Chapter

Luke 8:54

ESV But taking her by the hand he called, saying, "Child, arise."
NIV But he took her by the hand and said, "My child, get up!"
NASB He, however, took her by the hand and spoke forcefully, saying, 'Child, arise!'
CSB So he took her by the hand and called out, "Child, get up!"
NLT Then Jesus took her by the hand and said in a loud voice, 'My child, get up!'
KJV And he put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, Maid, arise.
NKJV But He put them all outside, took her by the hand and called, saying, “Little girl, arise.”

What does Luke 8:54 mean?

A synagogue leader has asked Jesus to raise his dead daughter, and Jesus willingly complies. For the third time—perhaps that day—He is exposed to someone who is ritually unclean. First it was the man beset by thousands of demons who roamed the graveyard naked and covered in sores from the stones he drew across his flesh (Luke 8:27–38). Then it was the woman with chronic bleeding who had the audacity to touch Jesus in search of healing (Leviticus 15:25–30; Luke 8:43–44). Now, it's a dead body (Numbers 19:11).

Such an act proves Jesus' compassion in addition to His power. He has no need for touch when healing (Luke 7:7–8), but He heals out of compassion (Matthew 14:14). Unlike the professional "mourners" who quickly switch from wailing to mocking (Luke 8:52–53), this girl and her family are not a job to Him.

Mark, here, quotes Jesus' Aramaic words directly: "Talitha cumi" (Mark 5:41). Scholars think Mark tried to prove Jesus doesn't use magical spells: He's no traveling showman or magician. He simply speaks what He wants to see happen, as He did with the storm (Luke 8:24; Mark 4:39). Luke is writing to a Greek audience that probably doesn't know Aramaic or wonder if Jesus is a magician, so he feels free to use an interpretation.
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