Second Sunday after Easter
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Simplified Cowboy Version
Matthew 9:20
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Just then, a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years approached from behind and touched the end of his robe,
(And behold, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelue yeeres, came behinde him, and touched the hemme of his garment.
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,
And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him, and touched the border of His cloak;
Then a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came behind Jesus and touched the edge of his coat.
Then a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the [tassel] fringe of His outer robe;
(And beholde, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelue yeres, came behinde him, and touched the hemme of his garment.
And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak;
And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His garment;
Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
A woman who had been bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and barely touched his clothes.
A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years approached him from behind and touched the tzitzit on his robe.
And behold, a woman, who had had a bloody flux [for] twelve years, came behind and touched the hem of his garment;
On the way, there was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She came close behind Jesus and touched the bottom of his coat.
And behold a woman who had had the hemorrhage for twelve years, came up from behind him, and she touched the edge of his cloak;
A woman who had suffered from severe bleeding for twelve years came up behind Jesus and touched the edge of his cloak.
And behold, a woman who had been suffering with a hemorrhage twelve years approached from behind and touched the edge of his cloak,
And behold, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came near behind Him, and touched the fringe of His robe.
And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
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:
Behold, a woman who had an issue of blood for twelve years came behind him, and touched the tzitziyot of his garment;
Just then a woman who had been suffering from chronic bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the tassel of his garment.Mark 5:25; Luke 8:43;">[xr]
And, behold, a woman whose blood had flowed twelve years, came behind him, and touched the edge of his vestment.
And behold, a woman whose blood had flowed fourteen years, came up behind him, and touched the extremity of his robe:
( And beholde, a woman which was diseased with an issue of blood twelue yeres, came behynde hym, and touched the hemme of his vesture.
And behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
Behold, a woman, who had an issue of blood for twelve years, came behind him, and touched the tassels of his garment;
(And behold a woman who had had a flux of blood, twelve years, coming behind him, touched the hem of his garment.
But a woman who for twelve years had been afflicted with haemorrhage came behind Him and touched the tassel of His cloak;
And lo! a womman, that hadde the blodi flux twelue yere, neiyede bihynde, and touchide the hem of his cloth.
And look, a woman, who had a discharge of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the border of his garment:
(And behold, a woman who was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind [him], and touched the hem of his garment.
But a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.
And suddenly, a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind and touched the hem of His garment.
Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe,
Just then a woman who had been sick with a flow of blood for twelve years came from behind. She touched the bottom of His coat.
Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak,
And lo! a woman, having a flow of blood twelve years, coming near behind, touched the fringe of his mantle.
And behold a woman who was troubled with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment.
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment;
And beholde a woman which was diseased wt an yssue of bloude .xii. yeres came behynde hym and toched ye hem of hys vesture.
and lo, a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, having come to him behind, did touch the fringe of his garments,
And beholde, a woman which was diseased wt an yssue of bloude xij. yeres, came behynde hym, and touched the hem of hys vesture.
When a woman, who had been troubled with an hemorrhage twelve years, came behind him, and touch'd the hem of his garment.
Just then a woman who had hemorrhaged for twelve years slipped in from behind and lightly touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can just put a finger on his robe, I'll get well." Jesus turned—caught her at it. Then he reassured her: "Courage, daughter. You took a risk of faith, and now you're well." The woman was well from then on.
Contextual Overview
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
behold: Mark 5:25-43, Luke 8:43-56
an issue: Leviticus 15:25-33
touched: Matthew 14:36, Mark 5:28, Mark 6:56, Mark 8:22, Acts 5:15, Acts 19:12
hem: Matthew 23:5, Numbers 15:38, Numbers 15:39, Deuteronomy 22:12, Luke 8:44
Reciprocal: Exodus 39:26 - hem Matthew 8:15 - touched Luke 6:19 - sought Acts 4:22 - forty
Cross-References
A soldier in the army doesn't have to have a side job to pay for his meals. A farmer eats his own vegetables. A dairyman drinks the milk from his own cows.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And behold a woman which was diseased..... This affair happened in the streets of Capernaum, as Christ was going from the house of Matthew the publican, to the house of Jairus the ruler of the synagogue, which were both in this city. This poor woman's case was a very distressed one; she had been attended
with an issue of blood twelve years; it was an uncommon flux of a long standing, was inveterate, and become incurable; though she had not been negligent of herself, but had made use of means, applied herself to regular physicians, had took many a disagreeable medicine, and had spent all her substance in this way; but instead of being better, was worse, and was now given up by them, as past all cure. This woman might be truly called זבה גדולה, x "the greater profluvious woman", in the language of the doctors; for if one that had a flux but three days was called so, much more one that had had it twelve years. She having heard of Jesus, and his miraculous cures, had faith given her to believe, that she also should receive one from him; wherefore she
came behind him, through modesty, being ashamed to come before him, and tell him her case, especially before so many people; and fearing lest if her case was known, she should be thrust away, if not by Christ, yet by the company; she being according to the law an unclean person, and unfit for society:
and touched the hem of his garment; which was the ציצת, or "fringes", the Jews were obliged to wear upon the borders of their garments, and on it a ribband of blue; see Numbers 15:38 in both which places Onkelos uses the word כרוספדין, the same with
κρασπεδον, used here, and in Mark 6:56 and rendered "hem". The Jews placed much sanctity in the wear and use of these fringes; and the Pharisees, who pretended to more holiness than others, enlarged them beyond their common size; but it was not on account of any peculiar holiness in this part of Christ's garment, that induced this poor woman to touch it; but this being behind him, and more easy to be come at, she therefore laid hold on it; for it was his garment, any part of it she concluded, if she could but touch, she should have a cure. However, we learn from hence, that Christ complied with the rites of the ceremonial law in apparel, as well as in other things.
x Ib. Issure Bia, c. 6. sect. 7, 8. & in Misn. Nidda, c. 4. sect. 7.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
The account contained in these verses is also recorded, with some additional circumstances, in Mark 5:22-43, and Luke 8:41-56.
Matthew 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 Matthew 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 Matthew 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 Genesis 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.
Matthew 9:20
And, behold, a woman ... - This disease was by the Jews reckoned unclean Leviticus 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, Mark 5:26.
Touched the hem of his garment - This garment was probably the square garment which was thrown over the shoulders. See notes at Matthew 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 Numbers 15:38-39; Deuteronomy 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.
Matthew 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.
Matthew 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, Mark 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, Mark 9:2; Mark 14:33; 2 Peter 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 Jeremiah 9:17; Jeremiah 16:6-7; Ezekiel 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 Amos 5:16; Jeremiah 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 Leviticus 19:28; Deuteronomy 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; 2 Samuel 1:2-4; 2 Samuel 14:2; 2 Samuel 15:30; Mark 14:63. The expressions of grief, therefore, mentioned on this occasion, though excessive and foolish, were yet strictly in accordance with Eastern customs.
Matthew 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 John 11:11 “Our friend Lazarus sleepeth.” The sacred writers often spoke of the pious dead as “sleeping,” 2 Peter 3:4; Acts 7:60; 1 Corinthians 15:6, 1Co 15:18; 1 Thessalonians 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.
Matthew 9:25
He went in - With the father, and mother, and three disciples, Mark 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.
Clarke's Notes on the Bible
Verse Matthew 9:20. A woman which was diseased with an issue of blood — γυνη αιμορρουσα. Mulier sanguinis profluvio laborans. Significatur hoc loco, fluxus muliebris, in SANIS, menstruus; in HAC perpetuus. It would be easy to explain the nature and properties of the disease here mentioned; but, when it is said that prudence forbids it, the intimation itself may be thought sufficiently explanatory of the disorder in question. There are some remarkable circumstances relative to this case mentioned by St. Mark, Mark 5:25, &c., which shall be properly noticed in the notes on that place.
The hem of his garment — The ציצית tsitsith, or fringes, which the Jews were commanded to wear on their garments. See Numbers 15:38, and the note there.
