Mark 5: The man among the tombs, the woman who touched his clothes, and Jairus's daughter
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Greek. How to read a study
What happens?
Jesus and his disciples cross to the country of the Gadarenes, where a man with an unclean spirit lives among the tombs. Jesus gives the spirits leave to go into a herd of pigs, which rush into the sea, and the people of the region ask Jesus to leave. Back across the sea, a synagogue ruler named Jairus begs Jesus to come to his dying daughter. On the way a woman who had bled for twelve years touches his clothes and is made well, and then Jesus takes the girl, whom people say has died, by the hand and she gets up.
Who is speaking?
The narrator tells the story. Jesus speaks in verses 8, 9, 19, 30, 34, 36, 39 and 41. The man's unclean spirit speaks in verses 7 and 9 (these are the spirit's words, not God's), and the demons speak in verse 12. Jairus speaks in verse 23, the woman in verse 28, the disciples in verse 31, and people from the ruler's house in verse 35. No verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
In plain English: They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
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2When he had come out of the boat, immediately a man with an unclean spirit met him out of the tombs.
In plain English: When Jesus had come out of the boat, a man with an unclean spirit met him at once, coming out of the tombs.
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3He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
In plain English: He lived in the tombs. Nobody could bind him any more, not even with chains,
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4because he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him, and the fetters broken in pieces. Nobody had the strength to tame him.
In plain English: because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and he had torn the chains apart and broken the shackles in pieces. Nobody was strong enough to tame him.
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5Always, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out, and cutting himself with stones.
In plain English: All the time, night and day, in the tombs and in the mountains, he was crying out and cutting himself with stones.
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6When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and bowed down to him,
In plain English: When he saw Jesus from far away, he ran and bowed down to him.
The Greek word: "Bowed down" is proskyneo. The dictionary gives "to crouch to", to fall flat in homage, to do reverence to, to adore. It is in 2 verses of Mark: here and , where this Bible has "did homage".
How it is translated: This Bible has "bowed down" here.
What changes: Read as "worshipped", the man worships Jesus. Read as "bowed down", he kneels or falls low in front of him. The next verse gives his words.
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7and crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have I to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, don’t torment me.”
In plain English: Crying out with a loud voice, he said, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I solemnly ask you by God, do not torment me."
Good to know: These are the words of the man's unclean spirit, not God's. The unclean spirits also speak in and . "Most High" is hypsistos, "highest". It is in 13 verses of the New Testament and 2 of Mark.
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8For he said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!”
In plain English: For Jesus had been saying to him, "Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!"
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9He asked him, “What is your name?” He said to him, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”
In plain English: Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He answered, "My name is Legion, for we are many."
Good to know: "Legion" is legeon, the dictionary's "a legion, i.e. Roman regiment". It is in 4 verses of the New Testament. The text gives "for we are many" as the reason for the name.
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10He begged him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
In plain English: He begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the country.
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11Now on the mountainside there was a great herd of pigs feeding.
In plain English: Now there was a great herd of pigs feeding there on the mountainside.
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12All the demons begged him, saying, “Send us into the pigs, that we may enter into them.”
In plain English: All the demons begged Jesus, saying, "Send us into the pigs, so that we may go into them."
Good to know: This verse calls them "demons" and the next verse calls them "unclean spirits". The text uses both names for them in this passage.
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13At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
In plain English: At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
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14Those who fed the pigs fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.
In plain English: Those who fed the pigs ran away and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what had happened.
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15They came to Jesus, and saw him who had been possessed by demons sitting, clothed, and in his right mind, even him who had the legion; and they were afraid.
In plain English: They came to Jesus and saw the man who had been possessed by demons, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, dressed, and in his right mind. They were afraid.
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16Those who saw it declared to them what happened to him who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
In plain English: Those who had seen it told them what had happened to the man who was possessed by demons, and about the pigs.
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17They began to beg him to depart from their region.
In plain English: They began to beg Jesus to leave their region.
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18As he was entering into the boat, he who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
In plain English: As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him.
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19He didn’t allow him, but said to him, “Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you.”
In plain English: Jesus did not allow him, but said to him, "Go to your house, to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you and how he had mercy on you."
The Greek word: "Lord" is kyrios. The dictionary gives "supreme in authority, i.e. controller", and by implication master, a respectful title. It is in 18 verses of Mark.
How it is translated: This Bible has "the Lord" here.
What changes: Read as "the master" or "the lord", Jesus tells the man to tell what the one in authority over him has done. Read as "the Lord", it is the Lord's mercy he is told to tell. Verse 20 says the man proclaimed what Jesus had done for him.
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20He went his way, and began to proclaim in Decapolis how Jesus had done great things for him, and everyone marveled.
In plain English: The man went away and began to proclaim in Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.
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21When Jesus had crossed back over in the boat to the other side, a great multitude was gathered to him; and he was by the sea.
In plain English: Jesus crossed back over in the boat to the other side, and a great crowd gathered to him. He was beside the sea.
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22Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet
In plain English: Then one of the rulers of the synagogue, named Jairus, came. When he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet
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23and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.”
In plain English: and begged him again and again, saying, "My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live."
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24He went with him, and a great multitude followed him, and they pressed upon him on all sides.
In plain English: Jesus went with him. A great crowd followed him and pressed in on him from all sides.
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25A certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
In plain English: There was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years.
Good to know: speaks of a woman who has a discharge of her blood for many days beyond her period, and says she is unclean. Mark does not mention that law here. He says she had a flow of blood for twelve years.
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26and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
In plain English: She had suffered many things under many physicians and had spent everything she had. She was no better, but had grown worse.
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27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
In plain English: She had heard about Jesus. She came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
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28For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”
In plain English: For she said, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well."
The Greek word: "Made well" is sozo. The dictionary gives "to save, i.e. deliver or protect". It is in 13 verses of Mark, and the same word is in and in . In this Bible has "to save a life".
How it is translated: This Bible has "made well" here and in verse 34, and "made healthy" in verse 23.
What changes: Read as "saved", she says "I will be saved" and Jesus says "your faith has saved you". Read as "made well", the words speak of her body being healed.
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29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
In plain English: At once the flow of her blood dried up, and she knew in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
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30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
In plain English: At once Jesus knew in himself that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?"
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31His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
In plain English: His disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing in on you, and you say, 'Who touched me?'"
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32He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
In plain English: He looked around to see the woman who had done this.
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33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
In plain English: The woman, afraid and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell down before him and told him the whole truth.
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34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”
In plain English: He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction."
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35While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house, saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
In plain English: While Jesus was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house, saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any more?"
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36But Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
In plain English: But Jesus heard what they said and at once said to the ruler of the synagogue, "Do not be afraid, only believe."
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37He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
In plain English: He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John the brother of James.
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38He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing.
In plain English: Jesus came to the house of the synagogue ruler. He saw an uproar, people weeping, and great wailing.
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39When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
In plain English: He went in and said to them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep."
The Greek word: "Asleep" is katheudo. The dictionary gives "to lie down to rest, i.e. to fall asleep", literally or figuratively. It is in 7 verses of Mark.
How it is translated: This Bible has "is asleep" here.
What changes: Read as ordinary sleep, Jesus says she is only sleeping. Read figuratively, he says her state is like sleep. The text records that people from the house had said she was dead () and that they laughed at him (verse 40).
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40They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
In plain English: They laughed at him. But he put them all out, took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying.
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41Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”
In plain English: Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, "Talitha cumi!" which means, when it is translated, "Girl, I say to you, get up!"
Good to know: "Talitha cumi" is Aramaic, written in Greek letters. The text itself says it means "Girl, I say to you, get up!" The dictionary gives "talitha" as "the fresh, i.e. young girl" and "cumi" as "rise!".
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42Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
In plain English: At once the girl got up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement.
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43He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat.
In plain English: He gave strict orders that no one should know this, and said that something should be given her to eat.
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