Mark 5 31

Mark 5:31 kjv

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Mark 5:31 nkjv

But His disciples said to Him, "You see the multitude thronging You, and You say, 'Who touched Me?' "

Mark 5:31 niv

"You see the people crowding against you," his disciples answered, "and yet you can ask, 'Who touched me?' "

Mark 5:31 esv

And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'"

Mark 5:31 nlt

His disciples said to him, "Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, 'Who touched me?'"

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 31 Meaning

Mark 5:31 records the disciples' bewildered response to Jesus' question about who touched Him, given the overwhelming crowd pressing in on all sides. It highlights a stark contrast between the disciples' natural, empirical understanding of reality—perceiving only the physical throng—and Jesus' supernatural, discerning awareness that identified a specific touch of faith amidst the chaos. The verse underscores their inability to grasp Jesus' unique perception and the precise nature of His power, which responded not to general contact but to intentional belief.

Mark 5 31 Context

Mark 5:31 is set in a chaotic scene immediately following Jesus' journey across the Sea of Galilee, where He has just healed the demon-possessed man of the Gerasenes. Upon returning, a large crowd gathered to meet Him. The verse specifically occurs during the interlude within the story of Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. As Jesus is en route to Jairus's house, a woman who has suffered from a debilitating hemorrhage for twelve years approaches Him from behind, believing that merely touching His garment will heal her. She touches Him, and power goes out from Him, healing her instantly. Jesus then, despite the overwhelming crush of the crowd, stops and asks, "Who touched Me?" The disciples' reply in Mark 5:31 directly addresses Jesus' seemingly illogical question from their perspective of being surrounded by an undifferentiated throng of people, highlighting their literal and physical interpretation of the situation. This episode underscores the busy, demanding nature of Jesus' ministry, often involving large, uncontrolled crowds in Capernaum or its vicinity, where social norms allowed for close public proximity but distinct purposeful interactions.

Mark 5 31 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A common conjunction, here serving to link the disciples' immediate and logical response to Jesus' question. It indicates a continuation of the narrative flow, but also implies their quick, incredulous reaction.
• His disciples (οἱ μαθηταὶ αὐτοῦ - hoi mathētai autou): Refers to Jesus' chosen followers. This designation highlights that even those closest to Him, constantly observing His miracles, still struggled with spiritual perception beyond the physical. Their role as 'learners' is underscored by their apparent lack of understanding here.
• said to Him (ἔλεγον αὐτῷ - elegon autō): The verb is in the imperfect tense, which can suggest a continuous action, perhaps indicating their astonishment leading to an extended, baffled questioning, or a general ongoing difficulty in understanding Jesus' unique insight. It highlights their persistent failure to grasp.
• You see (Βλέπεις - Blepeis): From the verb blepō, meaning to look, see, or perceive with the physical eye. It conveys the disciples' perspective: "Can't you clearly see with your own eyes the obvious situation?" They are focused purely on the external, visual reality. This contrasts with Jesus' inner, spiritual sight.
• the crowd (τὸν ὄχλον - ton ochlon): Denotes a large, disorganized multitude of people, often noisy and pressing. For the disciples, the crowd was an undifferentiated mass of bodies; they couldn't conceive of a specific, meaningful touch within such a large, impersonal group.
• pressing around You (συνθλίβοντά σε - synthlibonta se): From synthlibō, meaning to press together, crush, squeeze, or throng. This word vividly describes the intense physical pressure Jesus was under, reinforcing the disciples' point that accidental touches were unavoidable and numerous, making Jesus' question seem absurd.
• and You say (καὶ λέγεις - kai legeis): Again, the imperfect tense legeis (from legō, to say), emphasizing the ongoing or repetitive nature of their astonishment or incredulity. "How can you keep asking such a question?" it implies. It underlines their exasperation.
• 'Who touched Me?' (Τίς μου ἥψατό - Tis mou hēpsato?): hēpsato is from haptomai, meaning to touch, to lay hold of, to cling to, or even to apply fire to. This Greek word implies a more deliberate, purposeful, or active touch, rather than just a casual brushing against. This distinction, understood by Jesus, was lost on the disciples who only perceived the multitude of accidental contacts. Jesus' question was not born of ignorance but of revelation and teaching.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "You see the crowd pressing around You": This phrase perfectly encapsulates the disciples' worldly and superficial understanding. Their attention is drawn to the visible, external, and overwhelming physical circumstances. They are emphasizing the sheer scale of the situation, implying the impossibility of pinpointing a specific touch. This highlights a common human tendency to be overwhelmed by the obvious, missing the profound.
• "and You say, 'Who touched Me?'": This combination vividly brings out the disciples' profound perplexity and the gap between their natural perception and Jesus' supernatural awareness. They perceive an endless multitude of 'touches' (unintentional brushes), while Jesus seeks out a singular 'touch' (an act of faith). It's a question rooted in disbelief and a challenge to Jesus' discernment, betraying their ongoing lack of spiritual understanding of how His power truly operated.

Mark 5 31 Bonus section

The exchange in Mark 5:31 underlines a recurring theme in the Gospels: the disciples' struggle to comprehend Jesus' divine nature and the spiritual dimensions of His ministry. Despite witnessing numerous miracles and hearing His teachings, they often default to a materialistic or worldly interpretation of events. This passage illustrates that God's ways are not like human ways, and His discernment penetrates beyond superficial appearances to the heart of intention and faith. It implicitly challenges the audience to consider their own "touch" with Jesus – is it merely passive proximity within the crowd, or an active, deliberate reach of faith? This precise differentiation between a crowd's unintentional press and a single touch of faith becomes a hallmark of the kingdom dynamics that Jesus inaugurated.

Mark 5 31 Commentary

Mark 5:31 captures a critical moment that reveals the spiritual obtuseness of Jesus' closest followers despite their physical proximity to Him. Faced with a jostling crowd, the disciples logically—from a human standpoint—could not fathom Jesus asking who had "touched" Him, as thousands were inevitably brushing against Him. Their reply serves as a practical, somewhat exasperated question, mirroring typical human reasoning that is often limited to what can be seen, heard, or felt physically.

However, Jesus' question was not born of ignorance, for He had already felt power leave Him (Lk 8:46). Instead, it was a deliberate act to bring to light an intentional act of faith, distinguishing it from the general, undifferentiated contact of the multitude. His power did not flow out indiscriminately; it responded specifically to a touch made in faith. The woman's discreet act, rooted in desperation and belief, was significant enough to register uniquely in the spiritual realm, whereas the casual contacts of the many were not.

This verse therefore serves as a profound teaching moment: not all "touches" are equal in the spiritual economy. Proximity to Jesus, even being crushed by the crowd, is insufficient for receiving His grace and power. True encounter comes from intentional faith that reaches out specifically to Him, seeking more than just physical space near the Son of God. This narrative sets faith apart from mere human presence or observation, emphasizing the purposeful seeking of God's presence and power.

Examples:

• A student might attend many classes but only genuinely learn when they actively engage with the material and apply it.
• One can be in a crowded church service and still not connect with God, whereas another might experience profound encounter even alone in quiet prayer.