Mark 5 28

Mark 5:28 kjv

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

Mark 5:28 nkjv

For she said, "If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well."

Mark 5:28 niv

because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

Mark 5:28 esv

For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I will be made well."

Mark 5:28 nlt

For she thought to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 28 Meaning

This verse reveals the desperate yet profound conviction of the woman suffering from a hemorrhage. It captures her private thought, stating her belief that even a mere physical contact with the garment of Jesus would instantly result in her complete healing and restoration. It underscores an intense, persistent faith that recognizes Jesus as the sole source of divine power capable of bringing about her desired wholeness.

Mark 5 28 Context

This verse is situated within a dramatic interlude in Jesus' ministry. Jesus is en route to Jairus's house to heal his dying daughter, a situation demanding urgent attention. As a large, pressing crowd surrounds Him, the woman with the twelve-year hemorrhage, rendered ceremonially unclean by her condition and facing social ostracism and financial ruin, approaches Him from behind. Her action is not only an act of desperation but also one of remarkable faith, given her cultural restrictions. This secret, "audacious" act of faith causes Jesus to momentarily halt His journey to acknowledge and fully restore her, highlighting that even in a bustling crowd, His divine awareness perceives a singular touch of faith and His power extends to meet it. This narrative contrasts a public request from a synagogue leader with a hidden, private act of faith from a social outcast.

Mark 5 28 Word analysis

• For (γάρ, gar): A conjunction that explains the preceding action. It introduces the woman's reasoning and the internal thought process that led her to secretly approach Jesus and touch His garment. It connects her physical movement with her deep internal conviction.
• she said (ἔλεγεν, elegene): The imperfect tense of the verb "to say" indicates a continuous, ongoing action or state. This wasn't a fleeting thought but a persistent, repeated internal monologue. It suggests a settled conviction, a belief that she had nourished in her heart over time, perhaps born out of long suffering and a lack of other options. Her faith was not impulsive but deeply held and considered.
• If I may touch (ἐὰν ἅψωμαι, ean hapsomai): The combination of ean (if/even if) with the aorist subjunctive hapsomai (from hapto, "to fasten to, to touch, to cling to") conveys a conditional statement expressing humble yet firm resolve. It implies that "even a light or momentary touch" would be sufficient. Hapto suggests a more intentional and clinging touch than a casual brush, indicative of her desperation and resolve. It speaks to the perceived indirectness of power, as if Jesus himself was too holy or powerful for her to touch directly, or that merely the periphery of his being was sufficient.
• but his clothes (κἄν τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ, kan tou himatiou autou): Lit. "even his garment/cloak." The Greek word himation refers to the outer garment, a large piece of cloth worn as an outer wrap. Scholars note that in parallel accounts (Mt 9:20, Lk 8:44), the Greek term kraspedon (fringe or tassel) is used, which refers to the tzitzit (fringes) that observant Jews wore on the corners of their garments as commanded in Num 15:38-40 and Deut 22:12. This subtle distinction suggests the woman might have believed that spiritual power resided within these sacred fringes, either as a direct channel from Jesus or as a symbolic extension of his holiness, linking to a possible messianic expectation or popular belief rooted in Mal 4:2 about healing in the "wings/fringes" of the Messiah. Her faith was in the person of Jesus, but it manifested through a perceived conduit.
• I shall be whole (σωθήσομαι, sōthēsomai): This is the future passive indicative of sōzō (σῴζω). While primarily referring to physical healing in this context, sōzō in the New Testament has a rich, dual meaning encompassing both physical restoration and spiritual salvation (being "saved"). The passive voice indicates that the healing is something done to her by an external power (Jesus), not something she accomplishes by her own might. This powerful verb reflects her absolute confidence in complete restoration, not just cessation of the bleeding but holistic wellness—physically, socially, and religiously—and points toward the ultimate spiritual salvation Jesus offers.

• Words-group Analysis: "For she said, If I may touch...": This phrase reveals the woman's internal state of desperate faith. It highlights her reasoned (γάρ), persistent (ἔλεγεν) and humble (ἐὰν ἅψωμαι) determination to receive healing. She isn't just wishing; she has formulated a specific plan rooted in profound belief in Jesus' power. Her choice to touch the clothes, rather than Jesus directly, could be due to her unclean status, humility, or belief in the holiness radiating from His very garments.
• Words-group Analysis: "...but his clothes, I shall be whole.": This phrase establishes the minimal effort she intended to exert (a mere touch of clothes) against the maximal result she anticipated (total wholeness/salvation). It underscores the miraculous nature of the encounter, where a small act of faith in a powerful Christ yields comprehensive restoration. Her conviction links Jesus' physical proximity and a deeply held Jewish custom (tzitzit) to an expectation of divine, holistic healing (sōthēsomai).

Mark 5 28 Bonus section

• The Power's Source: It is crucial to understand that the power to heal did not reside in Jesus' clothes, but flowed through them from Jesus Himself. The garment was merely the point of contact for the woman's faith. This clarifies that her healing was not a magical charm but a direct outflow of God's power mediated by Jesus.
• Desperate but Discerning Faith: The woman’s desperation did not make her reckless; her faith guided her. She knew who Jesus was and that His power was distinct from what human doctors had offered her (Mk 5:26). Her quiet approach, in light of her ceremonial impurity, was a calculated risk of faith.
• Parallels in Other Healings: This event mirrors other instances where Jesus' physical touch or even proximity resulted in healing (e.g., Mk 6:56). It highlights that while Jesus could heal with a word or from a distance, He also often used physical contact, showing His tangible compassion and defying conventional notions of purity and defilement.
• A "Daughter" of Faith: When Jesus publicly addresses her as "Daughter" (Mk 5:34), it immediately reincorporates her into the community, restoring her identity beyond her debilitating condition. It underscores Jesus' compassionate and holistic healing, which addresses not just physical ailments but also social and spiritual alienation.

Mark 5 28 Commentary

Mark 5:28 succinctly encapsulates the profound, unyielding faith of a woman plagued by chronic illness for twelve years. Her condition rendered her a social and religious outcast, but rather than yielding to despair, she clung to a deeply held conviction: that a single touch, even an indirect one upon Jesus' garment, would bring complete physical and perhaps spiritual restoration. This wasn't a superstitious act; it stemmed from a profound belief in the power emanating from Jesus himself, a power so immense that even its periphery was potent enough to heal. Her persistent inner dialogue, indicated by "she kept saying," reflects a cultivated faith that transcended her dire circumstances. Jesus, aware of the power leaving Him, allowed her to act, drawing her out publicly afterward not for His own benefit, but to affirm her faith and give her a holistic healing that included social validation, ensuring her understanding that it was her faith, not the magical garment, that made her well. This account stands as a powerful testament to faith's ability to access divine power and God's compassionate responsiveness to a trusting heart, regardless of social standing or physical impediment.