It is a desperate cry for divine intervention to save his beloved child.

Mark 5 23 Context

Mark 5:23 is embedded within the larger narrative of Jesus' return to the Gadarene shore after casting out demons into a herd of pigs. He is met by a large crowd. This verse initiates the "Jairus's Daughter and the Woman with the Flow of Blood" pericope, an intercalated or "sandwich" narrative, where Jesus' journey to heal Jairus's daughter is interrupted by another significant healing. Historically, synagogue rulers (Greek: archisynagogos) were respected and influential figures in the Jewish community, responsible for the organization and administration of the synagogue. Jairus's public act of falling at Jesus' feet and earnestly pleading underscores his profound desperation and belief, overriding any social conventions or fears of associating with Jesus, who was increasingly becoming a controversial figure among religious leaders. The setting highlights Jesus' broad appeal, drawing both common people and figures of authority, all seeking His power.

Mark 5 23 Word analysis

• And pleaded (καὶ παρεκάλει – kai parekalei): "Pleded" is from the Greek parakaleō, meaning to call alongside, to entreat, exhort, or comfort. The imperfect tense indicates a continuous or repeated action, emphasizing the urgency and persistence of Jairus’s begging. It was not a casual request but a fervent, sustained plea.
• Him (αὐτὸν – auton): Refers directly to Jesus, signifying that Jairus's sole hope and appeal were centered on Him, acknowledging His unique authority and power.
• earnestly (πολλὰ – polla): Literally "much" or "many things." It functions adverbially here to intensify the pleading, suggesting Jairus made many fervent pleas or pleaded with great emphasis. It highlights the intensity of his emotional distress and desperate desire.
• saying (λέγων – legōn): The present participle emphasizes his direct, ongoing communication of his distress and request.
• My little daughter (τὸ θυγάτριόν μου – to thugatrion mou): The diminutive form of "daughter" (thugater)—thugatrian—conveys tenderness, affection, and deep paternal grief. It highlights her youth and vulnerability, evoking compassion for both the child and her distressed father.
• is at the point of death (ἐσχάτως ἔχει – eschatōs echei): This powerful phrase means "is at the extreme," "is critically ill," or "is in her last moments." The Greek word eschatōs signifies "last" or "ultimate." This indicates she is not merely ill but actively dying, facing immediate mortality, making the situation exceptionally urgent.
• please come (ἵνα ἐλθὼν – hina elthōn): A direct and humble imperative request for Jesus' physical presence. Jairus believes Jesus' proximity and action are necessary.
• lay Your hands (ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας – epithēs tas cheiras): This specific action was commonly associated with healing, blessing, and the imparting of divine power in biblical tradition (both Old and New Testaments). Jairus specifically sought this symbolic yet efficacious act, indicating his belief in Jesus' healing touch.
• on her (αὐτῇ – autē): Points directly to his daughter, emphasizing the personalized need for Jesus' direct intervention.
• so that she may get well (ὅπως σωθῇ – hopōs sōthē): From the verb sōzō, meaning "to save," "to heal," "to make whole," or "to deliver." In this context, it refers primarily to physical healing and restoration to health from a terminal condition.
• and live (καὶ ζήσῃ – kai zēsē): A definitive and hopeful outcome. This word indicates a desire for full restoration to life, a reversal of her dying state, implying a complete victory over death, not just temporary relief from symptoms.

Words-group analysis:

• "And pleaded with Him earnestly": Reveals Jairus’s deep humility and desperation, setting aside his social status to implore Jesus repeatedly and with intense emotion. It highlights his urgent recognition of Jesus as his family’s only hope.
• "My little daughter is at the point of death": This phrase communicates the immediate crisis and personal tragedy. The diminutive "little daughter" amplifies the emotional appeal, showing the preciousness and vulnerability of the child facing imminent death.
• "please come and lay Your hands on her": Demonstrates Jairus's faith in Jesus’s method of healing—that a physical touch from Jesus carried divine power capable of intervening against death itself. It's a humble yet powerful acknowledgment of Jesus' authority.
• "so that she may get well and live": Articulates the desired outcome: not merely a lessening of symptoms but a complete restoration to health and life, a complete reversal of her grave condition. It reflects belief in Jesus' capacity to grant true healing that overcomes death.

Mark 5 23 Bonus section

The juxtaposition of Jairus's desperate plea for life (Mark 5:23) with the immediate context of the demon-possessed Gerasene (Mark 5:1-20) highlights Jesus' absolute authority over all forms of darkness, whether spiritual (demons) or physical (sickness unto death). Jairus, a respected religious leader, would typically represent the establishment that later conspired against Jesus, making his humble public appeal even more remarkable. His immediate belief in Jesus' capacity to heal through physical presence and touch is striking, anticipating Jesus' later teaching on the importance of faith, which is further tested and solidified during the intercalated healing of the woman with the issue of blood before reaching Jairus's home. The repeated emphasis on "hands" and "touch" throughout Mark's Gospel regarding Jesus' healing power underscores His direct, personal, and tangible connection with those He healed, bringing divine power directly into human suffering.

Mark 5 23 Commentary

Mark 5:23 provides a profound glimpse into faith, desperation, and the unparalleled authority of Jesus over life and death. Jairus, a man of religious standing, sets aside all dignity and cultural norms by publicly prostrating himself before Jesus, a traveling preacher, indicating a desperate recognition of Jesus' unique power. His plea is earnest, born from a father's agony over his "little daughter" who is "at the point of death." The specificity of his request—to "lay Your hands on her"—reveals an understanding, or at least a hope, that Jesus' touch carries the very power to reverse death's grip. This verse lays the groundwork for one of Jesus' most significant miracles, where He not only heals a severe illness but ultimately conquers death, fulfilling the desperate plea for the girl to "get well and live." It underscores that God, through Christ, responds to cries of desperate faith, demonstrating compassion and absolute power even over the seemingly finality of death.