Mark 5:25

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} a certain {G5100} woman {G1135}, which had an {G1722} issue {G4511} of blood {G129}{G5607} twelve {G1427} years {G2094},

Complete Jewish Bible

Among them was a woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years

Berean Standard Bible

And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years.

American Standard Version

And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 5:25 introduces a woman suffering from a chronic hemorrhage for twelve years, setting the stage for one of Jesus' most profound and compassionate healing miracles. This brief verse immediately establishes the severity and duration of her affliction, hinting at the deep physical, emotional, and social distress she endured, and primes the reader for an encounter that will dramatically illustrate Jesus' power, accessibility, and unique ability to restore the marginalized.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse serves as a crucial interruption within a larger narrative. Jesus is urgently on His way to the house of Jairus, a synagogue ruler, whose twelve-year-old daughter is dying ([Mark 5:22-24](/mark/5-22-24 "Mark 5:22-24 - Jairus's Plea for His Daughter")). The bustling crowd surrounding Jesus, typical of His public ministry, provides the chaotic backdrop against which this desperate woman makes her move. Mark's deliberate placement of this story, often called a "Markan sandwich" or intercalation, highlights thematic parallels between the two "twelve-year-old" females and underscores Jesus' power over both death and chronic illness, demonstrating His compassion for all, regardless of social standing. The narrative flow pauses the account of Jairus's daughter to emphasize the woman's desperate act of faith, which ultimately delays Jesus but leads to another powerful miracle.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The "issue of blood" (chronic hemorrhage) was not merely a physical ailment; it rendered the woman ritually unclean according to Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 15:19-30](/leviticus/15-19-30 "Leviticus 15:19-30 - Laws Concerning Uncleanness from Discharges")). This meant she was perpetually ostracized from society: she could not participate in public worship, touch others without making them unclean, or engage in normal social interactions. Every object she touched became unclean, and anyone who touched her or her belongings would also become unclean. This condition led to profound social isolation, economic hardship (as she would have spent all her money on ineffective treatments, as Mark 5:26 later reveals), and deep emotional suffering. Her appearance in the public crowd, therefore, was an act of immense desperation and courage, defying societal norms and risking further condemnation, all driven by a singular hope in Jesus.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 5:25 immediately introduces several significant themes that resonate throughout the Gospel. The most prominent is **chronic suffering and desperation**, vividly conveyed by the "twelve years" of affliction, which implies not only physical pain but also persistent social and spiritual alienation. This verse also highlights the theme of **societal isolation and stigma**, as her condition made her an outcast, unable to participate fully in community life or religious observances. Her mere presence in the crowd, despite her ritual impurity, foreshadows the **power of desperate faith** and the radical accessibility of Jesus to those whom society had rejected. Her story, initiated by this verse, ultimately underscores Jesus' compassionate concern for the marginalized and His ability to bring holistic healing—physical, social, and spiritual—to those who approach Him with belief, a theme consistently demonstrated throughout [Mark's Gospel](/mark/1 "The Gospel According to Mark").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **woman (Greek, _gynḗ'_):** (G1135) This term simply denotes a female, but in this context, it emphasizes her anonymity and commonality. She is not named, which highlights her marginalized status and allows her story to represent countless others who suffered unnoticed. Yet, Jesus' interaction with her elevates her from an anonymous "certain woman" to an individual known and healed by the Son of God.
* **issue (Greek, _rhýsis'_):** (G4511) Derived from a word meaning "to flow," this term specifically refers to a "flux" or "flow of blood," indicating a continuous hemorrhage. This medical condition was not only debilitating but also, as noted in the context, rendered her ritually unclean, leading to her social and religious isolation. The choice of this precise term underscores the nature of her chronic, persistent affliction.
* **twelve (Greek, _dṓdeka'_):** (G1427) This numerical term emphasizes the extreme duration of her suffering. "Twelve years" is a significant period, indicating that her condition was not a recent ailment but a long-standing, seemingly incurable malady that had consumed a substantial portion of her adult life. The duration highlights her profound desperation and the futility of any previous attempts at a cure, setting the stage for the miraculous nature of Jesus' intervention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And a certain woman,"**: This opening phrase immediately introduces a new character, an anonymous individual, into the narrative. The indefinite article "a certain" (Greek: _tis_) emphasizes her lack of status or public recognition, contrasting sharply with Jairus, a synagogue ruler, whose name and position are explicitly stated. This anonymity underscores her marginalized position in society, yet it also highlights Jesus' indiscriminate compassion, as He is equally attentive to the nameless and the prominent.
* **"which had an issue of blood"**: This clause precisely identifies her debilitating condition: a chronic hemorrhage. This was a severe and persistent physical ailment, likely causing weakness, anemia, and constant discomfort. More significantly, under the Mosaic Law, this condition rendered her perpetually ritually unclean ([Leviticus 15:19-30](/leviticus/15-19-30 "Leviticus 15:19-30 - Laws Concerning Uncleanness from Discharges")), isolating her from her community, family life, and temple worship. This phrase encapsulates her profound physical, social, and spiritual suffering.
* **"twelve years,"**: The duration of her suffering is explicitly stated, emphasizing the chronicity and severity of her affliction. "Twelve years" signifies a long period of unrelenting pain, despair, and ostracization. This detail conveys the depth of her desperation, as she had endured this condition for more than a decade, likely exhausting all medical and financial resources, and enduring profound hopelessness. This extended period of suffering makes her eventual healing all the more remarkable and a testament to the transformative power of Jesus.

#### Literary Devices
Mark's concise introduction of the woman employs several effective literary devices. The most prominent is **Foreshadowing**, as the mention of her long-term suffering immediately sets the stage for a dramatic intervention and highlights the profound desperation that will drive her actions. The **Juxtaposition** of her story with that of Jairus's daughter (also twelve years old, as revealed in [Mark 5:42](/mark/5-42 "Mark 5:42 - Jairus's Daughter is Twelve Years Old")) creates a powerful thematic resonance, linking two seemingly disparate individuals through the common thread of a "twelve-year" affliction and Jesus' power over both chronic illness and death. The woman's initial **Anonymity** (a "certain woman") serves to universalize her suffering, allowing her story to resonate with all who feel unseen or marginalized, while simultaneously emphasizing that Jesus sees and cares for every individual, regardless of their social standing.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 5:25 introduces a profound theological truth: God's compassionate attention is not limited to the prominent or the "clean," but extends to the most marginalized, suffering, and ritually outcast members of society. This verse sets the stage for Jesus to demonstrate His divine power not just over physical ailments, but over the social and spiritual barriers that separate people. The woman's long-term suffering underscores the depth of human brokenness and the futility of human efforts to find a cure apart from divine intervention. Her desperate situation highlights Jesus as the ultimate source of healing and restoration, capable of transcending all human limitations and religious strictures to bring wholeness.
* [Leviticus 15:19-30](/leviticus/15-19-30 "Laws Concerning Uncleanness from Discharges")
* [Matthew 9:20-22](/matthew/9-20-22 "Healing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage")
* [Luke 8:43-48](/luke/8-43-48 "Healing of the Woman with a Hemorrhage")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 5:25 invites us to consider the long-term, hidden struggles that many endure, often in silence and isolation. The woman's "twelve years" of suffering remind us that some afflictions are chronic, exhausting not only physical strength but also emotional and financial resources. This verse challenges us to recognize that God sees and cares deeply for those who feel unseen, forgotten, or stigmatized by their circumstances, whether they be physical illnesses, emotional wounds, or social ostracism. It encourages us to bring our most persistent and seemingly insurmountable problems to Jesus, no matter how long we have endured them, trusting in His unique ability to provide hope, healing, and restoration where all other avenues have failed. Her story, beginning with this simple introduction, speaks profoundly to the power of persistent faith to overcome seemingly impossible circumstances and reminds us that Jesus is never too busy for those in need, even when He is on His way to another urgent matter.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "issue of blood"—a persistent, debilitating problem—have I been carrying for a long time, perhaps feeling isolated or hopeless about?**
* **How does the woman's desperation, implied by her presence in the crowd despite her condition, challenge me to approach Jesus with greater urgency and faith regarding my own struggles?**
* **In what ways might I be unintentionally contributing to the social or spiritual isolation of others who are suffering from chronic or stigmatized conditions?**
* **How does Jesus' willingness to be interrupted for this woman encourage me to believe He is accessible and compassionate toward my own needs, even when I feel insignificant?**

### FAQ
**What was the "issue of blood" and why was it so significant?**

Answer: The "issue of blood" (Greek: _rhýsis haímatos_) refers to a chronic hemorrhage or continuous flow of blood. This condition was not only physically debilitating, causing weakness and anemia, but also carried immense social and religious stigma under the Mosaic Law. According to [Leviticus 15:19-30](/leviticus/15-19-30 "Leviticus 15:19-30 - Laws Concerning Uncleanness from Discharges"), any woman with such a discharge was considered ritually unclean. This meant she was isolated from her community, unable to participate in public worship, and anything she touched became unclean. Her condition made her a perpetual outcast, leading to profound physical, emotional, social, and financial suffering. The significance lies in the holistic nature of her affliction and the radical nature of Jesus' healing, which restored her not just physically, but socially and spiritually.

**Why is the duration of "twelve years" specifically mentioned?**

Answer: The mention of "twelve years" is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it highlights the extreme chronicity and severity of her suffering, emphasizing that this was not a temporary ailment but a long-standing, seemingly incurable condition that had consumed a significant portion of her life. This duration underscores her profound desperation, as she had likely exhausted all resources—medical, financial, and emotional—in search of a cure. Secondly, it creates a powerful literary and theological parallel with Jairus's daughter, who was also twelve years old ([Mark 5:42](/mark/5-42 "Mark 5:42 - Jairus's Daughter is Twelve Years Old")). This parallel highlights Jesus' power over both chronic illness and death, and His compassion for individuals across different social strata, linking two distinct miracles with a common theme of "twelve years" of affliction.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The narrative of the woman with the issue of blood, introduced in [Mark 5:25](/mark/5-25 "Mark 5:25 - The Woman with a Hemorrhage"), profoundly points to Christ's redemptive work. Her perpetual uncleanness under the Old Covenant law, a condition that ostracized her from society and worship, symbolizes humanity's pervasive spiritual uncleanness and separation from God due to sin. Just as her physical ailment made her an outcast, so too does sin render us spiritually alienated from a holy God. Jesus, however, embodies the fulfillment of the Law, demonstrating His authority to make the unclean clean. His willingness to be touched by her, and indeed, for power to flow _from_ Him to her, signifies His unique ability to bear our infirmities and take away our sin. He is the Great Physician who not only heals physical diseases but also cleanses the soul, reconciling us to God. His compassion for the marginalized and outcast foreshadows His ultimate sacrifice on the cross, where He became sin for us, allowing us to be made righteous in Him ([2 Corinthians 5:21](/2_corinthians/5-21 "2 Corinthians 5:21 - Christ Became Sin For Us")). Through His atoning blood, we, who were once spiritually unclean and separated, are made whole, purified, and brought into intimate fellowship with God, experiencing a cleansing far deeper than any ritual could provide ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Christ's Blood Cleanses Our Conscience")). Her healing is a tangible demonstration of the spiritual healing available to all who, in faith, reach out to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world ([John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")).

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

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 15:27

And whosoever toucheth those things shall be unclean, and shall wash his clothes, and bathe [himself] in water, and be unclean until the even.

Luke 8:43

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

Luke 8:44

Came behind [him], and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

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 15:19

¶ And if a woman have an issue, [and] her issue in her flesh be blood, she shall be put apart seven days: and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean until the even.