Matthew 9:21

KJV

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

KJV (with Strong's)

For {G1063} she said {G3004} within {G1722} herself {G1438}, If {G1437} I may {G680} but {G3440} touch {G680} his {G846} garment {G2440}, I shall be whole {G4982}.

Complete Jewish Bible

For she said to herself, "If I can only touch his robe, I will be healed."

Berean Standard Bible

She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

American Standard Version

for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 9:21 captures the profound internal conviction of a woman suffering for twelve years from a debilitating hemorrhage, who, in an act of desperate yet resolute faith, believes that merely touching the fringe of Jesus' garment will bring about her complete restoration. Her quiet declaration, spoken only to herself amidst a bustling crowd, reveals a deep understanding of Jesus' unique power and authority, anticipating the miraculous healing that immediately follows and underscores the transformative power of faith.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is embedded within a series of healing miracles in [Matthew 9](/matthew/9 "Matthew 9 - Miracles and Ministry"), immediately following the healing of a paralytic and the call of Matthew. It serves as a parenthetical narrative, interrupting the main story of Jesus on His way to heal Jairus' daughter ([Matthew 9:18-19](/matthew/9-18-19 "Matthew 9:18-19 - Jairus' Plea")). This literary technique highlights the woman's story as a significant demonstration of faith and divine power, while also building suspense for Jairus' situation. The swiftness of her healing contrasts with the perceived urgency of Jairus' request, emphasizing that Jesus' power is not bound by human timelines or expectations.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The woman's condition, a chronic hemorrhage, rendered her ritually unclean under Mosaic Law ([Leviticus 15:25-27](/leviticus/15-25-27 "Leviticus 15:25-27 - Laws Concerning Discharges")). This meant she was isolated from community life, unable to participate in temple worship, and anything she touched also became unclean. Her suffering was not merely physical but also profound social and spiritual ostracization. For twelve years, she had endured this, likely exhausting all her financial resources on physicians who offered no cure ([Mark 5:26](/mark/5-26 "Mark 5:26 - The Woman's Suffering")). Her act of pushing through a crowd to touch Jesus was not only an act of faith but also an act of immense courage, as her presence in public could have been met with condemnation.
* **Key Themes:** The central theme in [Matthew 9:21](/matthew/9-21 "Matthew 9:21 - The Woman's Faith") is **desperate, active faith**. Despite her long-term suffering and social isolation, the woman's belief in Jesus' power was so strong that she sought healing through a seemingly minimal act. This highlights Jesus' **unparalleled divine power**, which emanates from Him even without His explicit command or prior knowledge, demonstrating His inherent ability to heal and restore. Furthermore, the narrative emphasizes the **holistic nature of "wholeness"** (Greek: *sōzō*), implying not just physical cure but also restoration to social acceptance and spiritual well-being, a theme consistently seen in Jesus' ministry, such as when He tells the paralytic, "[Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee](/matthew/9-2 "Matthew 9:2 - Jesus Forgives and Heals the Paralytic")" just prior to this account.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **said (Greek, _légō'_):** From G3004, meaning to "lay forth" or relate in words, often implying systematic or set discourse. Here, it emphasizes that her statement was not a fleeting thought but a deeply held, deliberate conviction, a firm resolve expressed "within herself." It highlights the internal, conscious nature of her faith.
* **touch (Greek, _háptomai'_):** From G680, meaning to attach oneself to, or to touch. This word conveys an intentional, active, and physical engagement. It wasn't an accidental brush, but a deliberate act of reaching out and making contact, believing that this physical connection would be the conduit for divine power.
* **whole (Greek, _sṓzō'_):** From G4982, meaning to save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, or make well. While often translated as "save" in the context of salvation from sin, in this instance, it primarily signifies physical healing and restoration to health. However, given the woman's social and religious ostracization due to her condition, *sōzō* also implies a broader restoration to social and spiritual well-being, a complete making-right of her life.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"For she said within herself,"**: This clause immediately draws the reader into the woman's internal world, revealing her private thoughts and the depth of her conviction. It underscores that her faith was not for public display or seeking attention, but a personal, desperate, and profound belief in Jesus' power. The phrase "within herself" emphasizes the quiet, intimate nature of her plea.
* **"If I may but touch his garment,"**: This phrase articulates the specific, humble, yet incredibly bold act she believed would bring about her healing. The "if" (G1437 *eán*) expresses a conditional hope, but the "but" (G3440 *mónon*, meaning "merely" or "only") highlights her minimalist yet potent faith—she didn't need a direct word or a grand gesture, just the slightest physical contact with His person or His power. The "garment" (G2440 *himátion*) likely refers to the fringe or hem of His outer robe, which was considered the most accessible part of a person in a crowd.
* **"I shall be whole."**: This is the declaration of her absolute certainty in the outcome. It's a statement of confident expectation, not a mere wish. The word "whole" (G4982 *sōzō*) encompasses not only her physical healing from the hemorrhage but also her restoration to ritual purity, social acceptance, and overall well-being, signifying a complete transformation of her life.

#### Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices. **Irony** is evident in the fact that an "unclean" woman, according to the Law, dares to touch the holy one, yet instead of defiling Him, she is made clean. This highlights Jesus' transcendence over ritual law and His power to purify. **Synecdoche** is present in "his garment," where a part (the garment) stands for the whole (Jesus' person and power), symbolizing her belief that even the periphery of His being carried divine efficacy. The woman's internal monologue functions as a form of **Foreshadowing**, setting up the miraculous healing that is about to occur and emphasizing that her faith is the catalyst. Furthermore, the phrase "I shall be whole" serves as a powerful **Declaration of Faith**, demonstrating her absolute conviction in Jesus' ability to restore her completely.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This narrative profoundly illustrates the power of faith, even when expressed in a seemingly small or desperate act. It reveals Jesus' divine nature, as power emanates from Him without His conscious effort, and His boundless compassion, as He perceives and responds to the woman's hidden act of faith. The concept of "wholeness" (*sōzō*) extends beyond mere physical healing to encompass spiritual restoration and reconciliation, a hallmark of God's redemptive work. Her story is a testament to the truth that God often meets us in our most vulnerable and marginalized states, responding to genuine faith with transformative grace.

* [Mark 5:25-34](/mark/5-25-34 "Mark 5:25-34 - The Woman with the Issue of Blood")
* [Luke 8:43-48](/luke/8-43-48 "Luke 8:43-48 - The Woman Who Touched Jesus' Garment")
* [Matthew 8:10](/matthew/8-10 "Matthew 8:10 - The Centurion's Great Faith")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The woman's story in Matthew 9:21 offers a timeless lesson on the nature of true faith and God's boundless grace. Her desperate situation, coupled with her unwavering belief, serves as a powerful model for believers facing seemingly insurmountable challenges. It teaches us that authentic faith is not passive but active, willing to push through obstacles, social stigma, and personal limitations to reach for the source of healing. Her conviction that even a touch of His garment would suffice speaks to the profound truth that Jesus' power is not limited by our understanding or the magnitude of our need. We are invited to approach Him with similar humility and audacious trust, believing that His compassion and power are sufficient for our deepest needs—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. This narrative encourages us to bring our hidden hurts and long-standing burdens to Jesus, trusting that He sees, knows, and has the power to make us truly whole.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What hidden "issues" or long-standing burdens might you be carrying that you need to bring to Jesus with similar faith?**
* **How does the woman's quiet, internal declaration of faith challenge or affirm your own approach to prayer and seeking God's intervention?**
* **In what areas of your life do you need to believe that even a "touch" of Jesus' power is enough to bring about wholeness?**

### FAQ

**Why did she only want to touch his garment, rather than asking for a direct healing?**

Answer: The woman's desire to "but touch his garment" speaks volumes about the nature of her faith and the cultural understanding of the time. First, her condition made her ritually unclean, meaning she was forbidden from public contact. A direct request would have exposed her and potentially caused a scene. Second, her faith was so profound that she believed Jesus' power was so inherent and pervasive that it radiated from Him, even through His clothing. This was not a superstitious belief, but a deep conviction in His divine efficacy. She believed that the very presence of the Son of God was imbued with healing power, and that a formal request or public acknowledgement was unnecessary for Him to effect a cure. Her focus was on the source of power, not the method of its transmission, as Jesus later affirms her faith in [Matthew 9:22](/matthew/9-22 "Matthew 9:22 - Jesus Affirms the Woman's Faith").

**What does "whole" mean in this context, beyond just physical healing?**

Answer: The Greek word translated "whole" is *sōzō* (G4982), which carries a rich semantic range, meaning to save, deliver, preserve, or make well. While it certainly refers to her immediate physical healing from the hemorrhage, its implications extend much further. For twelve years, her condition had rendered her ritually unclean ([Leviticus 15:25](/leviticus/15-25 "Leviticus 15:25 - Laws Concerning Discharges")), leading to social isolation and exclusion from temple worship. Therefore, being made "whole" by Jesus meant not only the cessation of her physical suffering but also her restoration to ritual purity, social acceptance, and full participation in community and religious life. It signifies a holistic healing—physical, social, and spiritual—reflecting God's desire for complete well-being for His people, as seen in the abundant life Jesus promises in [John 10:10](/john/10-10 "John 10:10 - The Abundant Life").

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The woman's desperate act of faith to touch Jesus' garment and be made "whole" finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the broader redemptive work of Jesus, who is the source of all true wholeness and salvation. Her physical healing, achieved through contact with His person, powerfully foreshadows the spiritual healing and salvation available to all who, by faith, "touch" Him. Just as His garment was a conduit of divine power for her physical ailment, so Jesus Himself, through His incarnation, life, death, and resurrection, became the ultimate conduit for humanity's spiritual healing from the defilement of sin. He is the [Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"), making those who were spiritually unclean, clean through His blood. The "wholeness" she experienced, encompassing physical, social, and spiritual restoration, points to the comprehensive salvation offered by Christ, who came not only to heal bodies but to restore souls, reconcile humanity to God, and grant eternal life ([John 3:16](/john/3-16 "John 3:16 - God's Love and Eternal Life")). Her story is a vivid illustration that faith in Jesus, however small or desperate the act, connects us to the inexhaustible power of God, bringing us into a state of complete and everlasting wholeness in Him ([Romans 10:9-10](/romans/10-9-10 "Romans 10:9-10 - Confession and Belief Lead to Salvation")).

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 5:26

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

Mark 5:33

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

Luke 8:45

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press [thee], and sayest thou, Who touched me?

Luke 8:47

And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Acts 19:12

So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.