Mark 5:41

KJV

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

KJV (with Strong's)

And {G2532} he took {G2902} the damsel {G3813} by the hand {G5495}, and said {G3004} unto her {G846}, Talitha {G5008} cumi {G2891}; which {G3739} is {G2076}, being interpreted {G3177}, Damsel {G2877}, I say {G3004} unto thee {G4671}, arise {G1453}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Taking her by the hand, he said to her, "Talita, kumi!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!").

Berean Standard Bible

Taking her by the hand, Jesus said, “Talitha koum!” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”

American Standard Version

And taking the child by the hand, he saith unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, Arise.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Mark 5:41 captures a pivotal moment in Jesus' ministry, showcasing His absolute divine authority over life and death. This verse records the very Aramaic words Jesus spoke to raise Jairus's twelve-year-old daughter from the dead, a powerful demonstration of His intimate compassion, miraculous power, and the ultimate triumph of life over the grave. It stands as a testament to Jesus' unique ability to command life into being, even in the face of apparent finality.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic moment of the narrative found in [Mark 5:21-43](/mark/5-21-43 "Mark 5:21-43 - The Raising of Jairus's Daughter"). The story begins with Jairus, a synagogue official, pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. While Jesus is en route, He is interrupted by the healing of a woman with a chronic hemorrhage, a significant delay that sets up the dramatic tension. News then arrives that Jairus's daughter has died, seemingly rendering Jesus' journey futile. Despite the despair and the professional mourners already lamenting, Jesus dismisses their wailing, declaring, "The child is not dead but sleeping" ([Mark 5:39](/mark/5-39 "Mark 5:39 - Jesus Declares the Girl is Asleep")). He permits only Peter, James, John, and the girl's parents to enter the room, setting the scene for an intimate and profound display of His power.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting is a Jewish home in Galilee, where death rituals were well-established. Upon a death, professional mourners (flute players and wailers) would be hired to create a loud, public display of grief, as seen in [Matthew 9:23](/matthew/9-23 "Matthew 9:23 - Jesus Encounters Mourners"). Jesus' statement that the girl was "sleeping" would have been met with scorn and ridicule by those who clearly perceived her as dead, highlighting a cultural clash between human perception and divine reality. The preservation of Jesus' original Aramaic words, "Talitha cumi," is also highly significant. Aramaic was the common language spoken by Jews in Judea and Galilee during the first century, while the Gospel of Mark was written in Greek. Mark's inclusion of the Aramaic phrase, immediately followed by its Greek interpretation, lends authenticity and immediacy to the account, emphasizing the directness and personal nature of Jesus' command.
* **Key Themes:** Mark 5:41 powerfully contributes to several overarching themes in the Gospel of Mark and broader biblical theology. Foremost is **Jesus' Authority Over Death**, demonstrating His unique power as the Lord of life, a theme further explored in the raising of Lazarus in [John 11](/john/11 "John 11 - The Raising of Lazarus"). This miracle also highlights **Jesus' Profound Compassion and Intimacy**, as He not only speaks life but also tenderly takes the girl's hand, engaging personally with human suffering. The narrative underscores the **Power of Faith**, as Jairus's initial plea and Jesus' subsequent encouragement to "only believe" ([Mark 5:36](/mark/5-36 "Mark 5:36 - Jesus Encourages Jairus to Believe")) are vindicated. Finally, this event serves as a significant **Foreshadowing of Resurrection**, both Jesus' own future triumph over death and the ultimate resurrection promised to believers, transforming death from a finality into a temporary sleep in God's eyes.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Talitha (Chaldee, _talithá'_):** This Aramaic term, preserved in the Greek text, means "young girl" or "maiden." Its inclusion underscores the tender, personal address Jesus uses for the deceased child. It is an intimate, affectionate address, not a formal or ritualistic one, reflecting Jesus' deep compassion for the child and her grieving parents.
* **cumi (Chaldee, _koûmi'_):** Also an Aramaic imperative, meaning "arise!" or "get up!" This is the direct, authoritative command from Jesus. Coupled with "Talitha," it forms a simple yet incredibly powerful phrase that bypasses any need for elaborate ritual or incantation, demonstrating that Jesus' word alone is sufficient to bring about life from death.
* **arise (Greek, _egeírō'_):** This Greek word, which interprets the Aramaic "cumi," means "to waken" or "to rouse," specifically from sleep, lying, disease, or even death. Its use here perfectly captures the miraculous nature of Jesus' action—He literally awakens the girl from the sleep of death, confirming His power to restore life. The term is frequently used in the New Testament for resurrection, including Jesus' own.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And he took the damsel by the hand,"**: This opening clause describes Jesus' tender and personal action. He does not stand aloof but physically engages with the dead girl. This gesture is significant; touching a dead body would typically render one ritually unclean according to Old Testament law ([Numbers 19:11](/numbers/19-11 "Numbers 19:11 - Touching a Dead Body Causes Uncleanness")), but Jesus, as the source of purity and life, demonstrates His authority over such laws, showing that His touch imparts life and cleansing, not defilement. It highlights His empathy and direct involvement.
* **"and said unto her, 'Talitha cumi;'"**: Here, Mark records the exact Aramaic words spoken by Jesus. This direct address to the deceased girl, using her native tongue, emphasizes the personal nature of the command and Jesus' intimate connection with those He ministers to. The Aramaic adds a layer of authenticity and immediacy to the miracle, allowing the reader to hear, as it were, the very words of power.
* **"which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."**: Mark immediately provides the Greek translation of Jesus' Aramaic words for his Greek-speaking audience. This interpretation clarifies the meaning of the powerful command. The phrase "I say unto thee" underscores Jesus' divine authority; it is not a request or a prayer, but a direct, sovereign declaration that brings about the desired effect. The command "arise" is the culmination, signifying the restoration of life and vitality to the girl.

#### Literary Devices
Mark 5:41 is rich in literary devices that enhance its impact. The most striking is the **Aramaic Transliteration and Preservation** of "Talitha cumi," immediately followed by its Greek translation. This technique authenticates the event, placing the reader directly at the scene and emphasizing the direct, personal nature of Jesus' command in the vernacular. It highlights Jesus' immersion in the culture and His direct communication. **Direct Address** is powerfully employed as Jesus speaks directly to the dead girl, bypassing intermediaries and demonstrating His immediate authority over life. Furthermore, there is profound **Symbolism** in Jesus taking the girl's hand; it is a gesture of intimate connection, compassion, and the transfer of life and purity, contrasting with the defilement traditionally associated with touching the dead. This act also serves as a **Metaphor** for spiritual awakening, where Jesus' touch and word bring life to those spiritually dead. Finally, the preceding narrative sets up a form of **Dramatic Irony**, where the mourners scoff at Jesus' declaration that the girl is "sleeping" ([Mark 5:39](/mark/5-39 "Mark 5:39 - Jesus declares the girl is asleep")), unaware that His perspective on death is one of temporary slumber, which He alone has the power to interrupt.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Mark 5:41 stands as a profound theological statement about Jesus' identity and mission. This miracle unequivocally demonstrates Jesus' divine authority over the ultimate enemy: death. Unlike prophets of old who raised the dead through prayer and God's power, Jesus commands life directly, using His own inherent authority. This act solidifies His claim as the Lord of life, the one who possesses the power to overcome the grave. It is a tangible preview of His own resurrection and the future resurrection of all believers, offering immense hope and comfort that death is not the final word for those in Christ.

* [John 5:28-29](/john/5-28-29 "John 5:28-29 - The Hour is Coming for Resurrection")
* [Luke 7:14-15](/luke/7-14-15 "Luke 7:14-15 - Jesus Raises the Widow's Son")
* [Romans 8:11](/romans/8-11 "Romans 8:11 - The Spirit of Him Who Raised Jesus")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in Mark 5:41 offers a powerful and deeply personal message for believers today. In a world often marked by despair, loss, and seemingly irreversible situations, Jesus' command, "Talitha cumi," echoes with enduring hope. It reminds us that no situation is beyond His power, no life is too far gone for His intervention. Just as He tenderly took the girl's hand, Jesus reaches out to us in our moments of deepest sorrow and helplessness, offering not just sympathy but transformative power. This passage calls us to cultivate a radical trust in Jesus' authority, even when our circumstances scream otherwise. It invites us to see our own "dead" areas—whether they be broken relationships, shattered dreams, or spiritual apathy—as merely "sleeping" in His eyes, awaiting His life-giving word. His compassion is personal, His power absolute, and His promise of life eternal.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **Where in your life do you need to hear Jesus say, "Arise!"?**
* **How does Jesus' tender action of taking the girl's hand speak to His compassion for your struggles?**
* **In what ways does this miracle strengthen your faith in Jesus' ultimate victory over death and despair?**
* **How can you apply the principle of "only believe" (from the broader context) to a seemingly hopeless situation you are facing?**

### FAQ
**Why does Mark include the Aramaic phrase "Talitha cumi" and its interpretation?**

Answer: Mark's inclusion of the Aramaic phrase "Talitha cumi" (and other Aramaic phrases like "Ephphatha" in [Mark 7:34](/mark/7-34 "Mark 7:34 - Jesus Heals a Deaf Man")) serves several important purposes. First, it lends an air of historical authenticity and immediacy to the narrative. Aramaic was the common language spoken by Jesus and the people of Galilee, so recording His exact words allows the reader to "hear" Jesus speak as He truly did. Second, it highlights the direct and powerful nature of Jesus' command. He didn't perform a ritual or incantation; He simply spoke, and life was restored. Finally, for Mark's predominantly Gentile audience, the immediate interpretation ("Damsel, I say unto thee, arise") ensured that the profound meaning and authority of Jesus' words were clearly understood, emphasizing His unique power over death. It underscores that Jesus' authority transcends linguistic barriers and cultural understanding.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Mark 5:41 is more than just an isolated miracle; it is a powerful Christ-centered fulfillment, pointing directly to Jesus as the ultimate conqueror of death and the source of all life. The raising of Jairus's daughter foreshadows Jesus' own triumphant resurrection from the grave, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith ([1 Corinthians 15:3-4](/1_corinthians/15-3-4 "1 Corinthians 15:3-4 - The Gospel of Christ's Death and Resurrection")). Just as He commanded the young girl to "arise," Jesus, through His death and resurrection, has disarmed the power of death and the devil ([Hebrews 2:14-15](/hebrews/2-14-15 "Hebrews 2:14-15 - Christ's Victory Over Death")). This miracle serves as a tangible demonstration of His divine identity as "the resurrection and the life" ([John 11:25](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life")), assuring believers that physical death is not the end but a temporary sleep from which Christ will awaken them. Through faith in Him, we are promised not only spiritual life now but also a future bodily resurrection, echoing the life-giving power displayed in "Talitha cumi," ultimately culminating in the new heavens and new earth where death will be no more ([Revelation 21:4](/revelation/21-4 "Revelation 21:4 - No More Death or Mourning")).

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

Mark 1:31

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Luke 7:14

And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare [him] stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

Luke 7:15

And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

Luke 8:54

And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.

Luke 8:55

And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and he commanded to give her meat.

John 5:28

Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,

John 5:29

And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.