23 and 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."
*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.
Lieth at the point of death - Is dying; in the last agonies.
My little daughter - Το θυγατριον μου, that little daughter of mine. The words express much tenderness and concern. Luke observes, Luke 8:42, that she was his only daughter, and was about twelve years of age.
At the point of death - Εσχατως εχει, in the last extremity, the last gasp.
See on Matthew 9:18 (note).
And besought him greatly,.... Used much importunity with him, and was very urgent in his requests:
saying, my little daughter lieth at the point of death, or "is in the last extremity"; just breathing out her last; for she was not actually dead when he left her, though she was before he returned, and was at this time, as he might expect, expiring, or really gone; See Gill on Matthew 9:18.
I pray thee come and lay thine hands on her, that she may be healed, and she shall live; expressing faith in the power of Christ to restore his daughter, though in the utmost extremity; yet seemed to think his presence, and the imposition of his hands were necessary to it.
And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter--Luke (Luke 8:42) says, "He had one only daughter, about twelve years of age." According to a well-known rabbin, quoted by LIGHTFOOT, a daughter. till she had completed her twelfth year, was called "little," or "a little maid"; after that, "a young woman."
lieth at the point of death--Matthew (Matthew 9:18) gives it thus: "My daughter is even now dead"--"has just expired." The news of her death reached the father after the cure of the woman with the issue of blood: but Matthew's brief account gives only the result, as in the case of the centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5, &c.).
come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live--or, "that she may be healed and live," according to a fully preferable reading. In one of the class to which this man belonged, so steeped in prejudice, such faith would imply more than in others.
The Woman with an Issue of Blood Healed (Mark 5:24-34).
At the point of death. In Mark 5:35 the word comes to the ruler that his daughter is dead. Matthew in his account condenses the two reports and says, "She is dead."
*More commentary available at chapter level.