Mark 5 43

Mark 5:43 kjv

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Mark 5:43 nkjv

But He commanded them strictly that no one should know it, and said that something should be given her to eat.

Mark 5:43 niv

He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:43 esv

And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5:43 nlt

Jesus gave them strict orders not to tell anyone what had happened, and then he told them to give her something to eat.

Mark 5 verses

Mark 5 43 Meaning

Mark 5:43 concludes the account of Jairus' daughter being raised from the dead, showcasing Jesus' dual command for discretion and practical care. Jesus strictly charged those present—the parents and the disciples Peter, James, and John—not to disclose the miracle. Immediately following, He instructed that the young girl, having been restored to full physical life, be given something to eat. This demonstrates both Jesus' desire to control the narrative of His messianic identity and His tender, immediate concern for the child's complete well-being, confirming the reality of her physical resurrection.

Mark 5 43 Context

Mark 5:43 is the concluding verse of the powerful account of Jesus raising Jairus' twelve-year-old daughter. The narrative unfolds amidst other miracles: Jesus calming a storm (Mk 4:35-41), casting out legion of demons (Mk 5:1-20), and healing a woman with a twelve-year hemorrhage (Mk 5:25-34). The stories of Jairus' daughter and the woman with the hemorrhage are notably intertwined, with Jesus' journey to Jairus' house interrupted by the healing of the woman. This delay brings the news that Jairus' daughter has died, seemingly negating Jesus' initial purpose. Yet, Jesus' reassuring words, "Do not fear, only believe" (Mk 5:36), preface His unparalleled display of authority over death itself. He permits only Peter, James, and John, along with the girl's parents, to witness the miracle, emphasizing a chosen inner circle and a controlled environment for this profound event. The cultural context underscores the immense grief associated with a child's death and the widespread skepticism surrounding such a reversal, making Jesus' command for secrecy both prudent for managing public expectation and significant in demonstrating the unique nature of His Messiahship, distinct from political or sensational expectations.

Mark 5 43 Word analysis

• And he commanded them strictly (καὶ διεστείλατο αὐτοῖς πολλά):

  • καὶ (kai): "And." Connects directly to the preceding action, indicating an immediate consequence or instruction.
  • διεστείλατο (diesteilato): From the Greek verb διαστέλλω (diastellō). It means to "charge strictly," "give a strict injunction," "command authoritatively," or "warn strongly." This is a robust verb indicating a very firm, unambiguous order, not merely a suggestion. Its force highlights Jesus' divine authority and His intent for His instructions to be absolutely heeded. This phrase echoes other instances of the "Messianic Secret" in Mark's Gospel where Jesus seeks to manage or defer the public's understanding of His identity.
  • αὐτοῖς (autois): "Them." Refers specifically to the few witnesses allowed into the room: Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents. This small audience makes the command for secrecy particularly directed and reinforces the controlled nature of Jesus' miracles.
  • πολλά (polla): "Much," "many," here indicating "strictly" or "strongly." This adverb reinforces the intensity of the command given by Jesus, not simply "commanded them," but "commanded them strictly/much." It underscores the seriousness of His charge.

• that no one should know this (ἵνα μηδεὶς γνοῖ τοῦτο):

  • ἵνα (hina): "In order that," "so that." Indicates the purpose of the strict command.
  • μηδεὶς (mēdeis): "No one," "not anyone." An emphatic negative, ensuring complete prohibition.
  • γνοῖ (gnoi): Aorist subjunctive of γιγνώσκω (gignōskō), meaning "to know," "to learn," "to perceive." This is an intellectual knowing or coming to understand, suggesting Jesus wished to prevent public dissemination and misinterpretation of His divine power before His ultimate redemptive act on the cross.
  • τοῦτο (touto): "This." Refers to the miracle that had just occurred – the raising of the dead girl.

• and directed (καὶ εἶπεν):

  • καὶ (kai): "And." Connects this second instruction directly to the first, demonstrating Jesus' immediate concern for both the spiritual (identity management) and physical (the girl's health).
  • εἶπεν (eipen): Aorist indicative of λέγω (legō), meaning "he said," or "he directed." A simpler verb than διεστείλατο, but in context, still a clear instruction from a position of authority.

• that something should be given her to eat (δοθῆναι αὐτῇ φαγεῖν):

  • δοθῆναι (dothēnai): Aorist passive infinitive of δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning "to be given." The passive voice implies an instruction for someone (presumably the parents) to carry out this action.
  • αὐτῇ (autē): "Her," referring to the girl.
  • φαγεῖν (phagein): Aorist infinitive of ἐσθίω (esthiō), meaning "to eat." This simple, practical command highlights the fullness of the miracle. She wasn't merely resuscitated to a fragile state, but fully restored to life, requiring basic physical sustenance like any living child. This command demonstrates Jesus' thorough care and confirms the girl's true physical return to life, refuting any notion that she was a spirit or a mere vision. It confirms the corporeal nature of the miracle.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And he commanded them strictly that no one should know this": This phrase encapsulates Jesus' characteristic "Messianic Secret" theme prominent in Mark. Jesus deliberately controlled the public disclosure of His miracles and messianic identity. The severity of the command ("strictly") indicates a profound purpose, likely to prevent political uprising, misunderstanding of His mission as merely a miracle worker, or perhaps to ensure the unfolding of God's plan on its divine timeline, leading ultimately to the cross, which would redefine true Messiahship.
• "and directed that something should be given her to eat": This second part reveals Jesus' practical compassion and meticulous concern for every detail of the girl's well-being. It underscores the complete reality of her resurrection; she was not a ghost or in a semi-conscious state, but a truly restored, physically hungry child. This action serves as undeniable proof of her full return to corporeal life, grounding the supernatural event in the ordinary reality of human need. It also prevents the parents from merely marveling and neglects basic care.

Mark 5 43 Bonus section

The seemingly contradictory commands for secrecy and then for practical action reflect a deeper tension in Jesus' ministry: revealing His divine power while carefully timing the full revelation of His identity. The detail about giving her food not only confirms her physical resurrection but also emphasizes Jesus' practical care for mundane needs, showcasing His connection to common humanity and the reality of His own incarnation. This miracle serves as a prefiguration of the bodily resurrection of believers, emphasizing that our future hope is not disembodied spiritual existence, but a gloriously resurrected physical body. It also provides a vital apologetic detail; Jesus ensures there's no room for speculation about a half-miracle or a trick. The child, just raised from death, is hungry and eats, signifying a full restoration to life.

Mark 5 43 Commentary

Mark 5:43 provides a profound two-fold command from Jesus after His magnificent demonstration of power over death. The directive for silence ("that no one should know this") is consistent with Mark's theme of the "Messianic Secret." This secrecy wasn't about hiding His identity, but managing its revelation to prevent popular misunderstanding of His Messiahship as primarily political or merely miraculous, apart from His sacrificial mission on the cross. It controlled the narrative until the disciples could truly grasp who He was.

The second command, "and directed that something should be given her to eat," powerfully affirms the tangible, physical reality of the resurrection. The girl was not merely spiritually revived or resuscitated to a death-like state, but fully brought back to vibrant, corporeal life, experiencing normal human needs like hunger. This seemingly mundane instruction offers concrete evidence of a complete miracle, counteracting any perception that she was a phantom or that the event was less than a full physical restoration. It showcases Jesus' holistic concern, addressing both the supernatural event and the subsequent, ordinary needs of the restored individual, exemplifying His divine power and compassionate humanity. This demonstrates that His miracles were purposeful, leading to complete, life-affirming reality.