Luke 8:43

KJV

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} a woman {G1135} having {G5607}{G1722} an issue {G4511} of blood {G129} twelve {G1427} years {G575}{G2094}, which {G3748} had spent {G4321} all {G3650} her living {G979} upon {G1519} physicians {G2395}, neither {G3756} could {G2480} be healed {G2323} of {G5259} any {G3762},

Complete Jewish Bible

a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and could not be healed by anyone,

Berean Standard Bible

including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.

American Standard Version

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Luke 8:43 introduces the poignant narrative of a woman who had suffered from a debilitating hemorrhage for twelve years, a condition that rendered her ritually unclean and socially ostracized. Despite exhausting all her financial resources on physicians who offered no cure, her desperate situation sets the stage for a miraculous encounter with Jesus, highlighting the futility of human remedies in the face of chronic suffering and foreshadowing the transformative power of divine intervention.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is strategically placed as an interruption within the narrative of Jairus, a synagogue official, pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter (Luke 8:40-42). As Jesus makes His way to Jairus's house, a large crowd presses in on Him. The story of the woman with the issue of blood (Luke 8:43-48) is interwoven, creating a narrative "sandwich" or "intercalation." This literary device serves to build suspense for Jairus's situation, while simultaneously highlighting Jesus' compassionate attention to individual suffering even amidst urgent demands and a bustling crowd. It also contrasts the public plea of a prominent man with the quiet, desperate act of a marginalized woman, underscoring Jesus' universal accessibility and power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, a continuous flow of blood, as described in [Leviticus 15:25-30](/leviticus/15-25-30 "Leviticus 15:25-30 - Laws concerning bodily discharges"), rendered a woman ritually unclean (niddah). This uncleanness was not merely ceremonial; it meant she could not participate in public worship, touch others, or be touched without defiling them. Everything she sat on or touched also became unclean. This condition led to profound social isolation, economic hardship (as she couldn't work or participate in communal life), and emotional distress. Her "issue of blood" for twelve years meant a life of perpetual uncleanness and marginalization. The mention of spending "all her living upon physicians" speaks to the common ancient practice of seeking various, often ineffective, remedies, and the financial burden associated with chronic illness, especially for those without a stable income.
* **Key Themes:** Luke 8:43 introduces several profound themes that resonate throughout the chapter and the broader Gospel. The most prominent is the **desperation of chronic suffering** and the **futility of human solutions** in the face of seemingly insurmountable problems. The woman's twelve years of illness and financial ruin emphasize the depth of human need and the limitations of worldly resources, contrasting sharply with the **unlimited power of Jesus** to heal and restore. Her condition also highlights the theme of **ritual impurity and social ostracism**, which Jesus consistently challenged by extending grace and healing to those considered "unclean" (e.g., the leper in [Luke 5:12-16](/luke/5-12-16 "Luke 5:12-16 - Jesus Heals a Leper")). Ultimately, this verse sets the stage for the overarching theme of **faith as the conduit for divine intervention**, a theme explicitly articulated by Jesus in [Luke 8:48](/luke/8-48 "Luke 8:48 - Jesus Commends the Woman's Faith") when He declares, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace."

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Woman (Greek, _gynḗ'_):** This term simply means "woman" or "wife." In this context, it refers to an adult female. Luke's use of this general term emphasizes her anonymity and perhaps her marginalized status, making her subsequent healing all the more remarkable as an act of grace towards one overlooked by society.
* **Issue (Greek, _rhýsis'_):** Derived from a word meaning "to flow," this term specifically denotes a "flux" or "discharge." Luke, a physician, uses this precise medical term to describe her chronic hemorrhage, underscoring the physical reality and severity of her condition.
* **Healed (Greek, _therapeúō'_):** This word means "to wait upon menially," and by extension, "to relieve (of disease)" or "to cure." Its use here highlights the failure of the physicians to provide a lasting cure, setting up a stark contrast with Jesus' immediate and complete healing. The root implies a service or attendance, suggesting that while physicians attended to her, they could not truly restore her.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years":** This clause immediately establishes the woman's identity (though unnamed) and her long-term, debilitating condition. The "issue of blood" (hemorrhage) signifies not only physical suffering but also profound social and religious isolation due to ritual impurity under Mosaic Law. The duration, "twelve years," underscores the chronicity of her affliction and the depth of her despair.
* **"which had spent all her living upon physicians":** This phrase reveals the woman's desperate attempts to find a cure through conventional means. "All her living" (her entire livelihood or possessions) emphasizes her complete financial ruin, indicating that she had exhausted every resource in her quest for healing, yet found no relief. This detail highlights the futility of human efforts without divine intervention.
* **"neither could be healed of any":** This final part of the verse delivers the crushing blow of her situation: despite her immense personal sacrifice and the efforts of many physicians, no one was able to cure her. This statement amplifies her utter hopelessness and sets the stage for the miraculous power of Jesus to accomplish what was humanly impossible, making her a perfect candidate for a divine encounter.

#### Literary Devices
Luke's concise yet impactful description in this verse employs several literary devices. **Pathos** is immediately evoked by the mention of a "woman having an issue of blood twelve years," drawing the reader's sympathy for her prolonged suffering and social ostracism. The phrase "which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any" utilizes **irony** and **contrast**. It is ironic that despite her immense financial investment and the efforts of medical professionals, she remained unhealed, highlighting the limitations of human wisdom and resources. This also creates a stark **contrast** between the inability of earthly physicians and the impending, effortless power of the divine Physician, Jesus. The narrative structure itself, by placing this story as an **intercalation** within the Jairus narrative, serves to build suspense and emphasize Jesus' boundless compassion and availability to all, regardless of their social standing or the nature of their affliction.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Luke 8:43 powerfully illustrates the human condition of desperation and the limitations of earthly solutions, setting the stage for the transformative power of God. The woman's chronic illness and financial ruin highlight the pervasive nature of suffering in a fallen world and humanity's inherent inability to fully overcome its consequences through its own efforts. Her story underscores the theological truth that true healing, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, ultimately comes from a divine source beyond human capacity. It emphasizes that God's compassion extends even to those marginalized and deemed "unclean" by society, challenging the rigid social and religious boundaries of the time. This narrative serves as a profound testament to the accessibility of God's grace through faith, even when all other avenues have been exhausted.

* [Leviticus 15:25-30](/leviticus/15-25-30 "Laws of Uncleanness for Discharges")
* [Mark 5:25-34](/mark/5-25-34 "The Healing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage")
* [Matthew 9:20-22](/matthew/9-20-22 "Jesus Heals a Woman with a Hemorrhage")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The story of the woman with the issue of blood, introduced in Luke 8:43, offers profound spiritual lessons for contemporary believers. Her twelve years of suffering and complete financial depletion resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced prolonged hardship, chronic illness, or the exhaustion of resources in the face of an insurmountable problem. Her desperate situation reminds us that there are times when human solutions fail, and we are left with nothing but our need. In such moments, this narrative encourages us to turn to Jesus, recognizing that His power transcends all human limitations. Her quiet, determined act of seeking to merely touch His garment speaks to a faith that looks beyond outward appearances or social norms, trusting in the inherent power of Christ. This story challenges us to cultivate a persistent, active faith, even when our circumstances seem hopeless, and to remember that Jesus sees and cares for the silent sufferers and the marginalized among us, offering not just a cure, but complete restoration and peace.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life have you "spent all your living" on human solutions only to find them ineffective?**
* **How does this woman's desperate situation encourage you to approach Jesus with your own deepest needs, even when you feel hopeless or unworthy?**
* **What does her story teach us about the nature of true faith, especially when circumstances seem to contradict any possibility of healing or breakthrough?**

### FAQ
**Why was the woman's condition considered so severe, beyond just physical suffering?**

Answer: The woman's "issue of blood" (hemorrhage) for twelve years was severe not only physically, causing weakness and likely anemia, but also profoundly devastating socially and religiously. According to the Mosaic Law in [Leviticus 15:25-30](/leviticus/15-25-30 "Leviticus 15:25-30 - Laws concerning bodily discharges"), a continuous bodily discharge like hers rendered a person ritually unclean. This meant she was perpetually defiled, unable to participate in temple worship, touch others, or even have others touch objects she had used, without making them unclean. This led to extreme social isolation, economic hardship, and spiritual alienation, making her life one of constant shame and despair.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the woman with the issue of blood in [Luke 8:43-48](/luke/8-43-48 "Luke 8:43-48 - The Healing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage") finds profound Christ-centered fulfillment in Jesus as the ultimate Physician and the embodiment of God's redemptive power. Her twelve years of uncleanness and the futility of human remedies perfectly illustrate humanity's desperate spiritual condition, alienated from God and unable to cleanse itself through its own efforts, much like the Law could not bring perfect righteousness but only revealed sin (cf. [Romans 3:20](/romans/3-20 "Romans 3:20 - By the Law is the Knowledge of Sin")). Jesus, the Son of God, steps into this scene of human despair, not merely as a healer of physical ailments but as the one who breaks the power of sin, sickness, and ritual impurity. Her touch of His garment, an act of desperate faith, symbolizes humanity's need to reach out to Christ for salvation. Just as her flow of blood ceased immediately, so too does the "flow" of sin and death cease for those who, by faith, touch the hem of His divine authority. He is the Lamb of God whose blood cleanses us from all sin (cf. [1 John 1:7](/1_john/1-7 "1 John 1:7 - Cleansing by the Blood of Jesus")), making us truly clean and bringing us into fellowship with God, fulfilling the longing for purity and restoration that the Old Testament laws foreshadowed but could not fully provide (cf. [Hebrews 9:11-14](/hebrews/9-11-14 "Hebrews 9:11-14 - Christ's Superior Sacrifice")). Her healing is a powerful microcosm of the spiritual healing and reconciliation offered to all who come to Christ in faith.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Mark 5:25

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

Mark 5:26

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

Matthew 9:20

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment:

Matthew 9:22

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Leviticus 15:25

And if a woman have an issue of her blood many days out of the time of her separation, or if it run beyond the time of her separation; all the days of the issue of her uncleanness shall be as the days of her separation: she [shall be] unclean.

Leviticus 15:33

And of her that is sick of her flowers, and of him that hath an issue, of the man, and of the woman, and of him that lieth with her that is unclean.

Luke 13:16

And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?