Luke 8:42
What does Luke 8:42 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:42 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:42 means
Luke 8:42 explains why Jairus implored Jesus: his only daughter, about twelve, was dying. The phrase “only daughter” heightens the emotional stakes—this was his sole child and socially precious. The child’s age approximates transition to womanhood, making the loss particularly poignant. The crowd pressing Jesus increases the urgency and complicates his journey. Jairus’ appeal thus reveals faith under duress: he seeks Jesus’ direct intervention to save a life, demonstrating trust that Jesus’ presence could reverse death’s approach.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went the multitudes thronged him.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was near to death. But while he was on his way, the people were pushing to be near him.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862because he had an only daughter about twelve years <FI>old<Fi> , and she was dying. And in his going away, the multitudes were thronging him,
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752For he had an only daughter, almost twelve years old, and she was dying. And it happened as he went that he was thronged by the multitudes.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. And as he went the crowds thronged him.
Context
This verse follows Jairus’ plea and clarifies the dire nature of the situation. The pressing crowd between Jairus and Jesus creates dramatic tension. The stage is set for two intertwined miracles—the woman with the issue of blood and the raising of Jairus’ daughter—both involving twelve-year-old timelines and touching on purity, desperation, and faith.
v.41And behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him to come into his house;
v.42This passage
v.43And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, who had spent all her living upon physicians, and could not be healed of any,
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Psalms 103:15
As for man, his days are as grass; As a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.
- Mark 5:24
And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.
- Job 4:20
Betwixt morning and evening they are destroyed: They perish for ever without any regarding it.
- Ecclesiastes 6:12
For who knoweth what is good for man in his life, all the days of his vain life which he spendeth as a shadow? for who can tell a man what shall be after him under the sun?
- Zechariah 12:10
And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born.
- Job 1:18
While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother’s house;
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