Jesus dismissed one crowd but found another one waiting for Him at Jairus" house. [1] As was customary, paid mourners were already at work weeping, wailing, singing, playing flutes, and clapping their hands (cf. Jeremiah 9:17; Amos 5:16). [2] The Mishnah specified that even the poorest husband had to hire at least two flute players and one female to wail when his wife died. [3] Evidently the little girl"s death was so expected that mourners were ready the moment she died. [source][source][source]
Context Summary
Mark 5:21-43 - Hope For The Hopeless
We turn from the demon-driven man to this woman, weakened by long disease. For the one there was the outward manifestation of evil, but for the other inward wasting and decay. Let those who are conscious of the ravages of evil in their hearts, destroying their strength, establish connection with Christ as slight as the finger's touch of the garment hem, and forthwith His virtue will enter and stay their inward malady. His power is ever going forth, and faith receives as much as it desires. The reservoir of power is always full, but how few, how very few, have learned the secret of tapping it!
Crowds throng Him, but only one touches. Proximity to Christ does not necessarily imply the appropriation of Christ. But where there is the faintest touch of faith, there is an instantaneous, may we not say, automatic, response. There may be great weakness, the fingers may be too nerveless to grasp, they can only touch; but the slightest degree of faith saves, because it is the channel by which Christ enters, Mark 5:34. Even children are liable to the havoc caused by sin, Mark 5:35-43. Death has passed on all, and from the universal blight even the little ones cannot find immunity. But again we turn to the Master of life, whose touch is as gentle as a woman's and whose voice can penetrate the recesses of the unseen. [source]
Chapter Summary: Mark 5
1Jesus delivering the possessed of the legion of demons, 13they enter into the pigs 22He is entreated by Jairus to go and heal his daughter 25He heals the woman subject to bleeding, 35and raises Jairus' daughter from death
Greek Commentary for Mark 5:38
Wailing greatly [αλαλαζοντας πολλα] An onomatopoetic word from Pindar down. The soldiers on entering battle cried Αλαλα Alāla Used of clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1). Like ολολυζω ololuzō in James 5:1. It is used here of the monotonous wail of the hired mourners. [source]
John 11:33When Jesus therefore saw her weeping [Ιησους ουν ως ειδεν αυτην κλαιουσαν] Proleptic position of “Jesus,” “Jesus therefore when he saw.” She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb. And the Jews also weeping Mary‘s weeping was genuine, that of the Jews was partly perfunctory and professional and probably actual “wailing” as the verb κλαιω klaiō can mean. Κλαιω Klaiō is joined with αλαλαζω alalazō in Mark 5:38, with ολολυζω ololuzō in James 5:1, with τορυβεω thorubeō in Mark 5:39, with πεντεω pentheō in Mark 16:10. It was an incongruous combination. He groaned in the spirit First aorist middle indicative of εμβριμαομαι embrimaomai old verb (from εν en and βριμη brimē strength) to snort with anger like a horse. It occurs in the lxx (Dan 11:30) for violent displeasure. The notion of indignation is present in the other examples of the word in the N.T. (Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5; Matthew 9:30). So it seems best to see that sense here and in John 11:38. The presence of these Jews, the grief of Mary, Christ‘s own concern, the problem of the raising of Lazarus - all greatly agitated the spirit of Jesus (locative case τωι πνευματι tōi pneumati). He struggled for self-control. Was troubled First aorist active indicative of ταρασσω tarassō old verb to disturb, to agitate, with the reflexive pronoun, “he agitated himself” (not passive voice, not middle). “His sympathy with the weeping sister and the wailing crowd caused this deep emotion” (Dods). Some indignation at the loud wailing would only add to the agitation of Jesus. [source]
Acts 20:1After the uproar was ceased [μετα το παυσασται τον τορυβον] Literally, after the ceasing (accusative of articular aorist middle infinitive of παυω pauō to make cease) as to the uproar (accusative of general reference). Noise and riot, already in Matthew 26:5; Matthew 27:24; Mark 5:38; Mark 14:2; and see in Acts 21:34; Acts 24:18. Pictures the whole incident as bustle and confusion. [source]
Acts 20:10Embracing [συνπεριλαβων] Second aorist active participle of συνπεριλαμβανω sunperilambanō old verb to embrace completely (take hold together round), but only here in the N.T. In Ezra 5:3. Make ye no ado (μη τορυβειστε mē thorubeisthe). Stop (μη mē and present middle imperative of τορυβεω thorubeō) making a noise (τορυβος thorubos) as the people did on the death of Jairus‘s daughter (Matthew 9:23 τορυβουμενου thoruboumenou and Mark 5:38 τορυβου thorubou) when Jesus asked Τι τορυβειστε Ti thorubeisthė For his life is in him This language is relied on by Ramsay, Wendt, Zoeckler to show that Eutychus had not really died, but had merely swooned. Paul‘s language would suit that view, but it suits equally well the idea that he had just been restored to life and so is indecisive. Furneaux urges also the fact that his friends did not bring him back to the meeting till morning (Acts 20:12) as additional evidence that it was a case of swooning rather than of death. But this again is not conclusive as they would naturally not take him back at once. One will believe here as the facts appeal to him. [source]
Acts 20:10Make ye no ado [μη τορυβειστε] Stop (μη mē and present middle imperative of τορυβεω thorubeō) making a noise (τορυβος thorubos) as the people did on the death of Jairus‘s daughter (Matthew 9:23 τορυβουμενου thoruboumenou and Mark 5:38 τορυβου thorubou) when Jesus asked Τι τορυβειστε Ti thorubeisthė [source]
1 Corinthians 13:1But have not love [αγαπην δε μη εχω] This is the crux of the chapter. Love is the way par excellence of 1 Corinthians 12:31. It is not yet clearly certain that αγαπη agapē (a back-formation from αγαπαω agapaō) occurs before the lxx and the N.T. Plutarch used αγαπησις agapēsis Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 198) once suspected it on an inscription in Pisidia. It is still possible that it occurs in the papyri (Prayer to Isis). See Light from the Ancient East, p. 75 for details. The rarity of αγαπη agapē made it easier for Christians to use this word for Christian love as opposed to ερως erōs (sexual love). See also Moffatt‘s Love in the N.T. (1930) for further data. The word is rare in the Gospels, but common in Paul, John, Peter, Jude. Paul does not limit αγαπη agapē at all (both toward God and man). Charity (Latin caritas) is wholly inadequate. “Intellect was worshipped in Greece, and power in Rome; but where did St. Paul learn the surpassing beauty of love?” (Robertson and Plummer). Whether Paul had ever seen Jesus in the flesh, he knows him in the spirit. One can substitute Jesus for love all through this panegyric. I am become (γεγονα gegona). Second perfect indicative in the conclusion rather than the usual future indicative. It is put vividly, “I am already become.” Sounding brass (χαλχος ηχων chalchos ēchōn). Old words. Brass was the earliest metal that men learned to use. Our word echoing is ηχων ēchōn present active participle. Used in Luke 21:25 of the roaring of the sea. Only two examples in N.T. Clanging cymbal Cymbal old word, a hollow basin of brass. Αλαλαζω Alalazō old onomatopoetic word to ring loudly, in lament (Mark 5:38), for any cause as here. Only two N.T. examples. [source]
1 Corinthians 13:1Clanging cymbal [κυμβαλον αλαλαζον] Cymbal old word, a hollow basin of brass. Αλαλαζω Alalazō old onomatopoetic word to ring loudly, in lament (Mark 5:38), for any cause as here. Only two N.T. examples. [source]
What do the individual words in Mark 5:38 mean?
Andthey cometothehouseof theruler of the synagogueHe beholdsa commotionweepingwailingmuch
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλαλάζω
Sense: to repeat frequently the cry “alala” as soldiers used to do on entering into battle.
Greek Commentary for Mark 5:38
An onomatopoetic word from Pindar down. The soldiers on entering battle cried Αλαλα Alāla Used of clanging cymbals (1 Corinthians 13:1). Like ολολυζω ololuzō in James 5:1. It is used here of the monotonous wail of the hired mourners. [source]
Rev., beholdeth. See on Mark 5:15. [source]
A descriptive word of the hired mourners crying al-a-lai! [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 5:38
Both imperfects, were weeping and bewailing. So, rightly, Rev. Compare on bewailing, Mark 5:38. [source]
Rev., in margin, wail. The word means loud weeping. See Matthew 2:18; Mark 5:38; and on Luke 6:21; Luke 7:32. [source]
Proleptic position of “Jesus,” “Jesus therefore when he saw.” She was weeping at the feet of Jesus, not at the tomb. And the Jews also weeping Mary‘s weeping was genuine, that of the Jews was partly perfunctory and professional and probably actual “wailing” as the verb κλαιω klaiō can mean. Κλαιω Klaiō is joined with αλαλαζω alalazō in Mark 5:38, with ολολυζω ololuzō in James 5:1, with τορυβεω thorubeō in Mark 5:39, with πεντεω pentheō in Mark 16:10. It was an incongruous combination. He groaned in the spirit First aorist middle indicative of εμβριμαομαι embrimaomai old verb (from εν en and βριμη brimē strength) to snort with anger like a horse. It occurs in the lxx (Dan 11:30) for violent displeasure. The notion of indignation is present in the other examples of the word in the N.T. (Mark 1:43; Mark 14:5; Matthew 9:30). So it seems best to see that sense here and in John 11:38. The presence of these Jews, the grief of Mary, Christ‘s own concern, the problem of the raising of Lazarus - all greatly agitated the spirit of Jesus (locative case τωι πνευματι tōi pneumati). He struggled for self-control. Was troubled First aorist active indicative of ταρασσω tarassō old verb to disturb, to agitate, with the reflexive pronoun, “he agitated himself” (not passive voice, not middle). “His sympathy with the weeping sister and the wailing crowd caused this deep emotion” (Dods). Some indignation at the loud wailing would only add to the agitation of Jesus. [source]
Literally, after the ceasing (accusative of articular aorist middle infinitive of παυω pauō to make cease) as to the uproar (accusative of general reference). Noise and riot, already in Matthew 26:5; Matthew 27:24; Mark 5:38; Mark 14:2; and see in Acts 21:34; Acts 24:18. Pictures the whole incident as bustle and confusion. [source]
Second aorist active participle of συνπεριλαμβανω sunperilambanō old verb to embrace completely (take hold together round), but only here in the N.T. In Ezra 5:3. Make ye no ado (μη τορυβειστε mē thorubeisthe). Stop (μη mē and present middle imperative of τορυβεω thorubeō) making a noise (τορυβος thorubos) as the people did on the death of Jairus‘s daughter (Matthew 9:23 τορυβουμενου thoruboumenou and Mark 5:38 τορυβου thorubou) when Jesus asked Τι τορυβειστε Ti thorubeisthė For his life is in him This language is relied on by Ramsay, Wendt, Zoeckler to show that Eutychus had not really died, but had merely swooned. Paul‘s language would suit that view, but it suits equally well the idea that he had just been restored to life and so is indecisive. Furneaux urges also the fact that his friends did not bring him back to the meeting till morning (Acts 20:12) as additional evidence that it was a case of swooning rather than of death. But this again is not conclusive as they would naturally not take him back at once. One will believe here as the facts appeal to him. [source]
Stop (μη mē and present middle imperative of τορυβεω thorubeō) making a noise (τορυβος thorubos) as the people did on the death of Jairus‘s daughter (Matthew 9:23 τορυβουμενου thoruboumenou and Mark 5:38 τορυβου thorubou) when Jesus asked Τι τορυβειστε Ti thorubeisthė [source]
This is the crux of the chapter. Love is the way par excellence of 1 Corinthians 12:31. It is not yet clearly certain that αγαπη agapē (a back-formation from αγαπαω agapaō) occurs before the lxx and the N.T. Plutarch used αγαπησις agapēsis Deissmann (Bible Studies, p. 198) once suspected it on an inscription in Pisidia. It is still possible that it occurs in the papyri (Prayer to Isis). See Light from the Ancient East, p. 75 for details. The rarity of αγαπη agapē made it easier for Christians to use this word for Christian love as opposed to ερως erōs (sexual love). See also Moffatt‘s Love in the N.T. (1930) for further data. The word is rare in the Gospels, but common in Paul, John, Peter, Jude. Paul does not limit αγαπη agapē at all (both toward God and man). Charity (Latin caritas) is wholly inadequate. “Intellect was worshipped in Greece, and power in Rome; but where did St. Paul learn the surpassing beauty of love?” (Robertson and Plummer). Whether Paul had ever seen Jesus in the flesh, he knows him in the spirit. One can substitute Jesus for love all through this panegyric. I am become (γεγονα gegona). Second perfect indicative in the conclusion rather than the usual future indicative. It is put vividly, “I am already become.” Sounding brass (χαλχος ηχων chalchos ēchōn). Old words. Brass was the earliest metal that men learned to use. Our word echoing is ηχων ēchōn present active participle. Used in Luke 21:25 of the roaring of the sea. Only two examples in N.T. Clanging cymbal Cymbal old word, a hollow basin of brass. Αλαλαζω Alalazō old onomatopoetic word to ring loudly, in lament (Mark 5:38), for any cause as here. Only two N.T. examples. [source]
Cymbal old word, a hollow basin of brass. Αλαλαζω Alalazō old onomatopoetic word to ring loudly, in lament (Mark 5:38), for any cause as here. Only two N.T. examples. [source]