Matthew 9:24

KJV

He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

KJV (with Strong's)

He said {G3004} unto them {G846}, Give place {G402}: for {G1063} the maid {G2877} is {G599} not {G3756} dead {G599}, but {G235} sleepeth {G2518}. And {G2532} they laughed {G2606} him {G846} to scorn {G2606}.

Complete Jewish Bible

he said, "Everybody out! The girl isn't dead, she's only sleeping!" And they jeered at him.

Berean Standard Bible

“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.

American Standard Version

he said, Give place: for the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Matthew 9:24 captures Jesus' profound declaration regarding Jairus's daughter, asserting that her state was one of sleep rather than irreversible death, a perspective met with immediate scorn by the professional mourners and onlookers. This pivotal moment underscores Jesus' unique authority over life and death, setting the stage for a miraculous demonstration of His power that challenges conventional human understanding and highlights the stark contrast between divine truth and human skepticism.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the narrative of Jairus's daughter, which begins with Jairus, a synagogue ruler, pleading with Jesus to heal his dying daughter ([Matthew 9:18](/matthew/9-18 "Matthew 9:18 - Jairus's Plea")). As Jesus journeys to Jairus's house, He is interrupted by a woman with a twelve-year issue of blood, whom He miraculously heals ([Matthew 9:20-22](/matthew/9-20-22 "Matthew 9:20-22 - Healing the Woman with an Issue of Blood")). The news of the daughter's death arrives shortly thereafter ([Matthew 9:23](/matthew/9-23 "Matthew 9:23 - News of the Daughter's Death")), setting the scene for Jesus' arrival at a house already filled with the loud lamentations of professional mourners and flute players. Matthew 9:24 records Jesus' direct confrontation with this scene of public mourning, His command for the crowd to withdraw, and their derisive response, immediately preceding the girl's resurrection in [Matthew 9:25](/matthew/9-25 "Matthew 9:25 - The Girl Raised").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** In first-century Jewish society, death was a profoundly public and communal event. Upon a death, it was customary to immediately hire professional mourners (often women) and musicians (flute players) to initiate a loud and dramatic lamentation, as described in [Matthew 9:23](/matthew/9-23 "Matthew 9:23 - The Mourners Arrive"). This wailing and clamor were not merely expressions of grief but also served to alert the community to the death and to honor the deceased. The presence of such a crowd, especially for a prominent figure like a synagogue ruler, would have been expected and traditional. Jesus' command to "Give place" directly challenged this deeply ingrained cultural practice, demanding that the established rituals of mourning yield to His authority, which the crowd, rooted in their cultural understanding of finality, found utterly absurd and laughable.
* **Key Themes:** Matthew 9:24 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the Gospel of Matthew and the broader biblical narrative. Foremost is the theme of **Jesus' absolute authority over death**, presenting Him as the Lord of life who can reverse even the ultimate human boundary. His statement that the girl "sleepeth" rather than being "dead" is a profound theological declaration, echoing the concept of death as a temporary state, particularly for believers, found throughout Scripture (e.g., [John 11:11-14](/john/11-11-14 "John 11:11-14 - Jesus Calls Lazarus's Death a Sleep")). Another crucial theme is the **contrast between faith and unbelief**. The crowd's "scornful laughter" starkly illustrates human skepticism and the inability to comprehend divine power when confronted with what appears to be an undeniable reality. This highlights the spiritual blindness that often accompanies a lack of faith, a recurring motif in Jesus' ministry, as seen in His interactions with the Pharisees and others who doubted His claims and miracles (e.g., [Matthew 12:24](/matthew/12-24 "Matthew 12:24 - The Pharisees' Accusation")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Give place (Greek, _anachōréō'_):** From G402, meaning "to retire, depart, go (turn) aside, withdraw self." Jesus' command is not a polite request but a forceful directive for the noisy, unbelieving crowd to clear the way. It signifies a demand for their physical removal from the space, creating an environment conducive to His divine work, free from the clamor of human despair and skepticism.
* **sleepeth (Greek, _katheúdō'_):** From G2518, meaning "to lie down to rest, i.e. (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively)." While "sleep" was a common euphemism for death in both Greek and Jewish contexts, Jesus' use here transcends mere euphemism. It is a profound theological statement that, from His divine perspective, death is not a final, irreversible state but a temporary slumber from which He, as the Lord of life, can awaken individuals. This foreshadows the ultimate resurrection.
* **laughed him to scorn (Greek, _katageláō'_):** From G2606, meaning "to laugh down, i.e. deride, ridicule." This word conveys a strong sense of contempt and mockery. The crowd's reaction was not one of amusement or simple disbelief, but of open derision, indicating their absolute conviction that the girl was undeniably dead and Jesus' statement was absurd, highlighting their profound lack of faith in His authority.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"He said unto them, "Give place""**: Jesus, upon entering the house filled with the sounds of professional mourning, immediately asserts His authority by commanding the crowd to withdraw. This directive, "Give place," is a forceful instruction for them to depart and make room, not just physically, but also for a different reality than the one they perceived. It is a call to clear the spiritual and physical space for a divine act that transcends human understanding of death.
* **"for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth."**: This is the core of Jesus' revolutionary statement. The conjunction "for" (gár, G1063) introduces the reason for His command: His perspective on the girl's condition. He directly contradicts the widely accepted reality of her death, asserting instead that she is merely "sleeping." This is not a denial of her physical cessation of life, but a profound theological redefinition of death as a temporary, reversible state from His divine viewpoint, emphasizing His unique power over life itself. The "but" (allá, G235) highlights the sharp contrast between their perception and His truth.
* **"And they laughed him to scorn."**: The crowd's immediate and visceral reaction to Jesus' words reveals their profound unbelief and the chasm between their human understanding and His divine perspective. Their "laughter to scorn" (katageláō, G2606) was not lighthearted amusement but a derisive, contemptuous ridicule, demonstrating their absolute conviction that Jesus' claim was preposterous and worthy only of mockery. This reaction underscores the challenge of faith in the face of seemingly insurmountable evidence to the contrary.

#### Literary Devices
Matthew 9:24 masterfully employs several literary devices to convey its powerful message. The most prominent is **Euphemism**, as Jesus describes death as "sleep." While "sleep" was a common ancient euphemism for death, Jesus elevates it beyond a mere polite term, transforming it into a theological statement about His power to awaken. This creates **Dramatic Irony**, as the audience (and the reader) knows that Jesus possesses the power to raise the girl, while the characters within the scene (the mourners) remain ignorant, leading them to mock Him. Their "laughter to scorn" serves as a stark **Contrast** between human skepticism and divine truth, highlighting the spiritual blindness of those who cannot perceive God's power. Furthermore, the scene presents a **Conflict** between the established cultural norms of mourning and Jesus' authoritative declaration, underscoring His challenge to conventional wisdom and His unique position as the Lord over life and death.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 9:24 powerfully illustrates Jesus' unique authority over the most formidable human enemy: death. His declaration that the girl "sleepeth" is not a denial of her physical state but a profound theological statement that, from His divine perspective, death is merely a temporary, reversible condition. This concept resonates deeply with the broader biblical narrative of resurrection and hope, foreshadowing not only the girl's immediate awakening but also Christ's ultimate victory over the grave and the promise of eternal life for all who believe. The crowd's scornful laughter, in turn, serves as a poignant reminder of the pervasive human tendency towards unbelief and the difficulty of accepting divine truth when it challenges deeply ingrained perceptions of reality. This verse thus becomes a testament to the transformative power of faith and the boundless sovereignty of Jesus Christ, who redefines even death itself.

* [John 11:11-14](/john/11-11-14 "John 11:11-14 - Jesus Calls Lazarus's Death a Sleep")
* [1 Corinthians 15:26](/1_corinthians/15-26 "1 Corinthians 15:26 - The Last Enemy, Death, Will Be Destroyed")
* [1 Thessalonians 4:13-14](/1_thessalonians/4-13-14 "1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 - Hope for Those Who Have Died in Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 9:24 offers profound spiritual lessons for believers navigating the realities of life and death. Jesus' calm declaration in the face of overwhelming grief and cultural lamentation invites us to adopt a divine perspective on what often appears to be final and hopeless. When we encounter situations that seem utterly beyond remedy—whether it's the physical death of a loved one, the death of a dream, or the demise of a relationship—this verse calls us to remember that with Christ, even death is not the ultimate barrier. It encourages us to cultivate a faith that transcends human logic and conventional wisdom, trusting in the Lord of life who can bring resurrection to what is dead. Furthermore, the crowd's reaction serves as a sober reminder that our faith, particularly when it aligns with God's supernatural power, may be met with skepticism, ridicule, or outright scorn from a world that operates on different principles. This should not deter us, but rather strengthen our resolve to cling to Christ's truth, knowing that His perspective is the ultimate reality.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does Jesus' statement "the maid is not dead, but sleepeth" challenge your own understanding of death and finality?**
* **In what areas of your life are you prone to "laugh to scorn" God's promises or power because they defy your human logic or experience?**
* **How can cultivating a "divine perspective" on seemingly hopeless situations strengthen your faith and comfort your heart?**

### FAQ
**Why did Jesus say the girl was "sleeping" if she was actually dead?**

Answer: Jesus' statement that the girl was "sleeping" was not a literal medical diagnosis but a profound theological declaration of His authority over death. In the biblical context, "sleep" is often used as a euphemism for death, particularly for those who die in the Lord, signifying a temporary state from which there will be an awakening (resurrection). For Jesus, who is the [resurrection and the life](/john/11-25 "John 11:25 - Jesus, the Resurrection and the Life"), death was not a finality but a temporary slumber from which He could awaken individuals, as He demonstrated with Lazarus, whom He also described as "sleeping" before raising him ([John 11:11-14](/john/11-11-14 "John 11:11-14 - Lazarus's Sleep and Awakening")). His words were a prophetic assertion of His power to reverse what the world considered irreversible.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Matthew 9:24, with its striking declaration of death as "sleep" and the subsequent scornful laughter, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Himself. His ability to command death to "give place" and redefine it as a temporary slumber foreshadows His own triumphant victory over the grave. The resurrection of Jairus's daughter is a powerful prefigurement of Christ's own [resurrection on the third day](/luke/24-6-7 "Luke 24:6-7 - Jesus' Resurrection Foretold"), which definitively conquered death and secured eternal life for all who believe. Just as the crowd mocked Jesus for His seemingly absurd claim, the world often scoffs at the Christian hope of resurrection and eternal life, viewing it as irrational or impossible ([1 Corinthians 1:18](/1_corinthians/1-18 "1 Corinthians 1:18 - The Message of the Cross is Foolishness to Those Who are Perishing")). Yet, it is precisely through Christ's death and resurrection that the "sleep" of death is transformed into a gateway to eternal life, making Him the [firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep](/1_corinthians/15-20 "1 Corinthians 15:20 - Christ, the Firstfruits of Resurrection"). Thus, Matthew 9:24 is not merely a historical account of a miracle but a profound theological statement about Jesus as the Lord of life, whose power over death is the bedrock of Christian hope and the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.

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

Acts 20:10

And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing [him] said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

John 11:11

These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep.

John 11:13

Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

Isaiah 53:3

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were [our] faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

John 11:4

When Jesus heard [that], he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Isaiah 49:7

¶ Thus saith the LORD, the Redeemer of Israel, [and] his Holy One, to him whom man despiseth, to him whom the nation abhorreth, to a servant of rulers, Kings shall see and arise, princes also shall worship, because of the LORD that is faithful, [and] the Holy One of Israel, and he shall choose thee.

Matthew 27:39

And they that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads,