Mark 5

And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

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.

And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

What does Mark 5:33 mean?

Explanation

This verse, Mark 5:33, captures a moment of confession and revelation.

It takes place immediately after Jesus has healed a woman who had been suffering from a bleed for twelve years.

The woman had touched Jesus’ garment in the belief that this act alone could heal her.

When she touched his clothes, she was immediately healed, but Jesus, feeling the power had gone out from him, asked, "Who touched my clothes?" The woman, realizing that she could not go unnoticed, approached Jesus with fear and trembling.

The fear and trembling experienced by the woman are indicative of her awareness of the societal norms she had violated by touching Jesus (as she was ritually unclean due to her bleeding), and the awe she felt towards the healing power Jesus possessed.

Her coming forward was an act of bravery and also a public acknowledgment of her condition and her faith.

The phrase "told him all the truth" signifies her full confession to what she did and why she did it, showing a heartfelt transparency in the presence of Jesus.

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Historical Context

The event described in Mark 5:33 took place in the context of 1st-century Palestine, a time when Jewish religious law held significant sway over daily life.

According to Levitical law, a woman with a discharge of blood was considered ceremonially unclean, and anything or anyone she touched would also become unclean.

This stigma would have relegated the woman to a state of social isolation and she would have been barred from religious activities.

Healing miracles were central to Jesus' ministry and this account is characteristic of the new covenant Jesus was bringing forth, which often challenged existing religious norms.

Theological Insights

From a theological standpoint, this verse has been interpreted to highlight several key insights:

The power of faith: The woman's healing was a direct result of her faith in Jesus' ability to heal her.
Jesus’ compassion: Despite the woman’s social status as unclean, Jesus responds to her with compassion instead of condemnation.
The personal nature of salvation: The woman's individual faith and action led to her healing, suggesting a personal relationship with the divine as a path to salvation.

Different Christian denominations might emphasize various aspects of this event. For example, Catholic theology may focus on the sacramental nature of physical touch as a conduit for grace, while Protestant theology might underscore the sufficiency of faith for salvation.

Practical Applications

In a modern context, this verse can be applied to one's life in the following ways:

Encourage individuals to step forward with their burdens, seeking help with faith and honesty.
Remind believers of the importance of compassion towards those who are marginalized or considered 'unclean' by society.
Inspire followers of Christ to believe in the healing and transformative power of their faith, no matter how dire the situation.

Cross-References

Luke 8:47: "And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately."
Matthew 9:20-22: "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole.

And the woman was made whole from that hour."

Language Study

A couple of key phrases in this verse stand out in the original Greek:

"fearing and trembling" (φοβηθεῖσα καὶ τρέμουσα, phobētheisa kai tremousa): These words reflect profound respect and awareness of one's own unworthiness in the face of the divine, a common theme throughout the New Testament.
"told him all the truth" (εἰπὼν πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, eipon pasan tēn alētheian): This signifies full disclosure, with 'truth' (alētheian) often being associated with authenticity and reliability in the biblical context.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In various ancient myths and religions, touching a divine being or object could lead to healing or receive a blessing , for example, the Greek story of the healing of the cloak of Heracles.

This motif of healing through touch is common and often symbolizes a transfer of power or holiness.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the placebo effect might be used to explain the woman’s healing, where her belief in the healing power of touching Jesus' garment could have triggered a psychological response that alleviated her condition.

However, such an explanation would not take into account the theological perspective that attributes the healing to divine intervention.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and commentators have provided diverse insights into this verse:

John Calvin notes that true faith must be accompanied by a confession of truth, even when it puts someone in a difficult position, as demonstrated by the woman.
Matthew Henry emphasizes the role of divine providence in the woman's healing and the importance of her public acknowledgment of Jesus' power.
The Pulpit Commentary discusses the woman's fear as being twofold: fear of reprimand for touching Jesus and fear because she was healed in a miraculous way, which signifies God's direct intervention.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 5:33 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?