Matthew 9:23 kjv

And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,

Matthew 9:23 nkjv

When Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd wailing,

Matthew 9:23 niv

When Jesus entered the synagogue leader's house and saw the noisy crowd and people playing pipes,

Matthew 9:23 esv

And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,

Matthew 9:23 nlt

When Jesus arrived at the official's home, he saw the noisy crowd and heard the funeral music.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 23 Meaning

Matthew 9:23 describes the scene as Jesus arrives at the house of the synagogue ruler, Jairus, to heal his daughter. Upon entering, Jesus observes a significant gathering: professional musicians playing sorrowful tunes, typically performed at funerals, and a large crowd making a considerable commotion. This immediate sight conveyed to Jesus that, by common understanding and Jewish custom, the girl was presumed dead and public mourning had already commenced. The verse sets the stage for Jesus's encounter with prevailing unbelief and His subsequent demonstration of divine power over death itself.

Matthew 9 23 Context

This verse occurs immediately after Jesus has healed the woman with an issue of blood, who touched His garment (Matt 9:20-22). The healing of the woman was an interruption while Jesus was already on His way to the house of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, who had pleaded with Jesus to come and lay His hands on his dying daughter (Matt 9:18). Therefore, Matthew 9:23 picks up the narrative thread, showing Jesus's arrival at the destination He was initially headed towards.

Historically and culturally, the scene Jesus encountered was common in ancient Jewish society when someone died, especially in affluent homes. It was a well-established custom, and even a requirement according to some Jewish traditions (Mishnah Ketubot 4:4), to hire professional mourners—often referred to as 'minstrels' because they would play flutes (aulētēs) mournful tunes—and wailing women (Jer 9:17). The purpose of this was to express overwhelming grief publicly and loudly, signaling death had occurred and a period of deep sorrow had begun. The presence of these individuals and the "noise" (uproar/commotion) signified to all that the girl was not just dying, but presumed already dead, creating an atmosphere of irreversible despair before Jesus even entered.

Matthew 9 23 Word analysis

• And when Jesus came: Denotes an immediate progression from the previous event, signaling His arrival at the culmination of the journey for which He was summoned.
• into the ruler's house:
  • ruler's: From Greek ἀρχων (archōn), referring to a dignitary, a chief official, in this context, specifically a synagogue ruler like Jairus. This signifies a person of social standing and authority within the Jewish community, whose desperate plea underscored the extremity of the situation and perhaps the widespread recognition of Jesus's power even among the religious elite.
  • house: Greek οἰκία (oikia), a private dwelling or household. It sets the intimate, personal scene of the miracle, yet it's filled with a crowd.
• and saw: Indicates Jesus's direct observation and perception of the prevailing situation. He noted the reality of the scene and the custom.
• the minstrels: Greek αὐλητὰς (aulētēs), meaning 'flute players.' These were specifically professional musicians hired to play mournful tunes at funerals and wakes. Their presence was a definitive cultural sign that a death had occurred or was imminent and inevitable. Their function was to evoke and intensify public lamentation.
• and the people: Greek τὸν ὄχλον (ton ochlon), referring to 'the crowd' or 'multitude.' This shows the public nature of Jairus's affliction and the community's engagement with the event, indicating that word had spread and many had gathered.
• making a noise: From Greek θορυβούμενον (thoruboumenon), meaning 'to make an uproar,' 'to be in a state of confusion or tumult,' 'to make loud wailings.' This describes the loud lamentation, wailing, and perhaps general disarray and emotional chaos typical of a Jewish funeral setting where professional mourners, along with the grieving family and friends, expressed intense sorrow. It represented a deep-seated belief in the finality of death in this specific instance.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "And when Jesus came into the ruler's house": This phrase immediately grounds the reader in the location of the next miraculous event. The specific mention of "the ruler's house" underscores the prominence of Jairus and how Jesus did not limit His ministry to only the marginalized, but also ministered to those of high social standing, signifying universal reach and impact of His power.
• "and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise": This visual and auditory description immerses the reader into the atmosphere of overwhelming grief and customary mourning. The "minstrels" provide clear cultural context for death, while "the people making a noise" amplifies the public expression of sorrow and the belief that life had already departed. It also highlights the contrast that Jesus would soon establish between this scene of worldly lament and His divine calm and life-giving power. The combined presence of professional mourners and a tumultuous crowd vividly portrays an irreversible situation from a human perspective, setting up the grand scale of Jesus's miracle.

Matthew 9 23 Bonus section

The "noise" (thorubos) described in Matthew 9:23 is more than just loud wailing; it denotes confusion, disorder, and commotion, a tumultuous expression of sorrow and hopelessness. This state of emotional disarray sets a stark contrast to the divine order and calm that Jesus embodies and will soon bring. The cacophony of human grief underscores the spiritual darkness associated with death from a worldly perspective, making Jesus's subsequent quiet command and display of power all the more striking. The fact that professional mourners were hired (indicating the high social standing of Jairus) demonstrates how pervasive these customs were, making the public scene even more pronounced, amplifying the scale of disbelief Jesus had to address and overcome with His life-giving word.

Matthew 9 23 Commentary

Matthew 9:23 vividly captures a critical moment of conflict between human perception and divine reality. Upon arriving at Jairus's house, Jesus steps into an environment saturated with the sights and sounds of death. The "minstrels," specifically flute players, and the "people making a noise" indicate the prevailing cultural response to presumed death, deeply embedded in Jewish tradition. This was not a private family grieving; it was a public declaration of demise, where elaborate and noisy mourning customs reinforced the finality of the situation. From a human standpoint, particularly in a world without modern medical confirmations, these rituals were the conclusive signs of death. Jesus's arrival in this scene underscores the profound tension between worldly sorrow and His supernatural power. The pre-judgment of death, evidenced by the rituals, serves to magnify the later miracle, showing that Jesus’s power extended even over the realm thought to be unalterable. It emphasizes His authority over death itself, transforming a scene of public mourning into one of divine triumph.