Mark 5:36 kjv
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mark 5:36 nkjv
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, He said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
Mark 5:36 niv
Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe."
Mark 5:36 esv
But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
Mark 5:36 nlt
But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, "Don't be afraid. Just have faith."
Mark 5 36 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Luke 8:50 | But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, “Do not be afraid; only believe, and she will be made well.” | Direct parallel of the command to Jairus. |
| Isaiah 41:10 | Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you... | God's comforting presence dispelling fear. |
| Psalm 27:1 | The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? | Trust in God overcoming fear. |
| John 11:25-26 | Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live..." | Jesus' power over death and the importance of belief. |
| Hebrews 11:6 | And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards... | Necessity of faith for God's action. |
| Matthew 9:28 | When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” | Jesus connects faith directly to ability to perform miracles. |
| Matthew 17:20 | He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move..." | Power of faith to achieve the impossible. |
| Mark 9:23 | And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” | Christ's omnipotence available through faith. |
| Proverbs 3:5-6 | Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. | Relying on God's wisdom over human comprehension. |
| 2 Corinthians 5:7 | For we walk by faith, not by sight. | Living by faith, not by external circumstances. |
| Romans 4:18-21 | In hope he believed against hope, that he would become the father of many nations... No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God... | Abraham's unwavering faith in the impossible. |
| Luke 1:30 | And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." | Divine reassurance against fear. |
| John 3:16 | For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. | Eternal life linked directly to belief in Christ. |
| Acts 3:16 | And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong...and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this complete perfect health... | Faith in Jesus' name as the source of healing power. |
| Psalm 56:3-4 | When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me? | Active trust in God despite fear. |
| Philippians 4:6-7 | Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. | God's peace overcoming anxiety/fear through prayer. |
| 1 Peter 5:7 | Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. | Trusting God with worries instead of fear. |
| Isaiah 43:1 | Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. | God's proprietorship dispelling fear. |
| Hebrews 10:35 | Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. | Perseverance in confidence/faith. |
| James 1:6 | But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. | The requirement of unwavering faith in prayer. |
| 2 Timothy 1:7 | For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. | Divine antidote to the spirit of fear. |
| John 5:21 | For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. | Jesus' inherent power to give life and overcome death. |
| Revelation 1:17 | When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, “Fear not, I am the first and the last..." | Jesus' comforting presence in terrifying moments. |
Mark 5 verses
Mark 5 36 Meaning
Mark 5:36 is a pivotal verse within the narrative of Jairus’ daughter, demonstrating Jesus' divine authority and His core message concerning faith in the face of despair. When news arrived that Jairus’ daughter had died, seemingly rendering Jesus' journey useless, Jesus immediately intercepted the messenger's words and Jairus's probable surge of grief and fear. He directly commanded Jairus not to succumb to fear but to instead maintain an active, present belief in His power, signifying that the situation was not beyond His redemptive reach. This emphasizes that true faith stands even when all human hope and medical solutions have vanished, revealing Jesus as the master over death itself.
Mark 5 36 Context
Mark 5:36 occurs within the narrative of Jesus's miracle of raising Jairus's daughter from the dead. Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, humbly approached Jesus, pleading for Him to heal his dying daughter. On their way, Jesus was interrupted by a woman suffering from a hemorrhage, whom He also healed through her faith. During this delay, messengers arrived from Jairus's house with the grim news that his daughter had died, telling Jairus not to bother the Teacher any longer. This moment marks a profound shift from a potential healing to an impossible resurrection. Historically and culturally, death was seen as a finality, especially without the advanced medical understanding we have today. The pronouncement of death signaled the end of all hope and was often met with immediate and dramatic mourning. For a synagogue ruler, whose position was respected, admitting to such an unconventional plea to Jesus was already a risk, and the news of his daughter's death confirmed all logical fears and likely brought shame. Jesus's immediate response directly confronted the cultural despair and the finality of death, presenting faith in His power as the ultimate counter-truth.
Mark 5 36 Word analysis
- But Jesus, hearing: (Ὁ δὲ Ἰησοῦς παρακούσας, Ho de Iēsous parakousas). "But" (δὲ, de) marks a transition, often signifying a contrast or continuation. Jesus's act of "hearing" (παρακούσας, parakousas) here can mean to "overhear" or "hear besides/instead of." It implies His swift apprehension of the negative report that others intended for Jairus. It signifies Jesus's divine awareness and intervention, preventing the despair from taking full hold. His proactive response contrasts with the prevailing atmosphere of human despair.
- what was said, (τὸν λόγον, ton logon): Refers specifically to the statement from Jairus’s household that "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher further?" (Mk 5:35). This was a message of hopelessness and cessation, immediately overturned by Jesus.
- immediately said: (εὐθέως ἐλάλησεν, eutheōs elalēsen). Mark characteristically uses "immediately" (εὐθέως, eutheōs) to emphasize the swiftness and decisiveness of Jesus's actions. It conveys urgency and divine prerogative. Jesus's response isn't delayed by the devastating news but is instantaneous, demonstrating His direct confrontation of the crisis and the finality of death.
- to the ruler of the synagogue, (τῷ ἀρχισυναγώγῳ, tō archisynagōgō): Jairus. His official religious position adds weight to the event, as he represents conventional Jewish authority, yet turns to Jesus, then is called to believe beyond convention.
- “Do not fear, (Μὴ φοβοῦ, Mē phobou). This is a strong negative command in the present imperative, meaning "Stop fearing" or "Do not continue to fear." It’s a common divine injunction in the Bible (OT and NT), spoken by God, angels, or Jesus when people are in moments of great crisis, revelation, or impending miraculous acts. It addresses the emotional and psychological state directly. This isn't merely comfort, but a command to actively cease yielding to terror. It challenges the conventional and natural human response to death.
- only believe.” (μόνον πίστευε, monon pisteue). "Only" (μόνον, monon) sets faith apart as the single, exclusive condition and course of action required. It indicates singularity and necessity, emphasizing that nothing else is needed, no other alternative remains or matters. "Believe" (πίστευε, pisteue) is also a present active imperative, meaning "keep on believing" or "continue to exercise faith." It's not a one-time event but an ongoing disposition of trust. This faith is not simply intellectual assent, but active, enduring trust in Jesus's power despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.
- "But Jesus, hearing... immediately said...": This phrase highlights Jesus's prompt and authoritative interception of a situation that threatened to engulf Jairus in despair. His active "hearing" (or overhearing) allows Him to preempt Jairus's fear. This shows His sovereign control and purposeful intervention, transforming a moment of impending sorrow into one of immediate spiritual instruction and ultimate victory. The sequence signifies divine counter-action to human limitation and the power of death.
- "Do not fear, only believe.": This is a direct polemic against despair, fear, and the perceived finality of death common in the ancient world. It's a declaration of Jesus's superior power and kingdom reality over the natural realm. It encapsulates a core tenet of Jesus's teaching: faith (trust in His power and person) is the antidote to fear (reacting to adverse circumstances with despair). The command challenges the very basis of human logic in the face of death and calls for an act of spiritual reliance. This singular focus ("only") on belief points to Jesus's unique identity as the source of life and hope, and underscores the simple yet profound demand He places on those who seek His miraculous intervention.
Mark 5 36 Bonus section
This verse subtly introduces an important aspect of Mark's Gospel: the theme of divine secrecy (sometimes referred to as the "Messianic Secret") combined with the revelation of Jesus's true power. While Jairus is a figure of authority, his public desperation, followed by Jesus's seemingly audacious claim against the finality of death, would have been controversial. Jesus then restricts access to the healing itself to only a few intimate disciples, showcasing the miracle privately, consistent with themes of His kingdom being unveiled gradually or being misunderstood by many. The "only believe" command also highlights the radical nature of Jesus's teachings; He frequently bypasses the conventional systems (medical, religious) of His day to assert His authority based purely on an individual's faith in Him. This contrasts with practices that relied on elaborate rituals, specific sacrifices, or rigid adherence to the law as primary means to divine favor or healing, shifting the emphasis squarely onto personal trust in Christ.
Mark 5 36 Commentary
Mark 5:36 presents Jesus's decisive response to a crisis, demonstrating His divine sovereignty over life and death and the crucial role of faith. When Jairus received the devastating news that his daughter had died, all human hope ceased, aligning with the common ancient perception of death as final. Jesus immediately countered this terminal diagnosis, not with sympathy alone, but with a direct command. His words, "Do not fear, only believe," are a succinct theological declaration. "Do not fear" addresses the human reaction to what appears insurmountable, forbidding the paralysis of terror and despair. "Only believe" is the exclusive remedy and directive, asserting that trust in Jesus is the singular requirement for transcending natural limitations. This emphasizes that Jesus’ power operates outside human understanding and possibility. It wasn't about Jairus having a great faith, but a focused faith on Christ's ability. This interaction portrays Jesus as the ultimate authority, capable of overturning the most absolute human reality – death – and underscores that a steadfast reliance on Him is the path to witness His miraculous works.For instance, when faced with overwhelming odds or impossible circumstances, instead of allowing fear or conventional logic to dominate, Jesus calls for an intentional, continuous trust in Him, as He did with Jairus.