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 5:43 mean?

Explanation

In Mark 5:43, we find Jesus at the conclusion of one of his miracles, the resurrection of Jairus's daughter.

Earlier in the chapter, Jairus, a synagogue ruler, pleas with Jesus to heal his dying daughter.

Jesus agrees, but before they arrive at Jairus's house, they receive news that the girl has died.

Jesus, undeterred, continues to the house, sends out the mourners, and raises the girl from the dead.

This verse captures Jesus's instructions immediately following this miraculous event. Jesus "charged them straitly that no man should know it," meaning he earnestly instructed those present to keep the miracle private.

Additionally, he commanded that the girl be given something to eat, likely as evidence of her physical restoration to life and to attend to her immediate needs as one who has just been revived.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark is the second book of the New Testament and is typically dated around 65-70 AD.

At this time, Christians were a minority and often faced persecution in a society that was predominantly Roman and Jewish.

The Gospel of Mark was likely intended for a Gentile audience, possibly in Rome.

In Jesus's time, knowledge of someone performing miracles had a potential to cause significant social upheaval.

It could have drawn unwanted attention from both Jewish authorities and Roman rule, who would see such displays of power as a threat to their authority.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, this command can be seen in different ways.

One interpretation suggests that Jesus wanted to avoid a spectacle and maintain focus on his message rather than his miracles.

Another view might be the "Messianic Secret" theme present in Mark, wherein Jesus regularly instructs those he heals to be silent about the miracles, possibly to control the timing and manner of the revelation of His identity as the Messiah.

Practical Applications

The verse can be applied in daily life by recognizing the importance of humility and discretion.

Despite performing a miraculous work, Jesus sought no fame from it, emphasizing the wellness of the child above public recognition.

In today's context, this could remind individuals to prioritize helping others over seeking personal glory.

Cross-References

Mark 1:44: "And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them."
Mark 7:36: "And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it."
Luke 8:56: "And her parents were astonished: but he charged them that they should tell no man what was done."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, "charged them straitly" (επετίμησεν αὐτοῖς πολλά) carries a sense of stern admonishment or urgent injunction. It implies a firm command from Jesus to those present.

"Should know it" (μηδεὶς γνοι) can be interpreted as "no one should come to know or understand this event."

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the wider context of ancient cultures, miraculous healings were often attributed to various deities or figures endowed with divine favor.

However, the Jewish context had specific expectations about miracles tied to prophecies regarding the messiah, expectations that might lead to premature or misguided conclusions about Jesus's identity if the miracles were broadly publicized.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, the resurrection described in the verse does not align with modern understandings of death and the irreversible cessation of biological functions.

However, acknowledging the religious nature of the text, the scientific lens can provide insights into topics like psychosomatic medicine, where belief and mental states can significantly impact physical health and recovery.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars view this passage through different lenses.

Some view Jesus's command for silence as a way to avoid widespread misunderstanding of his mission before the appropriate time.

Others examine the directive for practical reasons, such as to take care of the child's basic needs after the trauma she and her family just endured.

Still, others might point out that Jesus's miracles and actions often pointed to deeper spiritual truths, emphasizing the in-breaking of the kingdom of God through his ministry.

Mark 5

Mark 5

What does Mark 5:43 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 5:43 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?