Matthew 9:24

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

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}.

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

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

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

Commentary

Matthew 9:24 captures a pivotal moment in the narrative of Jairus's daughter, immediately preceding her miraculous resurrection. This verse highlights Jesus' unique perspective on death and the immediate human reaction to His divine authority.

Context

The scene is set in the house of Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, whose twelve-year-old daughter has just died. According to Jewish custom, professional mourners and minstrels were already present, creating a loud lamentation (Matthew 9:23). When Jesus enters this scene of grief and commotion, He addresses the crowd, telling them to leave because the girl is not truly dead, but only sleeping. This command, "Give place," was a direct call for them to withdraw and make room for His divine intervention, challenging their ingrained understanding of death.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Jesus' Authority Over Death: The primary message is Christ's absolute power to transcend the ultimate human boundary—death. His statement that the girl "sleepeth" is not a denial of her physical cessation of life, but a prophetic declaration of His ability to reverse it, treating death as a temporary state, much like sleep from which one awakens. This foreshadows His own victory over the grave.
  • The Nature of Unbelief: The crowd's reaction—"they laughed him to scorn"—reveals their profound unbelief and inability to grasp the spiritual reality Jesus presented. Their laughter was not amusement but scornful ridicule, mocking what they perceived as a ridiculous claim. This contrasts sharply with the faith required to witness God's power.
  • Divine Perspective vs. Human Perception: Jesus' words challenge the conventional human understanding of death. For Him, death was merely a slumber from which He could awaken individuals, demonstrating His unique relationship with life itself. This concept is also seen in His raising of Lazarus, whom He also described as sleeping.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "Give place" (Greek: anachōreō) means to withdraw or depart, signifying Jesus' command for the noisy, unbelieving crowd to clear the way for His work. The word "sleepeth" (Greek: koimaomai) is significant. While it literally means to sleep, it was a common euphemism for death in both Greek and Jewish contexts, particularly in relation to the hope of resurrection. Jesus used it to convey that for Him, death was not a finality but a temporary, reversible condition, much like a person waking from natural sleep.

Practical Application

Matthew 9:24 offers profound lessons for believers today. It encourages us to:

  • Trust in Jesus' Sovereignty: Even in situations that seem utterly hopeless or final, we are called to trust in Christ's power and perspective, which often transcends human understanding and limitations.
  • Embrace Hope Beyond Death: The concept of death as "sleep" provides immense comfort and hope, reminding us of the promise of resurrection and eternal life through Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14).
  • Prepare for Unbelief: Just as Jesus faced scorn, believers may encounter skepticism or ridicule when proclaiming the truth of God's power and promises. This verse reminds us that such reactions are not new and should not deter us from faith.
This verse serves as a powerful reminder that with Christ, even death is not an insurmountable barrier, but a temporary state awaiting His command.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified 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,
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