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Selected Verse: Matthew 9:18 - Strong Concordance

Verse         Translation Text
Mt 9:18 Strong Concordance While he [846] spake [2980] these things [5023] unto them [846], behold [2400], there came [2064] a certain [1520] ruler [758], and worshipped [4352] him [846], saying [3004], [3754] My [3450] daughter [2364] is even now [737] dead [5053]: but [235] come [2064] and lay [2007] thy [4675] hand [5495] upon [1909] her [846], and [2532] she shall live [2198].
  King James While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

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Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The account contained in these verses is also recorded, with some additional circumstances, in Mark 5:22-43, and Luke 8:41-56.

Mat 9:18

There came a certain ruler - Mark and Luke say that his name was Jairus, and that he was a "ruler of the synagogue;" that is, one of the elders to whom was committed the care of the synagogue.

See the notes at Mat 4:23.

And worshipped him - That is, fell down before him, or expressed his respect for him by a token of profound regard. See the notes at Mat 2:2.

My daughter is even now dead - Luke says that this was his only daughter, and that she was twelve years of age. Mark and Luke say that she was "at the point of death," and that information of her actual death was brought to him by one who was sent by the ruler of the synagogue, while Jesus was going. Matthew combined the two facts, and stated the representation which was made to Jesus, without stopping particularly to exhibit the manner in which it was done. In a summary way he says that the ruler communicated the information. Luke and Mark, dwelling more particularly on the circumstances, state at length the way in which it was done; that is, by himself stating, in a hurry, that she was "about to die," or "was dying," and then in a few moments sending word that "she was dead." The Greek word, rendered "is even now dead," does not of necessity mean, as our translation would express, that she had actually expired, but only that she was "dying" or about to die. Compare Gen 48:21. It is likely that a father, in these circumstances, would use a word as nearly expressing actual death as would be consistent with the fact that she was alive. The passage may be expressed thus: "My daughter was so sick that she must be by this time dead."

Come and lay thy hand upon her - It was customary for the Jewish prophets, in conferring favors, to lay their hand on the person benefited. Jesus had probably done so also, and the ruler had probably witnessed the fact.

Mat 9:20

And, behold, a woman ... - This disease was by the Jews reckoned unclean Lev 15:25, and the woman was therefore unwilling to make personal application to Jesus, or even to touch his person. The disease was regarded as incurable. She had expended all her property, and grew worse, Mar 5:26.

Touched the hem of his garment - This garment was probably the square garment which was thrown over the shoulders. See notes at Mat 5:40. This was surrounded by a border or "fringe;" and this "fringe," or the loose threads hanging down, is what is meant by the "hem." The Jews were commanded to wear this, in order to distinguish them from other nations. See Num 15:38-39; Deu 22:12.

Mark says that "the woman, fearing and trembling," came and told him all the truth. Perhaps she feared that, from the impure nature of her disease, he would be offended that she touched him.

Mat 9:22

But Jesus tutored him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort - Jesus silenced her fears, commended her faith, and sent her away in peace.

He used an endearing appellation, calling her "daughter," a word of tenderness and affection, and dismissed her who had been twelve long and tedious years labouring under a weakening and offensive disease, now in an instant made whole. Her faith, her strong confidence in Jesus, had been the means of her restoration. It was the "power" of Jesus that cured her; but that power would not have been exerted but in connection with faith. So in the salvation of a sinner. No one is saved who does not believe; but faith is the instrument, and not the power, that saves.

Mat 9:23

And widen Jesus came into the ruler's house ... - Jesus permitted only three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John the brother of James, and the father and mother of the damsel, to go in with him where the corpse lay, Mar 5:37-40

It was important that there should be "witnesses" of the miracle, and he chose a sufficient number. "Five" witnesses were enough to establish the fact. The witnesses were impartial. The fact that she was dead was established beyond a doubt. Of this the mourners, the parents, the messengers, the people, were satisfied. If she was presented to the people "alive," the proof of the miracle was complete. The presence of more than the "five" witnesses would have made the scene tumultuous, and have been less satisfactory evidence of the fact of the restoration of the child. Five sober witnesses are always better than the confused voices of a rabble. These were the same disciples that were with him on the Mount of Transfiguration and in the Garden of Gethsemane, Mar 9:2; Mar 14:33; Pe2 1:17-18.

And saw the minstrels and the people making a noise - Minstrels" are persons who play on instruments of music. The people of the East used to bewail the dead by cutting the flesh, tearing the hair, and crying bitterly. See Jer 9:17; Jer 16:6-7; Eze 24:17. The expressions of grief at the death of a friend, in Eastern countries, are extreme. As soon as a person dies, all the females in the family set up a loud and doleful cry. They continue it as long as they can without taking breath, and the shriek of wailing dies away in a low sob. Nor do the relatives satisfy themselves with these expressions of violent grief. They hire persons of both sexes, whose employment it is to mourn for the dead in the like frantic manner. See Amo 5:16; Jer 9:20. They sing the virtues of the deceased, recount his acts, dwell on his beauty, strength, or learning; on the comforts of his family and home, and in doleful strains ask him why he left his family and friends.

To all this they add soft and melancholy music. They employ "minstrels" to aid their grief, and to increase the expressions of their sorrow. This violent grief continues, commonly, eight days. In the case of a king, or other very distinguished personage, it is prolonged through an entire month. This grief does not cease at the house; it is exhibited in the procession to the grave, and the air is split with the wailings of real and of hired mourners. Professor Hackett ("Illustrations of Scripture," pp. 121, 122) says: "During my stay at Jerusalem I frequently heard a singular cry issuing from the houses in the neighborhood of the place where I lodged, or from those on the streets through which I passed. It was to be heard at all hours - in the morning, at noonday, at evening, or in the deep silence of night. For some time I was at a loss to understand the cause of this strange interruption of the stillness which, for the most part, hangs so oppressively over the lonely city. Had it not been so irregular in its occurrence, I might have supposed it to indicate some festive occasion; for the tones of voice (yet hardly tones so much as shrieks) used for the expression of different feelings sound so much alike to the unpracticed ear, that it is not easy always to distinguish the mournful and the joyous from each other.

I ascertained, at length, that this special cry was, no doubt, in most instances, the signal of the death of some person in the house from which it was heard. It is customary, when a member of the family is about to die, for the friends to assemble around him and watch the ebbing away of life, so as to remark the precise moment when he breathes his last, upon which they set up instantly a united outcry, attended with weeping, and often with beating upon the breast, and tearing out the hair of the head. This lamentation they repeat at other times, especially at the funeral, both during the procession to the grave and after the arrival there, as they commit the remains to their last resting-place."

The Jews were forbidden to tear their hair and cut their flesh. See Lev 19:28; Deu 14:1. They showed their grief by howling, by music, by concealing the chin with their garment, by rending the outer garment, by refusing to wash or anoint themselves, or to converse with people, by scattering ashes or dust in the air, or by lying down in them, Job 1:20; Job 2:12; Sa2 1:2-4; Sa2 14:2; Sa2 15:30; Mar 14:63. The expressions of grief, therefore, mentioned on this occasion, though excessive and foolish, were yet strictly in accordance with Eastern customs.

Mat 9:24

The maid is not dead, but sleepeth - It cannot be supposed that our Lord means "literally" to say that the child was not dead.

Every possible evidence of her death had been given, and he acted on that himself, and conveyed to the people the idea that he raised her "from the dead." He meant to speak in opposition to their opinions. It is not unlikely that Jairus and the people favored the opinions of the Sadducees, and that "they" understood by her being dead that she had "ceased to be," and that she would never be raised up again. In opposition to this, the Saviour used the expression "she sleepeth;" affirming mildly both that the "body" was dead, and "implying" that "her spirit" still lived, and that she would be raised up again. A similar mode of speaking occurs in Joh 11:11 "Our friend Lazarus sleepeth." The sacred writers often spoke of the pious dead as "sleeping," Pe2 3:4; Act 7:60; Co1 15:6, Co1 15:18; Th1 4:13-15. The meaning of this passage, then, is, the maid has not ceased to "exist;" but, though her body is dead, yet her spirit lives, and she sleeps in the hope of the resurrection.

Laughed him to scorn - Derided him; ridiculed him.

Mat 9:25

He went in - With the father, and mother, and three disciples, Mar 5:37-40.

The maid arose - She returned to life.

There could be no deception here. "Parents" could not be imposed on in such a case, nor could such a multitude be deceived. The power of Jesus was undoubtedly shown to be sufficient to raise the dead.
 
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37 And [2532] he suffered [863] [3756] no man [3762] to follow [4870] him [846], save [1508] Peter [4074], and [2532] James [2385], and [2532] John [2491] the brother [80] of James [2385].
38 And [2532] he cometh [2064] to [1519] the house [3624] of the ruler of the synagogue [752], and [2532] seeth [2334] the tumult [2351], and them that wept [2799] and [2532] wailed [214] greatly [4183].
39 And [2532] when he was come in [1525], he saith [3004] unto them [846], Why [5101] make ye this ado [2350], and [2532] weep [2799]? the damsel [3813] is [599] not [3756] dead [599], but [235] sleepeth [2518].
40 And [2532] they laughed [2606] him [846] to scorn [2606]. But [1161] when he had put [1544] them all [537] out [1544], he taketh [3880] the father [3962] and [2532] the mother [3384] of the damsel [3813], and [2532] them that were with [3326] him [846], and [2532] entereth in [1531] where [3699] the damsel [3813] was [2258] lying [345].
25 But [1161] when [3753] the people [3793] were put forth [1544], he went in [1525], and took [2902] her [846] by the hand [5495], and [2532] the maid [2877] arose [1453].
13 But [1161] I would [2309] not [3756] have [2309] you [5209] to be ignorant [50], brethren [80], concerning [4012] them which are asleep [2837], that [3363] ye sorrow [3076] not [3363], even [2532] as [2531] others [3062] which [3588] have [2192] no [3361] hope [1680].
14 For [1063] if [1487] we believe [4100] that [3754] Jesus [2424] died [599] and [2532] rose again [450], even so [3779] them also [2532] which sleep [2837] in [1223] Jesus [2424] will [71] God [2316] bring [71] with [4862] him [846].
15 For [1063] this [5124] we say [3004] unto you [5213] by [1722] the word [3056] of the Lord [2962], that [3754] we [2249] which [3588] are alive [2198] and remain [4035] unto [1519] the coming [3952] of the Lord [2962] shall [5348] not [3364] prevent [5348] them which [3588] are asleep [2837].
18 Then [686] they also [2532] which are fallen asleep [2837] in [1722] Christ [5547] are perished [622].
6 After that [1899], he was seen [3700] of above [1883] five hundred [4001] brethren [80] at once [2178]; of [1537] whom [3739] the greater part [4119] remain [3306] unto [2193] this present [737], but [1161] some [5100] [2532] are fallen asleep [2837].
60 And [1161] he kneeled down [5087] [1119], and cried [2896] with a loud [3173] voice [5456], Lord [2962], lay [2476] not [3361] this [5026] sin [266] to their [846] charge. And [2532] when he had said [2036] this [5124], he fell asleep [2837].
4 And [2532] saying [3004], Where [4226] is [2076] the promise [1860] of his [846] coming [3952]? for [1063] since [575] [3739] the fathers [3962] fell asleep [2837], all things [3956] continue [3779] [1265] as they were from [575] the beginning [746] of the creation [2937].
11 These things [5023] said [2036] he [846]: and [2532] after [3326] that [5124] he saith [3004] unto them [846], Our [2257] friend [5384] Lazarus [2976] sleepeth [2837]; but [235] I go [4198], that [2443] I may awake [1852] him [846] out of sleep [1852].
24 He said [3004] unto them [846], Give place [402]: for [1063] the maid [2877] is [599] not [3756] dead [599], but [235] sleepeth [2518]. And [2532] they laughed [2606] him [846] to scorn [2606].
63 Then [1161] the high priest [749] rent [1284] his [846] clothes [5509], and saith [3004], What [5101] need [5532] we [2192] any further [2089] witnesses [3144]?
30 And David [01732] went up [05927] by the ascent [04608] of mount Olivet [02132], and wept [01058] as he went up [05927], and had his head [07218] covered [02645], and he went [01980] barefoot [03182]: and all the people [05971] that was with him covered [02645] every man [0376] his head [07218], and they went up [05927], weeping [01058] as they went up [05927].
2 And Joab [03097] sent [07971] to Tekoah [08620], and fetched [03947] thence a wise [02450] woman [0802], and said [0559] unto her, I pray thee, feign thyself to be a mourner [056], and put on [03847] now mourning [060] apparel [0899], and anoint [05480] not thyself with oil [08081], but be as a woman [0802] that had a long [07227] time [03117] mourned [056] for the dead [04191]:
2 It came even to pass on the third [07992] day [03117], that, behold, a man [0376] came [0935] out of the camp [04264] from Saul [07586] with his clothes [0899] rent [07167], and earth [0127] upon his head [07218]: and so it was, when he came [0935] to David [01732], that he fell [05307] to the earth [0776], and did obeisance [07812].
3 And David [01732] said [0559] unto him, From whence comest [0935] thou? And he said [0559] unto him, Out of the camp [04264] of Israel [03478] am I escaped [04422].
4 And David [01732] said [0559] unto him, How [04100] went the matter [01697]? I pray thee, tell [05046] me. And he answered [0559], That the people [05971] are fled [05127] from the battle [04421], and many [07235] of the people [05971] also are fallen [05307] and dead [04191]; and Saul [07586] and Jonathan [03083] his son [01121] are dead [04191] also.
12 And when they lifted up [05375] their eyes [05869] afar off [07350], and knew [05234] him not, they lifted up [05375] their voice [06963], and wept [01058]; and they rent [07167] every one [0376] his mantle [04598], and sprinkled [02236] dust [06083] upon their heads [07218] toward heaven [08064].
20 Then Job [0347] arose [06965], and rent [07167] his mantle [04598], and shaved [01494] his head [07218], and fell down [05307] upon the ground [0776], and worshipped [07812],
1 Ye are the children [01121] of the LORD [03068] your God [0430]: ye shall not cut [01413] yourselves, nor make [07760] any baldness [07144] between your eyes [05869] for the dead [04191].
28 Ye shall not make [05414] any [03793] cuttings [08296] in your flesh [01320] for the dead [05315], nor print [05414] any marks [07085] upon you: I am the LORD [03068].
20 Yet hear [08085] the word [01697] of the LORD [03068], O ye women [0802], and let your ear [0241] receive [03947] the word [01697] of his mouth [06310], and teach [03925] your daughters [01323] wailing [05092], and every one [0802] her neighbour [07468] lamentation [07015].
16 Therefore the LORD [03068], the God [0430] of hosts [06635], the Lord [0136], saith [0559] thus; Wailing [04553] shall be in all streets [07339]; and they shall say [0559] in all the highways [02351], Alas [01930]! alas [01930]! and they shall call [07121] the husbandman [0406] to mourning [060], and such as are skilful [03045] of lamentation [05092] to wailing [04553].
17 Forbear [01826] to cry [0602], make [06213] no mourning [060] for the dead [04191], bind [02280] the tire of thine head [06287] upon thee, and put on [07760] thy shoes [05275] upon thy feet [07272], and cover [05844] not thy lips [08222], and eat [0398] not the bread [03899] of men [0582].
6 Both the great [01419] and the small [06996] shall die [04191] in this land [0776]: they shall not be buried [06912], neither shall men lament [05594] for them, nor cut [01413] themselves, nor make themselves bald [07139] for them:
7 Neither shall men tear [06536] themselves for them in mourning [060], to comfort [05162] them for the dead [04191]; neither shall men give them the cup [03563] of consolation [08575] to drink [08248] for their father [01] or for their mother [0517].
17 Thus saith [0559] the LORD [03068] of hosts [06635], Consider [0995] ye, and call [07121] for the mourning women [06969], that they may come [0935]; and send [07971] for cunning [02450] women, that they may come [0935]:
17 For [1063] he received [2983] from [3844] God [2316] the Father [3962] honour [5092] and [2532] glory [1391], when there came [5342] such [5107] a voice [5456] to him [846] from [5259] the excellent [3169] glory [1391], This [3778] is [2076] my [3450] beloved [27] Son [5207], in [1519] whom [3739] I [1473] am well pleased [2106].
18 And [2532] this [5026] voice [5456] which came [5342] from [1537] heaven [3772] we [2249] heard [191], when we were [5607] with [4862] him [846] in [1722] the holy [40] mount [3735].
33 And [2532] he taketh [3880] with [3326] him [1438] Peter [4074] and [2532] James [2385] and [2532] John [2491], and [2532] began [756] to be sore amazed [1568], and [2532] to be very heavy [85];
2 And [2532] after [3326] six [1803] days [2250] Jesus [2424] taketh [3880] with him Peter [4074], and [2532] James [2385], and [2532] John [2491], and [2532] leadeth [399] them [846] up [399] into [1519] an high [5308] mountain [3735] apart [2596] [2398] by themselves [3441]: and [2532] he was transfigured [3339] before [1715] them [846].
37 And [2532] he suffered [863] [3756] no man [3762] to follow [4870] him [846], save [1508] Peter [4074], and [2532] James [2385], and [2532] John [2491] the brother [80] of James [2385].
38 And [2532] he cometh [2064] to [1519] the house [3624] of the ruler of the synagogue [752], and [2532] seeth [2334] the tumult [2351], and them that wept [2799] and [2532] wailed [214] greatly [4183].
39 And [2532] when he was come in [1525], he saith [3004] unto them [846], Why [5101] make ye this ado [2350], and [2532] weep [2799]? the damsel [3813] is [599] not [3756] dead [599], but [235] sleepeth [2518].
40 And [2532] they laughed [2606] him [846] to scorn [2606]. But [1161] when he had put [1544] them all [537] out [1544], he taketh [3880] the father [3962] and [2532] the mother [3384] of the damsel [3813], and [2532] them that were with [3326] him [846], and [2532] entereth in [1531] where [3699] the damsel [3813] was [2258] lying [345].
23 And [2532] when Jesus [2424] came [2064] into [1519] the ruler's [758] house [3614], and [2532] saw [1492] the minstrels [834] and [2532] the people [3793] making a noise [2350],
22 But [1161] Jesus [2424] turned him about [1994], and [2532] when he saw [1492] her [846], he said [2036], Daughter [2364], be of good comfort [2293]; thy [4675] faith [4102] hath made [4982] thee [4571] whole [4982]. And [2532] the woman [1135] was made whole [4982] from [575] that [1565] hour [5610].
12 Thou shalt make [06213] thee fringes [01434] upon the four [0702] quarters [03671] of thy vesture [03682], wherewith thou coverest [03680] thyself.
38 Speak [01696] unto the children [01121] of Israel [03478], and bid [0559] them that they make [06213] them fringes [06734] in the borders [03671] of their garments [0899] throughout their generations [01755], and that they put [05414] upon the fringe [06734] of the borders [03671] a ribband [06616] of blue [08504]:
39 And it shall be unto you for a fringe [06734], that ye may look [07200] upon it, and remember [02142] all the commandments [04687] of the LORD [03068], and do [06213] them; and that ye seek [08446] not after [0310] your own heart [03824] and your own eyes [05869], after [0310] which ye use to go a whoring [02181]:
40 And [2532] if any man will [2309] sue [2919] thee [4671] at the law [2919], and [2532] take away [2983] thy [4675] coat [5509], let [863] him [846] have [863] thy cloke [2440] also [2532].
26 And [2532] had suffered [3958] many things [4183] of [5259] many [4183] physicians [2395], and [2532] had spent [1159] all [3956] that she [1438] had [3844], and [2532] was [5623] nothing [3367] bettered [5623], but [235] rather [3123] grew [2064] worse [1519] [5501],
25 And if a woman [0802] have [02100] an issue [02101] of her blood [01818] many [07227] days [03117] out [03808] of the time [06256] of her separation [05079], or if it run [02100] beyond the time [05921] of her separation [05079]; all the days [03117] of the issue [02101] of her uncleanness [02932] shall be as the days [03117] of her separation [05079]: she shall be unclean [02931].
20 And [2532], behold [2400], a woman [1135], which was diseased with an issue of blood [131] twelve [1427] years [2094], came [4334] behind [3693] him, and touched [680] the hem [2899] of his [846] garment [2440]:
21 And Israel [03478] said [0559] unto Joseph [03130], Behold, I die [04191]: but God [0430] shall be with you, and bring you again [07725] unto the land [0776] of your fathers [01].
2 Saying [3004], Where [4226] is [2076] he that is born [5088] King [935] of the Jews [2453]? for [1063] we have seen [1492] his [846] star [792] in [1722] the east [395], and [2532] are come [2064] to worship [4352] him [846].
23 And [2532] Jesus [2424] went about [4013] all [3650] Galilee [1056], teaching [1321] in [1722] their [846] synagogues [4864], and [2532] preaching [2784] the gospel [2098] of the kingdom [932], and [2532] healing [2323] all [3956] manner of sickness [3554] and [2532] all [3956] manner of disease [3119] among [1722] the people [2992].
18 While he [846] spake [2980] these things [5023] unto them [846], behold [2400], there came [2064] a certain [1520] ruler [758], and worshipped [4352] him [846], saying [3004], [3754] My [3450] daughter [2364] is even now [737] dead [5053]: but [235] come [2064] and lay [2007] thy [4675] hand [5495] upon [1909] her [846], and [2532] she shall live [2198].
41 And [2532], behold [2400], there came [2064] a man [435] named [3739] [3686] Jairus [2383], and [2532] he [846] was [5225] a ruler [758] of the synagogue [4864]: and [2532] he fell down [4098] at [3844] Jesus [2424]' feet [4228], and besought [3870] him [846] that he would come [1525] into [1519] his [846] house [3624]:
22 And [2532], behold [2400], there cometh [2064] one [1520] of the rulers of the synagogue [752], Jairus [2383] by name [3686]; and [2532] when he saw [1492] him [846], he fell [4098] at [4314] his [846] feet [4228],
23 And [2532] besought [3870] him [846] greatly [4183], saying [3004], [3754] My [3450] little daughter [2365] lieth [2079] at the point of death [2192]: I pray thee, come [2064] and [2443] lay [2007] thy hands [5495] on her [846], that [3704] she may be healed [4982]; and [2532] she shall live [2198].
23 And [2532] besought [3870] him [846] greatly [4183], saying [3004], [3754] My [3450] little daughter [2365] lieth [2079] at the point of death [2192]: I pray thee, come [2064] and [2443] lay [2007] thy hands [5495] on her [846], that [3704] she may be healed [4982]; and [2532] she shall live [2198].
22 And [2532], behold [2400], there cometh [2064] one [1520] of the rulers of the synagogue [752], Jairus [2383] by name [3686]; and [2532] when he saw [1492] him [846], he fell [4098] at [4314] his [846] feet [4228],
41 And [2532], behold [2400], there came [2064] a man [435] named [3739] [3686] Jairus [2383], and [2532] he [846] was [5225] a ruler [758] of the synagogue [4864]: and [2532] he fell down [4098] at [3844] Jesus [2424]' feet [4228], and besought [3870] him [846] that he would come [1525] into [1519] his [846] house [3624]:
22 And [2532], behold [2400], there cometh [2064] one [1520] of the rulers of the synagogue [752], Jairus [2383] by name [3686]; and [2532] when he saw [1492] him [846], he fell [4098] at [4314] his [846] feet [4228],