Matthew 9:18 kjv

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

Matthew 9:18 nkjv

While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live."

Matthew 9:18 niv

While he was saying this, a synagogue leader came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."

Matthew 9:18 esv

While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

Matthew 9:18 nlt

As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. "My daughter has just died," he said, "but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her."

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 18 Meaning

While Jesus was teaching and engaged in discourse, a prominent local ruler approached Him in desperate humility. This ruler's young daughter had tragically just died, and he knelt before Jesus, acknowledging His unique power by asking Him to come and lay His hand on the child, firmly believing that this act alone would restore her to life. The verse emphasizes the father's profound faith in Jesus's authority over death, the urgency of the situation, and Jesus's immediate response.

Matthew 9 18 Context

Matthew 9:18 directly follows a series of encounters demonstrating Jesus's authority and challenging conventional religious practices. Before this verse, Jesus heals a paralytic, asserting His authority to forgive sins (9:1-8). He then calls Matthew, a tax collector, to be a disciple, dines with "tax collectors and sinners," and famously declares, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners" (9:9-13). Immediately preceding this verse are the discussions about fasting and the parables of new cloth on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins (9:14-17), highlighting the newness and distinctness of Jesus's kingdom from old religious forms.

Historically and culturally, a "ruler" (likely a synagogue ruler) held significant status and authority in Jewish society. For such a person to publicly approach Jesus, kneel before Him, and appeal for help regarding a "dead" child, was an act of profound humility and a radical departure from the skepticism or opposition often shown by other religious leaders. Death in Jewish culture carried ceremonial uncleanness, and Jesus's willingness to involve Himself with death underscored His authority over ritual law for the sake of demonstrating God's life-giving power. The desperation of a father, coupled with unwavering faith, forms the immediate backdrop for Jesus's next mighty act.

Matthew 9 18 Word analysis

• While he was saying these things: "He" refers to Jesus. "These things" refers to Jesus's parables on new cloth and new wine and His teaching about His mission not being about fasting, but a "new wineskin" of a new covenant, specifically addressed to the disciples of John and the Pharisees. This indicates an abrupt interruption by the ruler, highlighting his urgency.
• behold (ἰδού - idou): A common interjection in the Gospels, used to draw immediate attention to what follows. It emphasizes the sudden, impactful arrival of the ruler and the significance of his action.
• a ruler (ἄρχων - archōn): Literally "a chief man," "a leader," or "a magistrate." While the parallel accounts in Mark (5:22) and Luke (8:41) identify him as Jairus, a "ruler of the synagogue," Matthew's more general term still conveys his high standing and social influence within the community. For such a man to seek Jesus demonstrates profound humility and desperation.
• came in: This implies Jesus was likely in a house, possibly Peter's house, or a private setting where the feast was held. The ruler interrupted this setting.
• and knelt before him (προσεκύνει αὐτῷ - prosekunei autō): This action goes beyond mere respectful greeting. "Proskyneo" implies prostration, deep reverence, and often an act of worship. For a Jewish leader to perform such an act towards a prophet, teacher, or especially someone seen by many as a renegade, signifies immense humility, profound recognition of Jesus's authority, and desperate appeal.
• saying: Introduces the plea.
• My daughter: Establishes the personal and emotional stakes. The child's youth makes the death all the more tragic.
• has just died (ἀρτίως ἐτελεύτησεν - artiōs eteleutēsen): "Just now," "recently passed away." Matthew's account here differs from Mark and Luke, where the daughter is at the point of death (Mk 5:23) or dying (Lk 8:42) when the father comes. Matthew presents it as a completed death, which heightens the miracle. It means Jesus is performing a resurrection, not just a healing.
• but: Introduces a sharp contrast or counter-belief. Despite the finality of death, the ruler offers a solution.
• come and lay your hand on her (ἐλθὼν ἐπίθες τὴν χεῖρά σου ἐπ’ αὐτήν - elthōn epithes tēn cheira sou ep' autēn): The "laying on of hands" was a recognized biblical act for imparting blessing, healing, or power (Gen 48:14, Acts 6:6). Here, it's invoked for resurrection. It reveals the ruler's firm belief in Jesus's inherent, life-giving power.
• and she will live (καὶ ζήσεται - kai zēsetai): A declarative statement, not a hopeful wish. It expresses absolute conviction in Jesus's ability. This is a profound statement of faith against all odds, trusting in Jesus's power to conquer death itself.

• While he was saying these things, behold, a ruler came in: Emphasizes the sudden interruption of Jesus's discourse by an urgent, unexpected need, highlighting Jesus's availability and immediate shift in focus.
• a ruler came in and knelt before him: Significant pairing. A person of authority taking a position of complete submission to Jesus. It is a powerful visual of profound respect and supplication, indicative of great faith born from desperate need.
• My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live: A potent articulation of faith that overcomes despair. Despite the apparent finality of death ("just died"), the ruler believes implicitly in Jesus's power to reverse it through a simple touch, proclaiming certainty in her return to life.

Matthew 9 18 Bonus section

The Gospels of Mark (5:21-43) and Luke (8:40-56) provide a more detailed narrative of this event, identifying the ruler by name as Jairus and embedding the account of the woman with the flow of blood as an interlude while Jesus is en route to Jairus's house. Matthew's concise telling focuses sharply on the ruler's faith, the stark reality of the daughter's death (already dead upon the father's plea), and Jesus's immediate and effective power. This brevity allows Matthew to quickly establish Jesus's messianic authority as the one who commands life over death, a central theme in his Gospel, without the additional narrative details found elsewhere.

Matthew 9 18 Commentary

Matthew 9:18 portrays a critical moment where the earthly and spiritual realms intensely intersect. The synagogue ruler's desperate plea showcases extraordinary faith. He kneels, an act of worship usually reserved for God or divine beings, acknowledging Jesus's supreme authority even in the face of death, the ultimate human limit. Matthew's account heightens the miraculous by stating the daughter "just died," meaning Jesus's subsequent action is unequivocally a resurrection from the dead, not a healing of a dying person. This detail underlines Jesus's complete mastery over the natural and supernatural, fulfilling prophecies and demonstrating His divine identity as the one with power over life itself. Jesus's immediate departure to follow the ruler signifies His profound compassion and unwavering readiness to respond to faith, regardless of the social standing of the petitioner or the public scrutiny such an act might bring. This incident further demonstrates that Jesus’s mission extends to delivering from sin and sickness, but ultimately, from death itself.