Mark - 5:39



39 When he had entered in, he said to them, "Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Mark 5:39.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
And when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.
And going in, he saith to them: Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
And entering in he says to them, Why do ye make a tumult and weep? the child has not died, but sleeps.
And when he had come in, he saith to them, Why make ye this tumult, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
and having gone in he saith to them, 'Why do ye make a tumult, and weep? the child did not die, but doth sleep;
And when he was come in, he said to them, Why make you this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleeps.
He goes in. "Why all this outcry and loud weeping?" He asks; "the child is asleep, not dead."
And when he had gone in, he said to them, Why are you making such a noise and weeping? The child is not dead, but sleeping.
And entering, he said to them: "Why are you disturbed and weeping? The girl is not dead, but is asleep."
"Why this confusion and weeping?" he said on entering. "The little child is not dead; she is asleep."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

The girl sleepeth. Sleep is everywhere in Scripture employed to denote death; and there is no doubt but this comparison, taken from temporal rest, points out a future resurrection. But here Christ expressly makes a distinction between sleep and death, so as to excite an expectation of life. His meaning is, "You will presently see her raised up whom you suppose to be dead." That he was ridiculed by thoughtless and ignorant people, who were wholly engrossed with profane lamentation, and who did not comprehend his design, ought not to awaken surprise. And yet this very circumstance was an additional confirmation of the miracle, that those persons entertained no doubt whatever as to her death.

This ado - This tumult, this bustle or confusion.
And weep - Weep in this inordinate and improper manner. See the notes at Matthew 9:23.
But sleepeth - See the notes at Matthew 9:24.

And when he was come in,.... Into the house, within doors, into one of the apartments, and where the company of mourners, and the pipers, and mourning women were, singing and saying their doleful ditties:
he saith unto them, why make ye this ado and weep? why all this tumult and noise? this grief and mourning, whether real or artificial?
the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth: not but that she was truly dead, but not so as to remain under the power of death: she was like a person in a sleep, who would in a little time be awaked out of it: and which was as easily performed by Christ, as if she had been only in a natural sleep; See Gill on Matthew 9:24.

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth--so brief her state of death as to be more like a short sleep.

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