Mark 5 42

Mark 5:42 kjv

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

Mark 5:42 nkjv

Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great amazement.

Mark 5:42 niv

Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Mark 5:42 esv

And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

Mark 5:42 nlt

And the girl, who was twelve years old, immediately stood up and walked around! They were overwhelmed and totally amazed.

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 42 Meaning

Mark 5:42 describes the immediate and complete restoration to life of Jairus's daughter, a young girl, demonstrating the profound and undeniable power of Jesus over death. Upon Jesus's command, she instantly rose and began to walk, visibly confirming her full recovery and vitality. This event caused overwhelming astonishment among those present, witnessing a miracle that defied natural law. The mention of her age, twelve years, subtly links her to the woman healed in the same chapter, who had suffered for twelve years, and emphasizes the preciousness of the life restored.

Mark 5 42 Context

Mark 5:42 concludes the account of Jesus raising Jairus's daughter, one of three recorded instances in the Gospels where Jesus brings someone back from the dead (the others being the widow of Nain's son and Lazarus). This miracle is strategically placed within Mark's narrative, sandwiched between the healing of the Gerasene demoniac (Mk 5:1-20) and the healing of the woman with the flow of blood (Mk 5:25-34). This arrangement highlights Jesus's absolute authority over all domains of evil and suffering: the demonic realm, disease, and ultimately, death itself. The journey to Jairus's house is interrupted by the healing of the woman with a twelve-year ailment, providing a poignant thematic link to Jairus's daughter, also twelve years old, whose life had been extinguished. The cultural context views death as the ultimate enemy and defilement, particularly the death of a young one. Jewish society placed high value on children as a blessing, and death in the household brought immense sorrow and ritual impurity. For Jesus to command life into a deceased girl, directly touching a dead body, would have been culturally shocking but powerfully demonstrated His divine authority over what was considered impure and irreversible.

Mark 5 42 Word analysis

• And straightway (Greek: Kai euthus - "And immediately/at once"): Mark frequently uses euthus, characteristic of his Gospel's fast-paced, action-oriented style. It conveys the instantaneity and undeniable nature of divine action, emphasizing that Jesus's power works without delay or gradual recovery.
• the damsel (Greek: to korasion - "the little girl"): This is a diminutive term for a young female, emphasizing her tender age and innocence. It highlights the pathos of her death and the tenderness of Jesus's compassion in restoring such a vulnerable and cherished life.
• arose (Greek: anestē - "she stood up/rose"): This verb is deeply significant, often used for rising from sleep or sickness, but notably also for rising from the dead (resurrection). Here, it signifies her complete triumph over death, literally "standing up" from where she lay lifeless. It implicitly foreshadows Jesus's own resurrection.
• and walked (Greek: kai periepatēi - "and she was walking about/moving around"): This detail is crucial. She didn't just stand up in a catatonic state; she immediately began to move around, demonstrating full vitality, health, and a return to normal functions. It confirms the genuineness and completeness of the miracle, assuring onlookers that she was truly alive and well, not merely resuscitated or revived for a brief moment.
• for she was of the age of twelve years (Greek: ēn gar etōn dōdeka - "for she was twelve years old"): The repeated emphasis on "twelve years" here connects directly and intentionally to the woman healed of the blood flow in the preceding narrative (Mk 5:25). It subtly suggests that for twelve years the woman suffered, but this girl lived for twelve years before dying, both narratives emphasizing life restored or sustained by Jesus after a critical twelve-year period. This age also signified a transitional period for a Jewish girl, approaching womanhood.
• And they were astonished with a great astonishment (Greek: kai exestēsan ekstasei megalē - "and they stood out with a great standing out," a cognate accusative emphasizing the intensity): This phrase describes an extreme state of amazement, shock, and profound awe. The repetition of the root word (ekstasis - "standing out," "bewilderment," "trance") emphasizes the overwhelming nature of their reaction. It indicates a spiritual state of being utterly beside oneself, overwhelmed by a supernatural event that utterly transcended their understanding or expectation. This reaction confirms the miracle's immense impact on witnesses.
• Word-Groups Analysis:
  • "And straightway the damsel arose, and walked": This concise phrase highlights the immediate, full, and active restoration of life, demonstrating Jesus's swift and effective command over death and disease. It's a powerful display of life overcoming death in real-time.
  • "for she was of the age of twelve years": This detail emphasizes the young age and the tender life that was returned, reinforcing the profoundness of Jesus's compassion and power in reversing such a tragic loss. It also subtly connects to the adjacent healing story.
  • "And they were astonished with a great astonishment": This phrase conveys the sheer magnitude of the impact the miracle had on the eyewitnesses. It was not mere surprise but a deep, awe-filled, and possibly fearful recognition of supernatural power at work, forcing a reckoning with Jesus's identity.

Mark 5 42 Bonus section

The miracle of raising Jairus's daughter from death, paired closely with the healing of the woman with the flow of blood, showcases Jesus's sovereign power over both disease and death. This "sandwiching" technique in Mark's Gospel not only highlights His authority but also beautifully intertwines narratives demonstrating different facets of His compassionate power. The woman represents prolonged suffering, the girl sudden death. Jesus's touch, though typically causing ritual impurity according to the law when touching a dead body (Num 19:11-13), instead imparts life and purity, demonstrating His supremacy over the law's limitations and over impurity itself. The instructions given earlier to Jairus ("Do not be afraid, only believe," Mk 5:36) find their vindication in this verse, underscoring the vital role of faith in witnessing God's powerful intervention. Furthermore, Jesus's gentle command, "Talitha cumi" ("Little girl, I say to you, arise," Mk 5:41), translated by the evangelist Mark, emphasizes His tender personal address and direct agency in the miracle. The public's astonishment later gives way to instructions for them to give her something to eat (Mk 5:43), indicating a desire for tangible proof of her complete return to normal life and to focus on her earthly well-being rather than merely the spectacular. This pragmatic detail roots the supernatural event firmly in everyday reality, confirming its authenticity.

Mark 5 42 Commentary

Mark 5:42 powerfully culminates the narrative of Jesus's interaction with Jairus and his deceased daughter. It is a striking demonstration of Jesus's ultimate authority over death itself, a central theme affirming His divine identity. The instantaneous "arising and walking" provides irrefutable evidence that a full and complete restoration to life occurred, not merely a fleeting revival. The girl's immediate ability to walk signifies complete health and vitality, negating any suggestion of a temporary or incomplete healing. The specific mention of her age, twelve years, while providing a textual link to the woman with the flow of blood, also underscores the value of every individual life in God's eyes and the triumph over death that robs families of their children. The "great astonishment" of the witnesses encapsulates the awe, wonder, and perhaps fear that often accompanied direct encounters with God's power in Jesus. This miracle serves not only as a display of Jesus's power but also as a powerful message that no situation is beyond His reach, reaffirming the truth that "with God all things are possible" (Mk 10:27). For believers, it's a foundational promise of resurrection, both spiritual in this life and physical in the life to come.