Devine Scripture

Mark 5:23

What does Mark 5:23 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 5:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 5:23 means

Jairus passionately pleads with Jesus to come and lay His hands on his young daughter, who is at the point of death, so that she might be healed and live. His request demonstrates a profound faith in Jesus' miraculous healing power and a desperate father's love. The urgency and specificity of his prayer set the dramatic tone for the events that follow, involving life and death.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.

KJV

King James Version · 1611

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.

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

and beseecheth him much, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death: I pray thee, that thou come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be made whole, and live.

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

And made strong prayers to him, saying, My little daughter is near to death: it is my prayer that you will come and put your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and have life.

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

and he was calling upon him much, saying--`My little daughter is at the last extremity--that having come, thou mayest lay on her <FI>thy<Fi> hands, so that she may be saved, and she shall live;'

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

And he besought him much, saying: My daughter is at the point of death, come, lay thy hand upon her, that she may be safe, and may live.

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

and he besought him much, saying, My little daughter is at extremity; [I pray] that thou shouldest come and lay thy hands upon her so that she may be healed, and may live.

Context

This verse presents Jairus's heartfelt and specific request, establishing the reason for his approach to Jesus and the focus of the impending miracle. The desperate plea for his dying daughter sets a high emotional stake, which will be dramatically interrupted by another significant event, creating narrative tension.

v.22And there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jaïrus by name; and seeing him, he falleth at his feet,

v.23This passage

v.24And he went with him; and a great multitude followed him, and they thronged him.

Cross references

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

  • 2 Samuel 12:15

    And Nathan departed unto his house. And Jehovah struck the child that Uriah’s wife bare unto David, and it was very sick.

  • Mark 7:25

    But straightway a woman, whose little daughter had an unclean spirit, having heard of him, came and fell down at his feet.

  • Acts 28:8

    And it was so, that the father of Publius lay sick of fever and dysentery: unto whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laying his hands on him healed him.

  • John 11:3

    The sisters therefore sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

  • Mark 8:23

    And he took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village; and when he had spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him, he asked him, Seest thou aught?

  • Luke 4:40

    And when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

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