Matthew 9:24 kjv

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Matthew 9:24 nkjv

He said to them, "Make room, for the girl is not dead, but sleeping." And they ridiculed Him.

Matthew 9:24 niv

he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.

Matthew 9:24 esv

he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

Matthew 9:24 nlt

"Get out!" he told them. "The girl isn't dead; she's only asleep." But the crowd laughed at him.

Matthew 9 verses

Matthew 9 24 Meaning

In Matthew 9:24, Jesus confronts the prevailing perception of death by stating the young girl is "not dead but sleeping." This reveals His divine understanding that what appears as permanent cessation of life from a human perspective is, for Him, a temporary state. It highlights His absolute authority over death, asserting that the girl's condition is merely a form of sleep from which He intends to awaken her. His words also dismiss the loud, disbelieving professional mourners, emphasizing a need for faith and reverence in the presence of a miraculous divine act.

Matthew 9 24 Context

This verse is part of the account of Jesus raising Jairus' daughter from the dead, found in Matthew 9:18-26 (paralleled in Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56). Earlier in Matthew 9, Jesus has already demonstrated authority over sin, disease, and demonic spirits. The request from Jairus, a synagogue official, for his daughter, who is dying, brings Jesus to a direct confrontation with death itself. As Jesus is en route to Jairus' house, news arrives that the girl has died, making the situation seem hopeless. Upon reaching the house, Jesus encounters a scene of customary grief: loud noise from pipers and a distressed crowd, including professional mourners who were hired to wail. It is in this environment, amidst the sounds of human sorrow and the firm belief in the finality of death, that Jesus speaks the words of verse 24. His statement sets His divine reality apart from the common understanding and prepares the way for an extraordinary miracle. The passage immediately following this verse (v.25) details Jesus dismissing the crowd before entering and raising the girl.

Matthew 9 24 Word analysis

• He: Refers to Jesus Christ. This highlights His unique identity as the one possessing authority over life and death. His words are not merely suggestions but authoritative declarations.
• said: (εἶπεν, eipen): A simple verb, yet denoting a declarative, authoritative statement. Jesus' words are efficacious, capable of changing reality.
• to them,: Refers to the pipers and the crowd making a commotion. These were likely professional mourners hired to create a visible display of grief, a common practice in ancient Jewish funerals (Jer 9:17; Am 5:16). Their presence signifies a state of certain death in their perception.
• Go away,: (ἀναχωρεῖτε, anachōreite): A command, an imperative in the present tense, suggesting immediate and continued action—"Be going" or "Depart." This dismissal served multiple purposes:
  • To maintain reverence: The atmosphere of commotion and despair was contrary to the holy, life-giving act Jesus was about to perform.
  • To avoid defilement: Touching a dead body rendered one ritually unclean according to Mosaic Law (Num 19:11-16). While Jesus Himself transcends such defilement (as shown in v.25 when He touches the girl), the crowd's ritual impurity and disbelief were an obstacle to the manifestation of divine power.
  • To prevent misunderstanding/spectacle: Jesus often sought to limit public display of His miracles to control His timing and the proper understanding of His mission (Mk 3:12; 5:43).
  • To separate believers from unbelievers: He only allowed the parents, Peter, James, and John to witness the raising, reinforcing the theme that such divine acts are witnessed by faith, not mere curiosity.
• for: (γάρ, gar): Introduces the reason for the command "Go away." It signifies causation or explanation, leading into Jesus' controversial statement.
• the girl: (τὸ κοράσιον, to korasion): A diminutive noun, emphasizing her young age, likely between 8 and 12 years old. This underscores the profound nature of the miracle, as a young, seemingly helpless life is restored.
• is not dead: (οὐκ ἀπέθανεν, ouk apethanen): A direct and absolute negation. Jesus challenges the objective reality perceived by everyone present. Their sight and knowledge tell them she is dead; Jesus states she is not. This is central to His unique authority and perspective.
• but: (ἀλλά, alla): A strong adversative conjunction, indicating a sharp contrast or opposition between "not dead" and "sleeping."
• sleeping. (καθεύδει, katheudei): In common parlance, "sleeping" was a euphemism for death in the ancient world, as it is in many cultures. However, in Jesus' context, and especially in this narrative and the account of Lazarus (Jn 11:11), it carried a literal truth. For Jesus, death, particularly for those He intended to restore, was merely a temporary, reversible state akin to sleep, from which one could be easily awakened. It implicitly connects to the ultimate resurrection of believers, who are said to "sleep in Jesus" until His return (1 Thes 4:14).

Word-groups analysis:

• "He said to them, 'Go away,': A direct, authoritative dismissal from Jesus to those who were acting according to human tradition and unbelief, prior to a divine work.
• "for the girl is not dead but sleeping.": This is a pivotal statement, revealing Jesus' divine perspective. He reframes death not as an end but as a temporary state, emphasizing His dominion over it. It stands in stark contrast to the human, physical evidence, leading to the ridicule that follows in the narrative.

Matthew 9 24 Bonus section

The Jewish cultural custom of professional mourners played a key role in the immediate reaction to Jesus' statement. These individuals were trained in laments and often accompanied by musicians (like the pipers mentioned), creating an intense atmosphere of sorrow. Their "knowing that she was dead" and subsequent laughter when Jesus made His statement underscores not just a lack of faith but a cynical dismissal rooted in their expertise of death. They were witnessing what seemed like utter foolishness or blasphemy to them. Jesus' firm command to "Go away" wasn't merely about creating quiet; it was about removing an active force of skepticism and impurity that stood in direct opposition to the divine power about to be manifested. It teaches that sometimes, for God's work to proceed, unhelpful or hostile presences must be removed. This echoes other instances where Jesus sought privacy or enjoined secrecy about His miracles to control their interpretation and impact. The contrast between the noisy disbelief outside and the quiet, sacred act within is significant.

Matthew 9 24 Commentary

Matthew 9:24 is a profoundly significant verse that encapsulates Jesus' unique relationship with life and death. When Jesus declares the girl "not dead but sleeping," He speaks from a divine vantage point, seeing beyond human understanding and sensory evidence. For the crowd, particularly the professional mourners, the girl's death was an irreversible fact, attested to by her lifeless body and their rituals. Their immediate response of ridicule (mentioned in parallel accounts, Mk 5:40, Lk 8:53) underscores the radical nature of Jesus' claim and their deep-seated unbelief.

This declaration serves as a crucial theological statement: Jesus possesses authority over death, reducing it to a temporary, recoverable condition, much like sleep from which one can be roused. It anticipates His own resurrection and His power to grant life to whom He wills. By dismissing the crowd, Jesus removes the elements of public spectacle, noise, and pervasive unbelief that would hinder the intimate, faith-filled environment needed for this miracle. Only a few chosen disciples and the parents were permitted to witness this demonstration of divine power, signifying that such profound truths are revealed to those with faith, not to scoffers.

The use of "sleeping" as a metaphor for death is common in the Bible, especially concerning believers (Jn 11:11; 1 Thes 4:13), pointing to the hope of resurrection. Jesus' words here are not a denial of biological death, but an assertion of His absolute control over it, presenting it as a mere transition that He can reverse at will.

Examples of practical usage:

• This verse can be an encouragement for those grieving, reminding them that for Christ, death for a believer is like sleep, temporary.
• It highlights the contrast between human perception and God's ultimate reality, urging believers to trust God's perspective over immediate circumstances.
• It teaches about the power of faith in overcoming apparent impossibilities.