Mark 5:30

KJV

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} Jesus {G2424}, immediately {G2112} knowing {G1921} in {G1722} himself {G1438} that virtue {G1411} had gone {G1831} out of {G1537} him {G846}, turned him about {G1994} in {G1722} the press {G3793}, and said {G3004}, Who {G5101} touched {G680} my {G3450} clothes {G2440}?

Complete Jewish Bible

At the same time, Yeshua, aware that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"

Berean Standard Bible

At once Jesus was aware that power had gone out from Him. Turning to the crowd, He asked, “Who touched My garments?”

American Standard Version

And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 5:30 captures a pivotal moment in the healing of the woman with the issue of blood, revealing Jesus's immediate and internal awareness that divine power had supernaturally flowed from Him. Amidst the jostling crowd, Jesus perceives this unique expenditure of "virtue" or miraculous power, prompting Him to turn and inquire who had intentionally touched His garments, setting the stage for a profound revelation of faith and healing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within one of Mark's characteristic "sandwich" or "intercalation" narratives, where the healing of the woman with the issue of blood ([Mark 5:25-34](/mark/5-25-34 "Mark 5:25-34 - The Woman with the Issue of Blood")) is placed between two parts of the story of Jairus's daughter ([Mark 5:21-24](/mark/5-21-24 "Mark 5:21-24 - Jairus Seeks Jesus") and [Mark 5:35-43](/mark/5-35-43 "Mark 5:35-43 - Jairus's Daughter Raised")). This literary structure serves to highlight thematic connections, particularly concerning faith, death, and life, and to demonstrate Jesus's sovereignty over both sickness and death. The narrative flow emphasizes the urgency of Jairus's plea, the unexpected interruption by the woman, and Jesus's intentional pause to address her, despite the pressing crowd and the critical situation with Jairus's daughter.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The woman's condition, a chronic hemorrhage for twelve years, rendered her ritually unclean according to Old Testament law ([Leviticus 15:25-27](/leviticus/15-25-27 "Leviticus 15:25-27 - Laws Concerning Discharges")). This meant she was perpetually ostracized from society, unable to participate in communal worship, and anything or anyone she touched would also become ritually unclean. This made her approach to Jesus, touching His garment, a bold and culturally transgressive act, driven by desperate faith. The "press" (G3793 `óchlos`) refers to the dense, jostling crowd typical of public gatherings around Jesus, highlighting the physical challenge and the anonymity of the masses. Her condition had also likely led to severe financial hardship, as she had "suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse" ([Mark 5:26](/mark/5-26 "Mark 5:26 - Woman's Suffering")).
* **Key Themes:** Mark 5:30 contributes significantly to several key themes within the Gospel. Firstly, it underscores the theme of **Jesus's Divine Power and Authority**, demonstrating that His healing ability is not merely passive but an active, perceptible outflow of His inherent divine nature. Secondly, it highlights the **Centrality of Faith** as the conduit for receiving Jesus's power; the woman's desperate belief, not just a casual touch, activated the healing. This contrasts sharply with the general crowd, who were physically close but lacked transformative faith. Thirdly, the verse reveals **Jesus's Intentionality and Awareness**; His question, "Who touched my clothes?", was not born of ignorance but was a deliberate act to bring the woman out of anonymity, affirm her healing, and teach those present about the nature of true faith and divine interaction, as further emphasized in [Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Your Faith Has Made You Well").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **virtue (Greek, _dýnamis'_):** From G1411 (δύναμις), this word signifies "force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself)." The KJV translation "virtue" here does not refer to moral goodness but to divine, potent, active energy or ability. It is the root of English words like "dynamic" and "dynamite," emphasizing a powerful, transformative force. Jesus was not merely a passive conduit; He was the active source from whom this divine power emanated.
* **knowing (Greek, _epiginṓskō'_):** From G1921 (ἐπί and γινώσκω), this term means "to know upon some mark, i.e. recognize; by implication, to become fully acquainted with, to acknowledge." It implies a deeper, more complete and experiential knowledge than a simple intellectual awareness. Jesus didn't just sense a general disturbance; He had a profound, immediate, and internal recognition of the specific outflow of His miraculous power.
* **gone out (Greek, _exérchomai'_):** From G1831 (ἐκ and ἔρχομαι), meaning "to issue (literally or figuratively); to come (forth, out), depart (out of), escape, get out, go (abroad, away, forth, out, thence), proceed (forth), spread abroad." This verb vividly describes the active, purposeful emanation of power from Jesus, indicating a distinct and perceptible transfer of divine energy from His being to the woman.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself":** This phrase highlights Jesus's divine omniscience and self-awareness. The adverb "immediately" (G2112 `euthéōs`) underscores the instantaneous nature of His perception, while "knowing in himself" (G1921 `epiginṓskō` G1438 `heautoû`) emphasizes an internal, personal, and profound recognition, not an external observation or deduction. He was intrinsically aware of the spiritual transaction that had just occurred.
* **"that virtue had gone out of him":** This clause reveals the nature of the event from Jesus's perspective. The "virtue" (G1411 `dýnamis`) refers to His divine, miraculous power. The perfect tense verb "had gone out" (G1831 `exérchomai`) indicates a completed action with ongoing effects—the power had definitively left Him and accomplished its work. This was a tangible, if spiritual, expenditure of His divine energy.
* **"turned him about in the press, and said":** Despite the overwhelming "press" (G3793 `óchlos`) of the crowd, Jesus deliberately "turned him about" (G1994 `epistréphō`), indicating a purposeful shift in direction and attention. His subsequent question, "Who touched my clothes?", was not born of ignorance but was a strategic and intentional act (G3004 `légō`) to draw out the woman, affirm her healing, and teach a vital lesson about faith to His disciples and the surrounding multitude.
* **"Who touched my clothes?":** This direct question serves multiple purposes. It publicly acknowledges the miracle, invites the hidden recipient to step forward, and provides an opportunity for Jesus to commend the woman's faith, thereby teaching His disciples and the crowd about the true nature of spiritual connection and healing. The "clothes" (G2440 `himátion`) were the point of contact for the woman's faith, but not the source of the power itself.

#### Literary Devices
Mark's narrative in this verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is evident in the contrast between the many who "pressed" against Jesus, touching Him indiscriminately, and the one woman whose intentional, faith-filled touch drew out divine power. While countless people were physically close, only one made a true spiritual connection. **Symbolism** is present in the "clothes" (G2440 `himátion`), which become a tangible point of contact for intangible faith, representing Jesus's presence and authority. The "touch" (G680 `háptomai`) itself symbolizes the woman's desperate yet profound faith, reaching out beyond conventional means. Furthermore, the entire "sandwich" narrative structure of Mark 5, with the woman's healing interrupting Jairus's plea, creates a powerful **juxtaposition** that highlights themes of faith overcoming seemingly impossible circumstances, foreshadowing the greater miracle of resurrection to come.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 5:30 profoundly underscores Jesus's unique divine nature and His active, conscious control over His miraculous power. Unlike a passive conduit, Jesus immediately and internally recognized the outflow of His `dýnamis`. This demonstrates His sovereignty and awareness, even amidst the chaos of a thronging crowd. It reveals that while many may be physically close to Jesus, it is the touch of intentional, desperate faith that truly connects with His power and brings about transformation. This passage teaches us that Jesus is not indifferent to individual suffering, nor is He unaware of the quiet acts of faith, no matter how hidden or seemingly insignificant. He desires to make manifest the work of His grace and to affirm the faith that draws upon Him.

* [Luke 8:46](/luke/8-46 "Luke 8:46 - Power Went Out of Me"): "And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me." (A parallel account emphasizing Jesus's perception).
* [Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Your Faith Has Made You Well"): "And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague." (Jesus's direct affirmation of the woman's faith as the catalyst).
* [Luke 6:19](/luke/6-19 "Luke 6:19 - Power Went Out from Him"): "And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed them all." (A general statement about Jesus's healing power emanating from Him).

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Mark 5:30 offers immense encouragement for every believer who feels lost in the "crowd" of life's challenges, unseen or unheard amidst the clamor of daily demands. Jesus's immediate and internal awareness that power had gone out of Him assures us that He is intimately attuned to every sincere and desperate act of faith, no matter how small or hidden it may seem. We are reminded that our connection with Jesus is not merely about physical proximity or ritualistic action, but about a heartfelt, intentional reach of faith. He desires to engage with us personally, to call us out of anonymity, and to publicly affirm the work He has done in our lives. This verse challenges us to move beyond passive observation and to actively, intentionally, and faithfully reach out to Jesus, trusting that His divine power is available and that He is fully aware of our every need and every touch of genuine faith.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus's immediate awareness of power leaving Him encourage you in your own prayers or struggles, especially when you feel unseen or unheard?**
* **What does the woman's desperate yet humble act of faith teach us about approaching Jesus with our needs, even when cultural or personal barriers exist?**
* **In what areas of your life are you being called to reach out to Jesus with intentional faith, even amidst the "crowd" of daily distractions or overwhelming circumstances?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus ask "Who touched my clothes?" if He already knew that virtue had gone out of Him?**

Answer: Jesus's question was not born of ignorance but was a deliberate, intentional act to achieve several crucial purposes. Firstly, He sought to bring the woman out of anonymity, transforming a private miracle into a public testimony. This allowed her to be affirmed and restored not just physically but also socially and spiritually. Secondly, it provided an opportunity for Jesus to publicly commend her faith, teaching His disciples and the surrounding crowd about the vital role of faith in receiving divine power. Finally, it demonstrated His active sovereignty over the healing process, emphasizing that the power flowed from Him by His will, not by mere magical contact.

**What does "virtue" mean in the context of Mark 5:30?**

Answer: In this verse, the King James Version's translation of "virtue" comes from the Greek word `dýnamis` (G1411), which refers to divine power, strength, or miraculous ability. It does not refer to moral goodness or ethical virtue. It signifies an active, potent, supernatural force emanating from Jesus, enabling Him to perform miracles. Jesus was not merely a good man; He was the embodiment of God's dynamic, healing power.

**Was it the garment itself that healed the woman?**

Answer: No, the garment itself did not possess inherent healing power. It was the woman's profound and desperate faith that served as the conduit for Jesus's divine power. The garment was merely the point of physical contact through which her faith reached out to Jesus. As Jesus Himself stated later in [Mark 5:34](/mark/5-34 "Mark 5:34 - Your Faith Has Made You Well"), "Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole." The power originated from Jesus, and faith was the means by which it was received.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 5:30, with Jesus's immediate awareness of divine "virtue" or `dýnamis` flowing from Him, offers a profound glimpse into His unique identity as the Son of God. This active, conscious expenditure of power foreshadows His ultimate self-giving on the cross, where the ultimate power of God for salvation flowed out of Him to redeem humanity. His sensitivity to the individual touch of faith amidst the pressing crowd reveals His compassionate nature as our High Priest, one who can "sympathize with our weaknesses" ([Hebrews 4:15-16](/hebrews/4-15-16 "Hebrews 4:15-16 - Our High Priest")). The power that went out of Him for physical healing points to the spiritual healing and life that flow from His atoning work ([Isaiah 53:4-5](/isaiah/53-4-5 "Isaiah 53:4-5 - By His Wounds We Are Healed")). In Christ, "all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form" ([Colossians 1:19](/colossians/1-19 "Colossians 1:19 - Fullness of God in Christ")), and this fullness is actively available to those who reach out to Him in faith. His willingness to be "drawn upon" for healing anticipates His complete emptying of Himself for our sake, demonstrating that His divine power is perpetually available for transformation, restoration, and eternal 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

Luke 6:19

And the whole multitude sought to touch him: for there went virtue out of him, and healed [them] all.

Luke 8:46

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

Luke 5:17

¶ And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was [present] to heal them.

1 Peter 2:9

But ye [are] a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: