MAT 9:18-26

The Healing Touch of Jesus

18While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and prostrated himself before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live." [9:19] And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. [9:20] And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, [9:21] for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be healed." [9:22] Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you whole." And the woman was made whole from that moment. [9:23] And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, [9:24] he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. [9:25] But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose. [9:26] And the report of this spread throughout all that district.

In the world it was spoken into

In this passage, a synagogue ruler approaches Jesus with a desperate plea for his daughter, who has just died. Synagogue rulers were respected community leaders, often responsible for maintaining order and overseeing synagogue functions. His act of (proskynēō) — kneeling or bowing — signifies profound reverence, a gesture typically reserved for deities or high-ranking officials. Meanwhile, a woman with a twelve-year hemorrhage (, haimorroousa) approaches Jesus. Her condition rendered her ritually unclean under Jewish purity laws (Leviticus 15:25-27), isolating her from communal and religious life. Her touch of Jesus’ (kraspedon, fringe) — the tassels on his garment mandated by Jewish law (Numbers 15:38-39) — reflects her faith in his power to heal. Jesus’ response, using (sōzō, ‘has saved’), suggests not only physical healing but also restoration to social and spiritual wholeness. Both stories highlight Jesus’ authority over life and ritual impurity, challenging societal norms and religious boundaries.

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How other translations render this

MAT 9:18

KJV: 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.
BSB: While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
Koinōnos: While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and prostrated himself before him, saying, "My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.

MAT 9:19

KJV: And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
BSB: So Jesus got up and went with him, along with His disciples.
Koinōnos: And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples.

MAT 9:20

KJV: And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
BSB: Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak.
Koinōnos: And behold, a woman who had suffered from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment,

MAT 9:21

KJV: For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
BSB: She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
Koinōnos: for she said to herself, "If I only touch his garment, I will be healed.

MAT 9:22

KJV: 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.
BSB: Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that very hour.
Koinōnos: Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, "Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you whole." And the woman was made whole from that moment.

MAT 9:23

KJV: And when Jesus came into the ruler’s house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
BSB: When Jesus entered the house of the synagogue leader, He saw the flute players and the noisy crowd.
Koinōnos: And when Jesus came to the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion,

MAT 9:24

KJV: He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
BSB: “Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
Koinōnos: he said, "Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.

MAT 9:25

KJV: But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
BSB: After the crowd had been put outside, Jesus went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.
Koinōnos: But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl arose.

MAT 9:26

KJV: And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
BSB: And the news about this spread throughout that region.
Koinōnos: And the report of this spread throughout all that district.

Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.

Translator's notes

MAT 9:18

was kneeling down:The word translated 'was kneeling down' often carried the sense of prostrating oneself in worship or profound reverence, indicating a deep act of homage or submission.

MAT 9:20

having a flux of blood:The phrase 'having a flux of blood' describes a chronic hemorrhage, a condition that, according to Jewish law, rendered a person ritually unclean and socially isolated.
fringe:The 'fringe' mentioned here refers to the tassels (tzitzit) worn on the corners of Jewish garments, as commanded in the Old Testament, serving as a reminder of God's commandments.

MAT 9:22

has cured:The word translated 'has cured' often encompasses a broader meaning of 'to save' or 'to make whole,' implying not just physical healing but also spiritual well-being and deliverance.