Devine Scripture

Matthew 9:20

What does Matthew 9:20 mean?

A plain-English look at Matthew 9:20 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Matthew 9:20 means

As Jesus is on His way to the ruler's house, a woman who has suffered from a continuous blood discharge for twelve years approaches Him from behind. Her condition would have rendered her ceremonially unclean, ostracizing her from society and religious life. Her quiet approach, touching only the border of His garment, suggests both her desperation and potentially a sense of shame, yet it also reveals a profound faith in Jesus' healing power.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:

KJV

King James Version · 1611

And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And a woman, who for twelve years had had a flow of blood, came after him, and put her hand on the edge of his robe:

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

And behold, a woman, who had had a bloody flux [for] twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment;

Context

This verse introduces a secondary, yet equally significant, miracle narrative within the journey to the ruler's house. It occurs while Jesus is en route, inserting an unexpected event that momentarily diverts His immediate attention. This interruption highlights the suffering of another individual and provides a vivid illustration of faith that will be commended by Jesus, preceding the raising of the ruler's daughter.

v.19And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

v.20This passage

v.21for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Mark 6:56

    And wheresoever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.

  • Matthew 23:5

    But all their works they do to be seen of men: for they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

  • Matthew 14:36

    and they besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment: and as many as touched were made whole.

  • Mark 8:22

    And they come unto Bethsaida. And they bring to him a blind man, and beseech him to touch him.

  • Acts 5:15

    insomuch that they even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that, as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some one of them.

  • Numbers 15:38

    Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of each border a cord of blue:

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