Mark 5:23
in Mark 5and pleaded with Him urgently, “My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.
KJV
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.
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This verse in Mark 5
Commentary
15 notes on this verseAnd besought him greatly,.... Used much importunity with him, and was very urgent in his requests: saying, my little daughter lieth at the point of death, or "is in the last extremity"; just breathing out her last; for she was not actually dead when he left her, though she was before he returned, and was at this time, as he might expect, expiring, or really gone; See Gill on Mat 9:
This site's exposition
had again crossed by boat to the other side
on Mark 5:21-24
Mark sets the woman's story inside the story of Jairus, pairing twelve years of a girl's life with twelve years of a woman's disease. The pairing sets a public plea beside a hidden touch.
This site's exposition
My little daughter is near death
Adam Clarke notes that the Greek word is a diminutive, that little daughter of mine, spoken with tenderness. Luke 8:42 adds that she was his only daughter. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown observe that such faith meant more in a synagogue ruler, whose class was steeped in prejudice.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers3 voices
(de Con. Evan. 2. 28) But we must understand, that what is added of the daughter of the ruler of the synagogue, took place when Jesus had again crossed the sea in a ship, though how long after does not appear; for if there were not an interval, there could be no time for the taking place of that which Matthew relates, concerning the feast in his own house; after which event, nothing follows immediately, except this concerning the daughter of the chief of the synagogue. For he has so put it together, that the transition itself shows that the narrative follows the order of time. It goes on, There cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, &c. (ubi sup.) For he attaches himself not to the words of the father, but to what is of most importance, his wishes; for he was in such despair, that his wish was that she should return to life, not thinking that she could be found alive, whom he had left dying.
Those who are sick do not lay down the conditions of how they are to be cured. They only want to be made well. But this man was a ruler of the synagogue, and versed in the law. He had surely read that while God …
(Vict. Ant. e Cat. in Marc.) He has recorded the name on account of the Jews of that time, that it might mark the miracle. It goes on, And when he saw him, he fell at his feet, and besought him greatly, &c. Matthew indeed relates that the chief of the synagogue reported that his daughter was dead, but Mark says that she was very sick, and that afterwards it was told to the ruler of the synagogue, when our Lord was about to go with him, that she was dead. The fact then, which Matthew implies, is the same, namely, that He raised her from the dead; and it is for the sake of brevity, that he says that she was dead, which was evident from her being raised.
The Medieval Church2 voices
Mystically, however, Jairus comes after the healing of the woman, because when the fulness of the Gentiles has come in, then shall Israel be saved. (v. Rom. 11) Jairus means either illuminating, or illuminated, that is, the Jewish people, having cast off the shadow of the letter, enlightened by the Spirit, and enlightening others, falling at the feet of the Word, that is, humbling itself before the Incarnation of Christ, prays for her daughter, for when a man lives himself, he makes others live also. Thus Abraham, and Moses, and Samuel, intercede for the people who are dead, and Jesus comes upon their prayers.
He was a man of half-faith: by falling at the feet of Christ, he shows himself to be a believer, but by asking Him to come, he reveals a faith not of the kind it should be; he ought to have said: "only speak the …
7 more voices on this verse
The Medieval Church2 voices
And he earnestly begged Him, saying: "My daughter is at the point of death; come, lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." In the Gospel of Luke, it is written that she was his only daughter about twelve …
Now this man was faithful in part, inasmuch as he fell at the feet of Jesus, but in that he begged of Him to come, he did not show as much faith as he ought. For he ought to have said, Speak the word only, and my daughter shall be healed.
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
The miserable condition that this poor creature was in; he was under the power of an unclean spirit, the devil got possession of him, and the effect of it was not, as in many, a silent melancholy, but a raging frenzy; he was raving mad; his condition seems to have been worse than any of the possessed, that were Christ's patients.
The Nineteenth Century4 voices
My little daughter - Το θυγατριον μου, that little daughter of mine. The words express much tenderness and concern. Luke observes, Luk 8:42, that she was his only daughter, and was about twelve years of age. At the point of death - Εσχατως εχει, in the last extremity, the last gasp. See on Mat 9:18 (note).
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In one of the class to which this man belonged, so steeped in prejudice, such faith would imply more than in others. The Woman with an Issue of Blood Healed (Mr 5:24-34).
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The main subject of these verses is the miraculous healing of a sick woman. Great is our Lord's experience in cases of disease! Great is his sympathy with His sick and ailing members! The gods of the heathen are generally represented as terrible and mighty in battle, delighting in bloodshed, the strong man's patrons, and the warrior's friends. The Savior of the Christian is always set before us as gentle, and easy to be entreated, the healer of the broken hearted, the refuge of the weak and helpless, the comforter of the distressed, the sick man's best friend.
A commentator
J.C. Ryle1816–1900
Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition) (1857)
proposed
The main subject of these verses is the miraculous healing of a sick woman. Great is our Lord's experience in cases of disease! Great is his sympathy with His sick and ailing members! The gods of the heathen are generally represented as terrible and mighty in battle, delighting in bloodshed, the strong man's patrons, and the warrior's friends. The Savior of the Christian is always set before us as gentle, and easy to be entreated, the healer of the broken hearted, the refuge of the weak and helpless, the comforter of the distressed, the sick man's best friend. And is not this just the Savior that human nature needs? The world is full of pain and trouble. The weak on earth are far more numerous than the strong. Let us mark, in these verses, what misery sin has brought into the world . We read of one who had had a most painful disease "for twelve years." She had "suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing better, but rather grew worse." Means of every kind had been tried in vain. Medical skill had proved unable to cure. Twelve long weary years had been spent in battling with disease, and relief seemed no nearer than at first. "Hope deferred" might well "make her heart sick." (Prov. 13:12.) How incredible it is that we do not hate sin more than we do! Sin is the cause of all the pain and disease in the world. God did not create man to be an ailing and suffering creature. It was sin, and nothing but sin, which brought in all the ills that flesh is heir to. It was sin to which we owe every racking pain, and every loathsome infirmity, and every humbling weakness to which our poor bodies are liable. Let us keep this ever in mind. Let us hate sin with a godly hatred. Let us mark, in the second place, how different are the feelings with which people draw near to Christ .
The words behind it
21 Greek wordsEvery Greek word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Greek | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| παρακαλεῖ | parakalei | he begs | G3870 → | 108 times |
| αὐτὸν | auton | Him | G846 → | 5565 times |
| πολλὰ | polla | much | G4183 → | 367 times |
| λέγων | legon | saying | G3004 → | 1325 times |
| ὅτι | hoti | that | G3754 → | 1292 times |
| τὸ | to | The | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| θυγάτριόν | thugatrion | little daughter | G2365 → | |
| μου | mou | of mine | G3165 → | 1936 times |
| ἐσχάτως | eschatos | at the end | G2079 → | |
| ἔχει, | echei | is holding, | G2192 → | 707 times |
| ἵνα | ina | that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| ἐλθὼν | elthon | having come | G2064 → | 628 times |
| ἐπιθῇς | epitheas | may you lay | G2007 → | 38 times |
| τὰς | tas | the | G3588 → | 19766 times |
| χεῖρας | cheiras | hands | G5495 → | 175 times |
| αὐτῇ | autea | on her | G846 → | 5565 times |
| ἵνα | ina | so that | G2443 → | 668 times |
| σωθῇ | sothea | she may be cured | G4982 → | 105 times |
| καὶ | kai | and | G2532 → | 9120 times |
| ζήσῃ.¶ | zese | she may live. | G2198 → |
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
παρακαλεῖhe begs
parakaleiG3870 →108 times
αὐτὸνHim
autonG846 →5565 times
πολλὰmuch
pollaG4183 →367 times
λέγωνsaying
legonG3004 →1325 times
ὅτιthat
hotiG3754 →1292 times
τὸThe
toG3588 →19766 times
θυγάτριόνlittle daughter
thugatrionG2365 →
μουof mine
mouG3165 →1936 times
ἐσχάτωςat the end
eschatosG2079 →
ἔχει,is holding,
echeiG2192 →707 times
ἵναthat
inaG2443 →668 times
ἐλθὼνhaving come
elthonG2064 →628 times
ἐπιθῇςmay you lay
epitheasG2007 →38 times
τὰςthe
tasG3588 →19766 times
χεῖραςhands
cheirasG5495 →175 times
αὐτῇon her
auteaG846 →5565 times
ἵναso that
inaG2443 →668 times
σωθῇshe may be cured
sotheaG4982 →105 times
καὶand
kaiG2532 →9120 times
ζήσῃ.¶she may live.
zeseG2198 →
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Mark 16:18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
it leads to
- Luke 10:19
Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.
- James 5:14–15
Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord.
- Acts 28:3–6
Paul gathered a bundle of sticks, and as he laid them on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself to his hand.
- Acts 19:12
so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and the diseases and evil spirits left them.
- Acts 4:30
as You stretch out Your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.”
- Luke 10:19
Through
Luke 4:40At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.
it leads to
- Mark 1:32–34
That evening, after sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick and demon-possessed,
- Matthew 8:16–17
When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.
- Mark 1:32–34
Through
Acts 28:8The father of Publius was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him, and after praying and placing his hands on him, he healed the man.
it leads to
- Mark 6:5
So He could not perform any miracles there, except to lay His hands on a few of the sick and heal them.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Mark 6:5
Where this verse is studied
About Mark

This page draws on 14 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Alexander Maclaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture, Mark; Augustine of Hippo, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Bede, On the Gospel of Mark; J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospels: Mark (lightly modernized text, Grace Gems edition); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament (1746-1748); John Gill, Exposition of the New Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible; Peter Chrysologus, Commentary (church-history corpus); Pseudo-Chrysostom, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Pseudo-Jerome, Catena Aurea by Aquinas; Theophylact of Ohrid, Commentary on Mark and Theophylact of Ohrid, Catena Aurea by Aquinas.
