Mark 5:28

KJV

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} she said {G3004}, If {G3754}{G2579} I may touch {G680} but {G2579} his {G846} clothes {G2440}, I shall be whole {G4982}.

Complete Jewish Bible

for she said, "If I touch even his clothes, I will be healed."

Berean Standard Bible

For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

American Standard Version

For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 5:28 encapsulates the profound faith of a woman who had suffered from a debilitating hemorrhage for twelve years. Her quiet yet resolute declaration, "For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole," reveals a desperate hope and an unwavering conviction in Jesus' unique and potent power, believing that even indirect contact with Him would bring about her complete restoration.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within the narrative of Jesus' journey to heal Jairus's daughter, a prominent synagogue official whose child was dying. As Jesus makes His way through a dense crowd, this woman, whose story is recounted in [Mark 5:25-34](/mark/5-25-34 "Mark 5:25-34 - The Woman with the Issue of Blood"), interrupts the main narrative flow. Her desperate act of faith and subsequent healing serve as a powerful interlude, highlighting Jesus' immediate responsiveness to individual need even amidst a pressing public ministry. The account not only demonstrates Jesus' power over sickness but also His compassion and desire to acknowledge and affirm faith publicly, setting the stage for the dramatic news of Jairus's daughter's death and Jesus' subsequent miracle of resurrection.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The woman's chronic bleeding condition, lasting twelve years, was not merely a physical affliction but carried immense social and religious implications in first-century Jewish society. According to Mosaic Law, specifically [Leviticus 15:25-27](/leviticus/15-25-27 "Leviticus 15:25-27 - Laws Concerning Discharges"), she would have been considered ritually unclean, rendering everything and everyone she touched unclean. This meant a life of severe isolation, cut off from community, synagogue worship, and even family intimacy. Her condition also made her an outcast, and the text notes she had spent all her money on doctors, only to grow worse, reflecting the limitations of ancient medicine and the financial ruin often associated with chronic illness. Her approach to Jesus was therefore not only an act of faith but also an act of immense courage, as she risked public condemnation and further defilement by pressing through the crowd.

* **Key Themes:** This verse contributes significantly to several key themes within Mark's Gospel. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **unwavering faith**, demonstrating that even a quiet, seemingly insignificant act born of deep conviction can access divine power. Her belief that merely touching Jesus' clothes would suffice speaks to a profound understanding of His unique authority and holiness. Secondly, it underscores the theme of **desperation meeting divine hope**. After years of suffering and failed human remedies, her final, desperate gamble was to place all her hope in Jesus, showcasing how human extremity can lead to divine intervention. Lastly, the narrative highlights **Jesus' accessible power and compassion**. His healing power is not limited by conventional means or public declarations; it flows freely and is available to those who, like this woman, approach Him with genuine faith, regardless of their social standing or perceived ritual impurity. This encounter foreshadows the universal reach of the gospel, where all are welcome to approach the Lord for healing and salvation, as seen in passages like [Matthew 11:28](/matthew/11-28 "Matthew 11:28 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _légō'_):** This verb, G3004, signifies "to lay forth" or "to relate in words," often implying a systematic or set discourse. Here, it captures the woman's internal conviction, a declaration she made to herself, perhaps repeatedly, solidifying her resolve. It's not a casual thought but a deep-seated belief she has articulated inwardly, shaping her desperate action.
* **touch (Greek, _háptomai'_):** G680, this word is reflexive, meaning "to attach oneself to" or "to touch" in various implied relations. It suggests more than a casual brush; it implies a deliberate, intentional reaching out to make contact, to "cling" to, or "take hold of" something. For the woman, this touch was her conduit for healing, a physical manifestation of her spiritual grasp of Jesus' power.
* **clothes (Greek, _himátion'_):** G2440, referring to an "outer garment" or "cloke." In this context, it specifically refers to the fringe or hem of Jesus' outer robe, which Jewish men often wore in accordance with the command in [Numbers 15:38-39](/numbers/15-38-39 "Numbers 15:38-39 - The Tassels on Garments"). The woman's belief that even this part of His clothing could convey healing power speaks volumes about her perception of Jesus' holiness and the emanation of His divine authority.
* **whole (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** G4982, a rich theological term meaning "to save," "to deliver," "to preserve," or "to make well." While primarily referring to physical healing in this context, the use of _sōzō_ often carries broader connotations of spiritual salvation and complete restoration. For this woman, being "made whole" meant not only the cessation of bleeding but also restoration to social and religious life, and perhaps a deeper spiritual peace. Jesus later confirms this broader meaning when He tells her, "Daughter, your faith has made you whole" ([Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Jesus' Words to the Woman")).

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For she said,"**: This opening clause immediately draws the reader into the woman's internal world, revealing the deep conviction that motivated her actions. It highlights that her subsequent physical act was not impulsive but stemmed from a settled belief she had articulated to herself.
* **"If I may touch but his clothes,"**: This phrase expresses her singular, focused hope and the perceived means of her healing. The "if but" (Greek _kán_) emphasizes the minimal contact she believed was necessary, underscoring both her humility and her profound faith in the efficacy of even the slightest connection to Jesus. It also subtly reveals her desperation, as she sought a clandestine healing due to her ritually unclean status.
* **"I shall be whole."**: This is the confident declaration of her expected outcome. It speaks to her absolute certainty that healing would follow her act of faith. The passive voice ("I shall be whole") implies that the healing would be an action performed upon her by an external, divine power, rather than something she could achieve herself.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 5:28 employs several literary devices that enhance its impact. The most prominent is **Synecdoche**, where "his clothes" (specifically the hem or fringe) stands in for the entirety of Jesus' person and power. The woman believed that even a part of Him could convey His healing virtue, demonstrating a profound understanding of His divine essence. There is also an element of **Irony** in her clandestine approach: an "unclean" woman, who by law should not touch anyone, deliberately touches Jesus, the source of all purity, and is made clean. This act subverts societal and religious norms, highlighting Jesus' revolutionary compassion. Furthermore, the simple, direct statement of her faith ("If I may touch... I shall be whole") functions as a powerful **Confession**, revealing the depth of her inner conviction and serving as a model for how faith can operate.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse powerfully illustrates the principle that genuine faith, even when expressed in an unconventional or desperate manner, is recognized and honored by God. The woman's belief that merely touching Jesus' garment would heal her speaks to a profound understanding of His divine power and authority, transcending typical human limitations. Her act of faith bypassed the need for direct verbal request or explicit command from Jesus, demonstrating that His power is not constrained by human protocols but is accessible through a believing heart. This encounter underscores the New Testament emphasis on faith as the conduit for receiving God's grace and power, whether for physical healing or spiritual salvation. It highlights that God often works through the seemingly insignificant acts of faith from those considered marginalized or hopeless by society.

* [Matthew 9:20-22](/matthew/9-20-22 "Matthew 9:20-22 - The Woman with the Issue of Blood")
* [Luke 8:43-48](/luke/8-43-48 "Luke 8:43-48 - Jesus Heals a Bleeding Woman")
* [Hebrews 11:6](/hebrews/11-6 "Hebrews 11:6 - Faith is Essential for Pleasing God")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The woman's desperate yet determined faith in Mark 5:28 offers profound lessons for believers today. Her twelve years of suffering, failed remedies, and social ostracization did not extinguish her hope; instead, they intensified her resolve to seek Jesus. This reminds us that even in our most prolonged and seemingly hopeless struggles, our last resort should be our first and only true hope: Christ. Her belief that a mere touch of His garment would suffice speaks to a radical trust in Jesus' inherent power, inviting us to examine the depth of our own faith. Do we believe Jesus is truly capable of addressing our deepest needs, even when all other avenues have failed? Are we willing to press through obstacles—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—to reach Him? This passage calls us to cultivate a tenacious faith that acts on conviction, trusting that Jesus' power is accessible and His compassion boundless, ready to make us whole in every sense of the word.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What "long-standing issues" in your life, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, have you tried to fix on your own, only to grow worse?**
* **What does the woman's willingness to "touch but his clothes" reveal about her perception of Jesus' power, and how does that challenge or affirm your own view of Christ's ability to intervene in your life?**
* **In what ways might you be holding back from fully "reaching out" to Jesus due to fear, shame, or a sense of unworthiness, and how can this passage encourage you to press through those barriers?**

### FAQ
**Why did the woman only want to touch Jesus' clothes, and not speak to Him directly?**

Answer: The woman's decision to only touch Jesus' clothes, rather than speak to Him directly, was likely driven by a combination of factors rooted in her desperate situation and the cultural context. First, her chronic bleeding condition rendered her ritually unclean under Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 15:25-27](/leviticus/15-25-27 "Leviticus 15:25-27 - Laws Concerning Discharges")). Any person or object she touched would also become unclean. Approaching Jesus directly and speaking to Him publicly would have risked defiling Him and those around Him, potentially inviting public rebuke or ostracization. Second, after twelve years of suffering and failed medical treatments, she was likely exhausted, desperate, and perhaps socially marginalized to the point of feeling unworthy or afraid to draw attention to herself. Her faith was profound but also humble and perhaps even timid in its expression. She believed that Jesus' power was so immense that even an indirect, unnoticed touch would be sufficient, demonstrating a radical trust in His inherent healing virtue rather than needing a performative interaction. Her quiet act shows both her deep faith and her understanding of her societal limitations.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 5:28, while a powerful testament to the woman's faith and Jesus' healing power, points beyond a mere physical miracle to the greater spiritual wholeness found in Christ. The woman's desperate reach for the hem of Jesus' garment foreshadows humanity's desperate need to grasp hold of the saving grace offered through His sacrifice. Her belief that a touch of His outer clothing could make her "whole" prefigures the profound truth that by His stripes we are healed, as prophesied in [Isaiah 53:5](/isaiah/53-5 "Isaiah 53:5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed") and reiterated in [1 Peter 2:24](/1_peter/2-24 "1 Peter 2:24 - Healing Through Christ's Wounds"). Jesus, the Great Physician, not only heals physical ailments but also addresses the deeper spiritual sickness of sin, offering complete restoration and reconciliation with God. The "wholeness" she experienced, derived from the Greek _sōzō_, carries the dual meaning of physical healing and spiritual salvation, indicating that her encounter with Jesus was not just a cure but a redemptive moment. Her faith, which drew power from Him, is a paradigm for all who, recognizing their own spiritual uncleanness and helplessness, reach out to Christ for the cleansing and life-giving power that flows from His very being, making them truly [new creations](/2_corinthians/5-17 "2 Corinthians 5:17 - New Creation in Christ") in Him. He is the ultimate source of all healing, both bodily and spiritually, inviting all to come and find rest for their souls, as promised in [Matthew 11:28-30](/matthew/11-28-30 "Matthew 11:28-30 - Come to Me, All Who Are Weary").

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.