Apparently Jesus took the hand of the dead girl to associate His power with her healing in the witnesses" minds. He did not need to touch her to raise her. Elijah ( 1 Kings 17:17-23) and Elisha ( 2 Kings 4:18-37) had both raised children to life, but they had to exert considerably more effort and spend more time doing so than Jesus did. It was probably this healing that led many of the people to identify Jesus with Elijah ( Mark 6:15). Touching a dead person resulted in ceremonial defilement, but Jesus overcame this with His power. [source][source][source]
Mark alone recorded Jesus" command in Aramaic and translated it for his Roman readers. [source][source][source]
"Mark gives the translation as a contrast with magical formulas so esoteric and nonsensical that they mock would-be translators ..." [1][source]
In every instance of Jesus raising the dead in the Gospels, He addressed the dead person directly (cf. Luke 7:14; John 11:43). [source][source][source]
"It has been suggested that His very words were those used by the mother each morning to arouse her daughter from sleep." [2][source]
There is only one letter difference between Jesus" command here and the one Peter uttered when he restored Dorcas to life ( Acts 9:40). Peter said, "Tabitha kum!" This shows that Jesus continued to exercise His power through Peter after His ascension (cf. Acts 1:1-2). [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 5:41
Talitha cumi [] . These precious Aramaic words, spoken by Jesus to the child, Peter heard and remembered so that Mark gives them to us. Mark interprets the simple words into Greek for those who did not know Aramaic (το κορασιον εγειρε to korasion κορασιων egeire), that is, Damsel, arise. Mark uses the diminutive κορη korasiōn a little girl, from η παισ εγειρε korē girl. Braid Scots has it: “Lassie, wauken.” Luke 8:5-9 has it κρατησας της χειρος Hē pais egeire Maiden, arise. All three Gospels mention the fact that Jesus took her by the hand, a touch of life (kratēsas tēs cheiros), giving confidence and help. [source]
Maid [κοράσιον] Not a classical word, but used also by Matthew. [source]
Luke 8:54Maiden [η παις] (η παις hē pais) rather than Mark‘s (Mark 5:41) το κορασιον to korasion (vernacular Koiné). [source]
Acts 9:40Tabitha, arise [Tabeithaanastēthi)] With sublime faith like Taleitha koum of Jesus in Mark 5:41. She sat up (anekathisen). Effective aorist active indicative of anakathizō Often in medical writers, only here in the N.T. and Luke 7:15 where Westcott and Hort have in the margin the uncompounded form ekathisen Vivid picture. [source]
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Neuter Singular
Root: μεθερμηνεύω
Sense: to translate into the language of one with whom I wish to communicate, to interpret.
Greek Commentary for Mark 5:41
. These precious Aramaic words, spoken by Jesus to the child, Peter heard and remembered so that Mark gives them to us. Mark interprets the simple words into Greek for those who did not know Aramaic (το κορασιον εγειρε to korasion κορασιων egeire), that is, Damsel, arise. Mark uses the diminutive κορη korasiōn a little girl, from η παισ εγειρε korē girl. Braid Scots has it: “Lassie, wauken.” Luke 8:5-9 has it κρατησας της χειρος Hē pais egeire Maiden, arise. All three Gospels mention the fact that Jesus took her by the hand, a touch of life (kratēsas tēs cheiros), giving confidence and help. [source]
Not a classical word, but used also by Matthew. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 5:41
See on Mark 5:41. [source]
(η παις hē pais) rather than Mark‘s (Mark 5:41) το κορασιον to korasion (vernacular Koiné). [source]
With sublime faith like Taleitha koum of Jesus in Mark 5:41. She sat up (anekathisen). Effective aorist active indicative of anakathizō Often in medical writers, only here in the N.T. and Luke 7:15 where Westcott and Hort have in the margin the uncompounded form ekathisen Vivid picture. [source]