Chapter
Verse

Matthew 9:21

ESV for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”
NIV She said to herself, 'If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.'
NASB for she was saying to herself, 'If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.'
CSB for she said to herself, "If I can just touch his robe, I'll be made well."
NLT for she thought, 'If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.'
KJV For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

What does Matthew 9:21 mean?

A man named Jairus is leading Jesus and His disciples to help Jairus's daughter, who has died. They are packed in on every side by a "great crowd" (Mark 5:24). Suddenly, a woman touches Jesus' cloak—not grabbing or twisting, but merely making contact (Matthew 9:20). She has suffered from a discharge of blood for 12 years. This was likely an abnormal menstrual discharge, meaning not only is the woman anemic and weak, but has also been ceremonially unclean within the Jewish community for a dozen years.

This verse explains why she pushed through the crowd to touch Jesus' garment, risking being caught in violation of keeping her distance from others, as the law required. She believes. She has heard of Jesus' healings and His power and is convinced that she will be healed by just touching His cloak. She doesn't dare to be so forward as to come to Him directly and kneel before Him and make the request. As an unclean woman, this would likely have been quite inappropriate. Instead, she has devised a way for Him to heal her, she likely hopes, without ever even being noticed.

Jesus, of course, notices.
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