Mark 5:23 (KJV)

What does Mark 5:23 mean?

Mark 5:23 describes a desperate father, Jairus, begging Jesus to come and heal his dying daughter, believing that if Jesus lays his hands on her, she will recover and live. The verse shows Jairus’s urgent faith in Jesus’s power to heal, even in a life-or-death situation.

Jairus, a synagogue leader, approaches Jesus in public, pleading for help because his young daughter is near death. He specifically asks Jesus to "lay [his] hands on her," which in that time was a common gesture for healing or blessing. Jairus’s words reveal both his deep concern for his child and his confidence that Jesus can save her if he acts quickly.

The Greek behind Mark 5:23

• "Besought" (παρακαλέω, parakaleō): This word means to beg or plead earnestly. The Greek here emphasizes how intensely Jairus is asking—he is not making a casual request but is deeply desperate.
• "Healed" (σωθῇ, sōthē): This word often means "to save" or "to rescue," not just from illness but from danger or death. Jairus is asking for more than a cure; he is seeking deliverance for his daughter’s life.
• "Lay hands" (ἐπιθῇς τὰς χεῖρας, epithēs tas cheiras): Laying hands was a physical act showing both authority and compassion. Jairus’s request shows he believes Jesus’s touch itself can bring healing.

Why Mark 5:23 matters

• Mark 5:23 highlights the depth of Jairus’s faith, showing that even respected community leaders recognized Jesus’s unique authority and power.
• The verse sets the stage for the dramatic events that follow, where Jesus responds to human need with compassion and miraculous ability.
• By focusing on the act of laying hands, Mark 5:23 connects to other healing stories in the Gospels, underlining the importance of physical touch and presence in Jesus’s ministry.