Mark 5 39

Mark 5:39 kjv

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Mark 5:39 nkjv

When He came in, He said to them, "Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."

Mark 5:39 niv

He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep."

Mark 5:39 esv

And when he had entered, he said to them, "Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping."

Mark 5:39 nlt

He went inside and asked, "Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn't dead; she's only asleep."

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 39 Meaning

In Mark 5:39, Jesus, upon entering Jairus' house, confronts the customary intense mourning by declaring that the child is "not dead, but sleeping." This statement challenges the physical reality perceived by those present and reframes death from a human finality to a temporary state under divine authority. It conveys Jesus' power over death and reveals a profound theological truth that, from God's perspective, death for those destined for resurrection is merely a form of temporary sleep, awaiting awakening.

Mark 5 39 Context

Mark 5:39 occurs within a profound section of Mark's Gospel that showcases Jesus' comprehensive authority over all forms of chaotic destruction and death. The chapter begins with the healing of the Gerasene demoniac, illustrating Jesus' power over spiritual death and forces of chaos that render a person like living dead. This is immediately followed by the healing of the woman with a flow of blood, a case of debilitating illness and social "uncleanliness" which represents a protracted form of living death, restored by a touch of faith. Interspersed within this narrative is the urgency of Jairus, a synagogue official, whose daughter is dying. The verse directly follows Jesus' arrival at Jairus' house, where professional mourners, lamenting loudly in accordance with Jewish custom for the deceased, have created a scene of profound grief and chaos. Jesus' statement directly confronts this conventional expression of finality, preparing the scene for an unprecedented act of resurrection and revealing His divine nature. Historically, Jewish mourning rituals were elaborate and included paid professional mourners who would begin their lamentation immediately upon confirmation of death. Jesus' questioning of their "commotion" directly challenges their understanding of death in His presence, signaling that things are not as they appear.

Mark 5 39 Word analysis

• And when He had entered (καὶ εἰσελθὼν - kai eiselthōn): Signifies Jesus' deliberate action to move from the public space into the intimate and private setting of the house where the immediate crisis lay. His entry symbolizes His direct confrontation with death.

• He said to them (λέγει αὐτοῖς - legei autois): Denotes Jesus speaking with authority and purpose, addressing those who were actively mourning and had gathered inside the house.

• "Why make this commotion (Τί θορυβεῖσθε - Ti thorubeisthe):

  • thorubeisthe (from thorubeo) means to make a disturbance, a clamor, a noisy crowd, or to throw into confusion. It refers to the loud, unrestrained wailing and demonstration typical of Jewish mourning at the time, often amplified by professional mourners.
  • Jesus' question isn't against appropriate grief but against a potentially faithless or excessive display that fails to acknowledge His power or a higher truth. It implies a disturbance out of sync with divine purpose.

• and weep?" (καὶ κλαύετε - kai klaute):

  • klaute (from klaio) means to wail, lament aloud, or cry audibly. It highlights the deeply emotional and demonstrative aspect of their mourning.
  • Jesus' inclusion of this, alongside "commotion," emphasizes the profound despair being expressed, which He aims to challenge.

• "The child (Τὸ παιδίον - To paidion):

  • paidion (a little child) refers to Jairus' daughter, highlighting her youth and innocence, making the loss seem more tragic from a human perspective and her resurrection more remarkable.

• is not dead, (οὐκ ἀπέθανεν - ouk apethanen):

  • apethanen (from apothnesko) means "to die," to be physically deceased.
  • This is a shocking and counter-intuitive declaration. Jesus, who knows all things, does not deny the physical state but rather reinterprets its finality in the context of His divine power. He sees beyond immediate biological cessation.

• but sleeping." (ἀλλὰ καθεύδει - alla katheudei):

  • katheudei (from katheudo) means to sleep, lie down to sleep.
  • This is the pivotal phrase. For Jesus, death, particularly in this context of immediate resurrection, is like a temporary sleep. This perspective is a recurring theme in the New Testament concerning believers who die, implying a state from which they will awaken through resurrection. It elevates the understanding of death beyond physical termination to a state from which God can bring life.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "Why make this commotion and weep?": Jesus challenges the prevailing human understanding and emotional reaction to death. He is questioning the purpose or validity of their distraught mourning in His presence, implying that their actions reflect a lack of spiritual discernment or faith regarding the child's true state in God's eyes. It sets up a contrast between human despair and divine power.
  • "The child is not dead, but sleeping.": This iconic statement is Jesus' authoritative redefinition of death. It doesn't deny the physical cessation of life as recognized by the observers, but asserts a deeper reality from a divine viewpoint. For Jesus, death is a temporary condition, a precursor to awakening and resurrection. This statement underscores His unparalleled power over life and death and foreshadows His own resurrection, establishing a comforting metaphor for the ultimate destiny of believers.

Mark 5 39 Bonus section

• Jesus' statement was widely mocked by those present (Mk 5:40), highlighting the deep chasm between human understanding and divine truth, particularly when miracles are about to unfold.
• This miracle of raising Jairus' daughter, along with the raising of the widow's son in Nain (Lk 7) and Lazarus (Jn 11), forms a progression of Jesus' power over death: from one who had just died, to one being carried to burial, to one dead for four days and decaying. This progression demonstrates His complete dominion over every stage and aspect of death.
• The incident serves as a significant teaching moment for Jesus' disciples, who were among the few allowed to witness the miracle after this declaration, preparing them for the ultimate power of resurrection demonstrated in His own death and resurrection.

Mark 5 39 Commentary

Mark 5:39 captures a pivotal moment of divine confrontation with human despair. Jesus, entering a house filled with the chaos and wailing of professional mourners, cuts through the cacophony with a simple, yet profound, declaration. His questioning of their "commotion and weeping" is not a rebuke of natural grief, but a challenge to their faith and understanding. He is correcting their assumption of ultimate finality, for He is the one who holds power over death itself. By stating, "The child is not dead, but sleeping," Jesus does not engage in deception; rather, He speaks from a divine perspective where death, particularly for those destined for His life, is not an ultimate end but a temporary repose, akin to a nap before an awakening. This powerful redefinition sets the stage for a dramatic display of His authority and provides comfort for future generations of believers who face the departure of loved ones. It teaches that while death is a stark physical reality, from the standpoint of God's resurrection power, it lacks ultimate victory. This truth underpins the hope of resurrection central to Christian belief.