Mark 5:26

KJV

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

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} had suffered {G3958} many things {G4183} of {G5259} many {G4183} physicians {G2395}, and {G2532} had spent {G1159} all {G3956} that she {G1438} had {G3844}, and {G2532} was {G5623} nothing {G3367} bettered {G5623}, but {G235} rather {G3123} grew {G2064} worse {G1519}{G5501},

Complete Jewish Bible

and had suffered a great deal under many physicians. She had spent her life savings; yet instead of improving, she had grown worse.

Berean Standard Bible

She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse.

American Standard Version

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

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 5:26 vividly portrays the desperate plight of the woman with a chronic hemorrhage, highlighting the profound extent of her suffering, the futility of human medical intervention, and the devastating financial toll her twelve-year illness had exacted. This verse sets the stage for her radical act of faith, emphasizing her complete exhaustion of all conventional resources before her miraculous encounter with Jesus, underscoring the depth of her need and the immeasurable power of divine healing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Mark 5:26 is strategically embedded within the larger narrative of Jesus' ministry, specifically as an interlude in the story of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:21-24, 35-43). This literary technique, known as a "Markan sandwich" or intercalation, juxtaposes two related events, allowing them to illuminate each other. The woman's story, a tale of chronic suffering and desperate faith, interrupts the urgent journey to Jairus's dying daughter, creating suspense and demonstrating Jesus' availability and power even amidst other pressing needs. The woman's immediate healing upon touching Jesus' garment (Mark 5:27-29) provides a powerful parallel to the subsequent raising of Jairus's daughter, showcasing Jesus' authority over both chronic illness and death.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For twelve years, this woman suffered from a continuous flow of blood, a condition that, according to Mosaic Law, rendered her ritually unclean (Leviticus 15:25-27). This uncleanness meant she was perpetually defiled, unable to participate in temple worship, touch others, or be touched without transmitting her impurity. She was an outcast, isolated from family, friends, and community, living in a state of perpetual ritual and social quarantine. Furthermore, ancient medicine, often rudimentary and based on various herbal remedies, incantations, or even superstitious practices, frequently proved ineffective for chronic conditions like hers. The verse also underscores the financial burden of such an illness, as she "had spent all that she had," indicating the exorbitant costs of seeking cures from numerous physicians over a prolonged period, likely leading to destitution in addition to her physical and social suffering.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 5:26 contributes significantly to several key themes within Mark's Gospel. It powerfully illustrates **human desperation and the limitations of human resources** when faced with profound suffering, setting the stage for divine intervention. The woman's chronic illness and financial ruin highlight the **futility of earthly solutions** apart from God, preparing the reader for the **sovereignty and power of Jesus** to heal what no human effort can. Her story also implicitly introduces the theme of **faith as the conduit for divine power**, as her subsequent action (Mark 5:27-28) demonstrates a desperate, yet profound, belief in Jesus' ability to heal. This narrative, alongside the healing of Jairus's daughter, underscores Jesus' **compassion and authority over sickness and death**, demonstrating his mission to bring wholeness to the broken and marginalized, a theme echoed throughout [Mark's Gospel](/mark/1 "The Gospel of Mark - Jesus, the Servant King").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **suffered (Greek, _páschō'_):** This word (G3958) denotes experiencing a sensation or impression, usually a painful one. It implies not merely passive endurance but an active, prolonged experience of affliction and distress. In this context, it emphasizes the woman's deep, personal agony, both physical and emotional, over a long period. Her suffering was not superficial but deeply ingrained and pervasive.
* **spent (Greek, _dapanáō'_):** Derived from a word meaning "cost," this verb (G1159) signifies to expend or incur cost, often with the negative connotation of wasting or squandering. Here, it highlights the complete depletion of her financial resources. She had invested everything she possessed into seeking a cure, only to find herself financially ruined and physically unimproved.
* **grew worse (Greek, _érchomai eis cheírōn'_):** This phrase combines `érchomai` (G2064, to come or go) with `eis` (G1519, to or into) and `cheírōn` (G5501, worse, more evil or aggravated). It vividly describes a progressive deterioration of her condition. Despite all the treatments and expenses, her health did not merely stagnate; it actively declined, intensifying her desperation and emphasizing the utter failure of all human efforts.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And had suffered many things of many physicians":** This clause immediately establishes the woman's long-term and severe affliction. The "many things" she suffered encompass not only the physical pain of her hemorrhage but also the discomfort, indignity, and potential side effects of numerous, likely ineffective, medical treatments administered by "many physicians." This highlights the extensive and persistent nature of her quest for healing and the profound distress it caused.
* **"and had spent all that she had":** This phrase underscores the devastating financial impact of her chronic illness. Her desperate search for a cure had led to complete economic ruin, indicating that she had exhausted every last resource in pursuit of health. This detail magnifies her desperation and the totality of her loss, making her situation truly dire.
* **"and was nothing bettered":** This stark declaration reveals the complete failure of all her previous efforts and investments. Despite the immense suffering endured and the total financial depletion, her condition had not improved in the slightest. This emphasizes the limitations of human wisdom and medical science in the face of certain ailments, setting the stage for a supernatural solution.
* **"but rather grew worse":** This final, poignant clause delivers the crushing blow. Not only were her efforts futile, but they had a counterproductive effect. Her health actively deteriorated, plunging her deeper into despair. This progressive worsening underscores the utter hopelessness of her situation from a human perspective, amplifying the miraculous nature of her eventual healing by Jesus.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 5:26 employs several powerful literary devices to convey the woman's dire situation. The use of **Hyperbole** is evident in phrases like "suffered many things" and "spent all that she had," which emphasize the extreme nature of her physical and financial distress, though they may also be literal truths. There is a profound sense of **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for her prolonged suffering, social isolation, and economic ruin. The verse also presents a stark **Contrast** between her desperate efforts and their utterly negative outcome: she sought betterment but "was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." This highlights the **Irony** of her situation, where the very attempts to find healing only exacerbated her condition, setting the stage for the dramatic and contrasting effectiveness of Jesus' intervention.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The woman's story in Mark 5:26 serves as a powerful theological statement about the limitations of human effort and the boundless power of God. Her complete physical and financial depletion, coupled with the worsening of her condition, underscores the universal human experience of reaching the end of one's own resources. It is precisely at this point of utter hopelessness that divine intervention becomes most evident and glorious. The futility of her twelve-year struggle with physicians highlights that true, lasting healing—physical, emotional, and spiritual—ultimately comes from God alone. This narrative invites us to recognize that our deepest needs often drive us to the only one who can truly satisfy them, emphasizing that when human solutions fail, God's power is revealed in its purest form, paving the way for a faith that transcends circumstances.

* [Psalm 60:11](/psalms/60-11 "Psalm 60:11 - Futility of Human Help")
* [Jeremiah 17:5](/jeremiah/17-5 "Jeremiah 17:5 - Cursed is the one who trusts in man")
* [Matthew 19:26](/matthew/19-26 "Matthew 19:26 - With God all things are possible")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 5:26 offers a profound mirror for our own experiences of prolonged suffering, unfulfilled expectations, and the exhaustion of our own efforts. It speaks to the universal human tendency to seek solutions in conventional wisdom, professional expertise, or material resources, only to discover their limitations. This verse challenges us to consider where we place our ultimate hope and trust. When we, like the woman, have "suffered many things" and "spent all that we had" on our own solutions—whether for physical ailments, emotional struggles, financial crises, or spiritual emptiness—and find ourselves "nothing bettered, but rather grew worse," it is then that we are truly prepared to turn to Jesus. Her story reminds us that our deepest desperation can be the very catalyst for a radical, life-transforming faith. It encourages us to surrender our self-reliance and embrace the truth that only Christ possesses the power to bring true healing and wholeness where all human efforts have failed.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of your life have you "suffered many things" or "spent all that you had" only to find yourself "nothing bettered, but rather grew worse"?**
* **What does this verse teach you about the limitations of human solutions and the necessity of divine intervention?**
* **How might your own experiences of hitting rock bottom prepare you to seek Jesus with greater desperation and faith?**
* **What steps can you take to surrender your self-reliance and place your complete trust in Christ for areas where you feel hopeless?**

### FAQ

**What was the nature of the woman's illness and why was it so debilitating?**

Answer: The woman suffered from a chronic hemorrhage, often referred to as an "issue of blood." This condition was not only physically debilitating, causing weakness and likely anemia due to continuous blood loss, but also profoundly isolating due to the Mosaic Law. According to [Leviticus 15:25-27](/leviticus/15-25-27 "Leviticus 15:25-27 - Laws concerning a woman's discharge"), any woman with an irregular or prolonged flow of blood was considered ritually unclean. This meant she could not participate in public worship, touch others, or be touched without rendering them unclean. Her condition thus led to extreme social ostracism, spiritual alienation, and immense personal suffering for twelve long years.

**Why did the physicians fail to help her, and why did her condition worsen?**

Answer: The text states she "had suffered many things of many physicians" and "was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse." In ancient times, medical knowledge was rudimentary, and treatments often involved ineffective or even harmful remedies. While the specific reasons for the physicians' failure are not detailed, it highlights the limitations of human medicine, especially for chronic conditions. Her worsening condition, despite extensive efforts and financial outlay, underscores the severity and recalcitrant nature of her illness, emphasizing that it was beyond human cure. This futility serves to magnify the miraculous power of Jesus, who heals instantly and completely where all else has failed.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The desperate plight of the woman with the issue of blood, culminating in her utter physical and financial depletion and worsening condition, powerfully foreshadows humanity's universal need for a Savior. Like her, humanity has "suffered many things" under the curse of sin, attempting countless self-devised remedies and "spending all" its efforts on religious rituals, philosophical systems, or material pursuits, only to find itself "nothing bettered, but rather grew worse" in its spiritual sickness. This woman's story is a profound illustration of the truth that human efforts cannot cure the deepest ailments of the soul. Her ultimate turning to Jesus, the Great Physician, who heals not through external means but by his inherent power and compassionate touch, points directly to Christ as the only source of true spiritual healing and wholeness. He is the one who, through his atoning sacrifice, takes away the sin of the world (as proclaimed in [John 1:29](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God")), offering a remedy that is not merely temporary but eternal. Just as her physical uncleanness and suffering were removed by a single touch of faith, so too are our spiritual defilement and brokenness healed by faith in Christ's finished work on the cross, providing a [new creation](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ") and abundant life where there was only despair ([John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - Abundant Life")).

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

Jeremiah 30:12

For thus saith the LORD, Thy bruise [is] incurable, [and] thy wound [is] grievous.

Jeremiah 30:13

[There is] none to plead thy cause, that thou mayest be bound up: thou hast no healing medicines.

Psalms 108:12

Give us help from trouble: for vain [is] the help of man.

Jeremiah 8:22

[Is there] no balm in Gilead; [is there] no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?

Jeremiah 51:8

Babylon is suddenly fallen and destroyed: howl for her; take balm for her pain, if so be she may be healed.

Job 13:4

But ye [are] forgers of lies, ye [are] all physicians of no value.