Mark 5:23
And besought¹ him greatly², saying,
My little daughter³ lieth at the point of death:
I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her,
that she may be healed⁴; and she shall live⁵.
¹) Beg, pray.
²) Many, much, large.
³) A little daughter, a young daughter.
⁴) To save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health; to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue
⁵) Be among the living (not lifeless, not dead)
Other translations:
And begged Him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, so that she may be healed and live. [AMP] and implored him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live." [ESV] beside himself as he begged, "My dear daughter is at death's door. Come and lay hands on her so she will get well and live." [MSB] And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. [KJV] and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live." [NIV] pleading with him to heal his little daughter. "She is about to die," he said in desperation. "Please come and place your hands on her; heal her so she can live." [NLT] and begged Him earnestly, saying, "My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live." [NKJV]
Some further information:
My little daughter.
Luke 8:42 says, “He had one only daughter, about twelve years of age.”
According to a well-known rabbin, quoted by Lightfoot,
▪︎ “A daughter from her birthday, until she is twelve years old complete, is called ‘little,’ or ‘a little maid.’
▪︎ But when she is full twelve years old and one day over, she is called ‘a young woman.'”
Lieth at the point of death
Matthew ( Matthew 9:18 ) says: “My daughter is even now dead”, “has just died.” The news of her death reached the father after the cure of the woman with the issue of blood: but Matthew’s brief account gives only the result, as in the case of the centurion’s servant ( Matthew 8:5 ff ).
Come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live
Or, “that she may be healed and live,” according to a fully preferable reading.
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The case is this, he has a little daughter, about twelve years old, the darling of the family, and she lies in bed dying; but he believes that if the Christ would only come, and lay His hands upon her, she will return even from the gates of the grave.
He said, at first, when he came, She lies dying (Mark 5:23); but afterward, upon fresh information sent him, he saith, She is now dead (Matthew 9:18); but he still prosecutes his suit (see Luke 8:42-49). Christ readily agreed, and went with him (Mark 5:24).
Now let us reflect on this
Jairus’ name is written in the Scriptures, and century after century his name is still mentioned. And this in connection with his daughter who was very seriously, yes, deadly ill.
That is of course a special feature, that someone’s name has been immortalized as it were. Names of great men live on in history as a result of their great deeds, but here a father is forever written in God’s book.
Jairus’ only deed that has remained known to us is his walk to the Lord Jesus and his prayer to Him. He prayed Him very much, it says, so with great seriousness and emphasis. It’s a prayer of supplication.
It is quiet something when a child of yours is almost dying.
My daughter is in her extreme, Jairus says.
What a short and simple prayer. Ah, as soon as the need is great, the prayers become shorter, the words less, there are no unnecessary words, it is much more like a cry from the depths for help, and clinging to the Lord.
This was his need: My daughter is in her extreme.
And yet, in those few simple words, the faith resounds that only Christ can help.
Did you end up there too?
He answers the one who has no way out, whose help can only come from Him.
Also fathers and mothers.
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