Luke 8:49
What does Luke 8:49 mean?
A plain-English look at Luke 8:49 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What Luke 8:49 means
Luke 8:49 reports that while Jesus was still speaking, a messenger arrived from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.” The message assumes the situation is hopeless and urges Jairus to avoid disturbing Jesus. Its timing is devastating—delivered just after Jesus had encouraged faith. The messenger’s report could induce despair, but it also sets up Jesus’ paradoxical response: he will challenge the assumption that death is final. The verse intensifies the drama and tests Jairus’ faith.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.
KJV
King James Version · 1611While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Teacher.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949While he was still talking, someone came from the house of the ruler of the Synagogue, saying, Your daughter is dead; do not go on troubling the Master.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862While he is yet speaking, there doth come a certain one from the chief of the synagogue's <FI>house<Fi> , saying to him--`Thy daughter hath died, harass not the Teacher;'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752As he was yet speaking, there cometh one to the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him: Thy daughter is dead: trouble him not.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890While he was yet speaking, comes some one from the ruler of the synagogue, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher.
Context
This verse interrupts Jesus’ affirmation to the healed woman and marks a narrative pivot: the optimistic intervention now meets apparent defeat. The messenger’s words contrast with earlier commands to believe and heighten the stakes, leading to Jesus’ immediate call to faith in the face of death.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Mark 5:35
While he yet spake, they come from the ruler of the synagogue’s house, saying, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Teacher any further?
- Isaiah 7:12
But Ahaz said, I will not ask, neither will I tempt Jehovah.
- Matthew 9:23
And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the flute-players, and the crowd making a tumult,
- Luke 7:6
And Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself; for I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof:
- Luke 11:7
and he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee?
- Luke 8:41
And 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;
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