Matthew 9:21 kjv

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Matthew 9:21 nkjv

For she said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."

Matthew 9:21 niv

She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."

Matthew 9:21 esv

for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be made well."

Matthew 9:21 nlt

for she thought, "If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed."

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 21 Meaning

Matthew 9:21 conveys the profound faith of a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years. Her silent thought reveals a deep conviction that merely touching the hem of Jesus' garment would be enough to bring about her complete physical healing. This act, born out of desperation and deep belief, illustrates her understanding of Jesus' unique, divine power to restore.

Matthew 9 21 Context

This verse is situated within a series of narratives in Matthew 9 showcasing Jesus' power and authority over various afflictions and even death. Immediately prior, Jesus has demonstrated His authority to forgive sins (healing the paralytic), called Matthew, and responded to questions about fasting. The healing of the woman with the hemorrhage (Mt 9:20-22) is specifically interwoven within the narrative of Jesus going to heal Jairus's daughter (Mt 9:18-19, 23-26). The woman's chronic condition rendered her ceremonially unclean according to Levitical law (Lev 15:19-30), leading to social isolation and disqualification from public worship. This background underscores her desperate need and courageous act, as her touch would have rendered Jesus ritually unclean in the eyes of the Mosaic Law. Her choice to touch His garment, particularly the kraspedon or fringe, shows her deep, yet humble, belief that even the outermost part of Jesus' person contained transformative power.

Matthew 9 21 Word analysis

• For she: Introduces the reason for her action, pointing to her internal motivation. It links directly to the subsequent account of her physical act of reaching out.
• said: (Greek: eipen, related to legō) While often meaning "to speak," here it specifically means "to say or tell within herself," emphasizing an unspoken, inner resolve or thought. It denotes a conviction that precedes action.
• within herself: (Greek: en heautē) This phrase is crucial. It signifies an internal, private thought process. Her faith was not publicly declared initially due to her condition (ritual impurity) and possibly shame or fear of rebuke. This highlights the intensely personal nature of her belief and desperation.
• 'If I only touch: (Greek: ean monon hapsōmai) The conditional "If" followed by "only" or "merely" underscores the radical nature of her faith and humility. She did not presume a full embrace or an elaborate ritual, but believed the smallest contact would suffice. Hapsōmai implies a clinging or holding fast, a deliberate rather than accidental touch, indicating intention and reliance.
• His garment, (Greek: tou himatiou autou) Refers to Jesus' outer cloak. In Jewish custom, this cloak often had tassels or fringes (tzitzit) on its four corners (Num 15:38-39; Deut 22:12), which were worn to remind Jews of God's commandments. This specific part, the hem or kraspedon, became a focal point for the woman's faith, not as a magical object itself, but as a permissible point of contact for her belief in Jesus' power.
• I will be made well.' (Greek: sōthēsomai) This is a future passive verb from sōzō, which carries a broad range of meanings: to be saved, delivered, preserved, healed, or made whole. In this immediate context, it signifies physical healing from her long-standing affliction. However, in the broader New Testament, sōzō often implies spiritual salvation, hinting at the comprehensive nature of Christ's restorative work—physical, spiritual, and social. Her statement is one of absolute certainty, reflecting complete trust in the outcome.

Words-group analysis:

• "For she said within herself": This phrase illuminates her inner conviction, born of profound desperation. It highlights that true faith often begins in the quiet chambers of the heart, where an individual privately acknowledges Jesus' power even before any outward expression.
• "'If I only touch His garment": This expresses an extraordinary depth of humble yet powerful faith. It bypasses conventional religious structures and physical limitations, believing that proximity to Jesus’ divine essence—even at its periphery through His clothing—was enough to access His limitless healing power. It's a statement about Jesus' intrinsic power rather than the garment itself holding power.
• "I will be made well'": This showcases her unwavering certainty in Jesus' ability and willingness to heal. It is a declarative statement of faith, predicting a definite outcome, demonstrating that her trust in Christ was not tentative but absolute.

Matthew 9 21 Bonus section

The woman's desperate approach, touching Jesus' kraspedon (fringe), would traditionally have rendered anyone she touched unclean according to Mosaic law. Yet, instead of Jesus becoming defiled, His power transmitted healing to her, signifying that His divine holiness was so potent it reversed defilement. This beautifully illustrates a core New Testament truth: Jesus doesn't catch impurity, He dispels it. His contact, even indirect, cleanses and purifies. This healing account serves as a microcosm of Jesus' broader mission: to save the lost, heal the broken, and cleanse the unclean, ultimately making all who believe completely whole.

Matthew 9 21 Commentary

Matthew 9:21 unveils a moment of profound, determined faith from a desperate woman. Her thought, "If I only touch His garment, I will be made well," reveals a singular focus on Jesus' power, not through elaborate ritual, but through the simplest physical contact. Having suffered for twelve years, rendered ritually unclean and an outcast, she recognized Jesus as the ultimate source of healing and purity, capable of overcoming every societal and physical barrier. Her faith centered on the kraspedon, the tassel or fringe of Jesus’ garment, a cultural detail which became a tangible, yet not magical, point of connection for her belief. This intimate act of faith, done secretly, illustrates that it is the active, believing heart that draws forth Christ's power, immediately transforming her condition. Though silent, her action spoke volumes, prompting Jesus to acknowledge her faith as the true catalyst for her miraculous healing, ultimately bringing her not only physical restoration but also public affirmation and peace.