Mark 5:23

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.

And {G2532} besought {G3870} him {G846} greatly {G4183}, saying {G3004},{G3754} My {G3450} little daughter {G2365} lieth {G2079} at the point of death {G2192}: I pray thee, come {G2064} and {G2443} lay {G2007} thy hands {G5495} on her {G846}, that {G3704} she may be healed {G4982}; and {G2532} she shall live {G2198}.

and pleaded desperately with him, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Please! Come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live!"

and 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.”

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.

Mark 5:23 introduces us to Jairus, a synagogue ruler, who approaches Jesus with an urgent and desperate plea. This verse captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, highlighting His compassion and power over sickness and death.

Context of Mark 5:23

This verse is part of a longer narrative (Mark 5:21-43) that showcases Jesus' authority and willingness to respond to human need. Jairus, a man of significant social standing and religious authority in his community, humbling himself before Jesus in public, demonstrates the depth of his despair and his profound belief in Jesus' ability to perform a miracle. His daughter was "at the point of death," signifying a critical, life-threatening situation, emphasizing the urgency of his appeal. This event occurs amidst Jesus' active ministry in Galilee, where He was performing numerous healings and teaching large crowds.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Desperate Faith: Jairus’s act of falling at Jesus’ feet and "besought him greatly" (Greek: parekalei, meaning to implore earnestly) reveals a profound, desperate faith. Despite his prominent position, he casts aside all pride to seek help for his dying child. His plea is a powerful example of faith in action, believing Jesus could intervene where human efforts failed.
  • Jesus' Compassion and Power: Jesus immediately responds to Jairus's plea, demonstrating His boundless compassion and willingness to engage directly with human suffering. The request for Jesus to "come and lay thy hands on her" underscores the common belief in the healing power associated with His touch, a theme consistently seen throughout the Gospels.
  • Hope in the Face of Death: The core of Jairus's request is a hope that his daughter "shall live" despite being at death's door. This sets the stage for Jesus' ultimate demonstration of power over death, a central aspect of His divine nature and mission.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "besought him greatly" (KJV) comes from the Greek word παρεκάλει (parekalei), which conveys a sense of strong pleading, urging, or earnestly entreating. It's not just a request but a passionate appeal born out of deep distress. The phrase "lieth at the point of death" vividly describes the immediacy and severity of the situation, emphasizing that the daughter was on the verge of dying, making the need for intervention critical and urgent.

Cross-References and Connections

This episode is famously interrupted by the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, found in Mark 5:25-34. This interlude, while seemingly delaying Jairus, actually serves to further illustrate Jesus' power and the importance of faith. The full account of Jairus's daughter's resurrection is detailed in Mark 5:41-42, where Jesus raises her from the dead, fulfilling Jairus's faith. Similar accounts of Jesus' power over death include the raising of Lazarus in John 11:43-44 and the widow's son at Nain in Luke 7:14-15.

Practical Application

Mark 5:23 encourages us to bring our most desperate needs and deepest sorrows directly to Jesus. Like Jairus, we are called to approach Him with humility and persistent faith, even when circumstances seem hopeless. This verse reminds us that no situation is too dire for Jesus' intervention, and His compassion extends to every individual, regardless of their status. It highlights the power of prayer and the profound hope found in trusting Jesus with our burdens, believing in His ability to heal, restore, and even conquer death.

Note: Commentary was generated by an advanced AI, utilizing a prompt that emphasized Biblical fidelity over bias. We've found these insights to be consistently reliable, yet we always encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

  • Luke 13:13

    And he laid [his] hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

  • Mark 16:18

    They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

  • Luke 4:40

    Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

  • Acts 28:8

    And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

  • James 5:14

    Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

  • James 5:15

    And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

  • Mark 9:21

    And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

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