And her spirit returned: and she arose immediately. And he bid them give her to eat.
και επεστρεψεν το πνευμα αυτης και ανεστη παραχρημα και διεταξεν αυτη δοθηναι φαγειν
9 Church Fathers comment on this verse · 11 commentaries
The spirit of the young woman returned, for the Lord did not restore a different soul, but instead called back the same one that had left her body. He instructed that food be presented to her, serving as further confirmation and evidence of her true resurrection.
O life-giving touch of the hand that nullifies death and decay! These are the fruits of faith for which the Law was bestowed upon the ancients through the hand of Moses.
Towards life When Jesus visited the home of a man whose daughter was on the verge of death, He brought only the three revered apostles, the girl’s father, and her mother with Him (Luke 8:51). The way He performed the miracle was truly divine. He took her by the hand and proclaimed, ‘Maiden, arise,’ and she instantly got up (Luke 8:54-55). Oh, the might of the word and the strength of the commandments that can encounter no opposition! Oh, the life that dispels death and decay with a mere touch! These are the outcomes of faith, for which the hand of Moses also provided the law to those living in the times of the Old Covenant.
Taking the young girl by the hand, Jesus restored her health and instructed that she be given something to eat. This act serves as a testament to her being truly alive, encouraging belief in what is real rather than the illusory. Blessed is the one whom Divine Wisdom guides by the hand. Oh, if only my deeds were steered by Righteousness, if she would take hold of me! If the Word of God would grasp my hand and lead me into His innermost being, casting aside the spirit of falsehood and drawing me near to the Spirit of redemption! Oh, that the Word would command nourishment for me!
For the Word of God is the Bread from Heaven; thus, Wisdom, who has filled the sacred altars with the nourishment of the holy Body and Blood, proclaimed: Come, eat my bread and drink the wine I have prepared for you (Proverbs 9:5).
I will reflect on the daughter of the synagogue leader, whose passing was mourned by the crowd and played out with lamentation. In light of the conviction regarding her death, a solemn funeral is arranged. At once, by the command of the Lord, the spirit is restored, the raised body is revitalized, and sustenance is provided, so that the affirmation of life is acknowledged. Why should we be astonished that at God's command, souls return, and bones reunite with their bodies when we recall the prophecies about the resurrection of the dead?
Jesus took the girl by the hand and restored her life, providing her with nourishment. This serves as a testament to vitality, for we ought to trust in reality, not in phantoms. Blessed is the person whom Wisdom guides! Oh, if my actions could also be governed by her, if she would guide my hands with righteousness, direct me to the Word of God, lead me into her depths, divert me from the spirit of deception, and turn me toward salvation, commanding me to provide sustenance! For the bread of heaven is the Word of God. It is that Wisdom who fills the sacred altars with the nourishment of the divine Body and Blood and invites, Come, eat my bread, and drink the wine I have prepared for you (Proverbs 9:5). What accounts for this distinction? The widow’s son is restored amidst a large gathering, while here, many witnesses are excluded. However, I suggest that the mercy of the Lord is also illustrated in this instance: the widow, the mother of her only son, did not imagine interrupting the funeral procession, and so, to prevent further sorrow, she is consoled. The symbol of wisdom is likewise demonstrated: the widow's son represents the Church, which will readily believe, while the daughter of the synagogue leader symbolizes the Jews, of whom only a few will come to faith.
O wondrous miracle! The resurrection from the dead embodies a miraculous event beyond all others! Following the separation of the soul from the body, the blood and life force cease altogether; all organs and limbs in every creature lose their inherent abilities. The entirety of the body's structure is transformed from its original state; decay initiates and follows destruction. The soul is bestowed by the Creator upon humanity, as stated: ‘who builds the spirit of man in him’ (Zech. 12:1). Once the soul has departed, it cannot re-enter the body: ‘as the spirit will pass in him, and will not be, and will not know his place’ (Ps. 102:16). The singular, infinite power of the Most High can alter the unchangeable natural laws established for creation at its discretion.
This divine power commands the soul to return to the lifeless body, initiating the flow of blood and invigorating the once-dormant spirit of life. This moment restores vitality to the body’s parts and members, reverses decay, and revitalizes all aspects of the deceased form. In an instant, the all-powerful voice of Jesus Christ achieved this: ‘O young woman, arise!’ Not another spirit, but her own spirit was restored to her body, and she immediately came back to life. To ensure they understood the reality of the miracle, He instructed them to give her something to eat. The parents were filled with awe upon witnessing this magnificent miracle, while Jesus admonished them not to disclose it to anyone. Yet, dear Christian, take this as a lesson to engage in righteous deeds and to turn away from empty vanities.
As soon as the Lord finished speaking, Jairus received the news of his daughter's death. Jesus reassured him, saying, Do not be afraid, but have faith that I can bring her back to life. Upon arriving at the house, He found it filled with turmoil. Such a scene could have posed a threat to one's faith. The Lord declared that the young girl was not dead but merely sleeping; those present laughed at Him. He then sent everyone out, and taking only the girl's parents and a few disciples, He took her by the hand and called her, "Little girl, arise." Immediately, the girl was restored to life, and her astonished parents were instructed to keep quiet about what had happened. This silence was necessary due to the potential backlash from the Pharisees and the unpredictable actions of the crowd.
It is only through these specific, discreet situations that we can understand why the Lord either made His presence known publicly or chose to remain hidden; He commanded silence in this instance but publicly proclaimed the healing of the woman with the issue of blood. When He crossed over to the other side of the Lake of Gennesaret and healed the man possessed by demons, He Himself instructed that His deeds be shared with others.
Only those capable of grasping this profound mystery could be witnesses to its revelation, not the hired mourners who mocked Jesus, nor the spectators who sought mere entertainment. Thus, He chose to bring with Him only three of the twelve disciples: Peter, John, and James, whom He esteemed during His transfiguration and at the prayer in Gethsemane. An exception was made solely for the parents of the girl who had passed away. When Jesus approached the deceased, He took her by the hand and proclaimed, ‘Virgin, I say to you, arise.’ The utterance of Christ sufficed, and the girl came back to life. By His command, her soul rejoined her body, but it was not in the state it had been; it was not weakened by illness but restored to its full strength.
To demonstrate this miraculous restoration, Jesus instructed those present to provide the risen girl with something to eat. This tangible evidence served to assure them that they were in the presence of a living being in need of nourishment, rather than the mere apparition of a deceased individual.
When quietude was reestablished, He brought the young girl's parents along with three selected apostles and gently entered the chamber where the profound stillness of death prevailed. Taking the lifeless hand of the young woman, He uttered two words: talitha koum, which translates to “Young woman, I command you, arise.” The spirit returned to her, and she instantly stood up and began to walk.
The Lord's return from the region of the Gerasenes includes Jairus' plea, the miraculous healing of the woman with a bleeding condition, and the resurrection of Jairus' daughter. Luke's narrative closely mirrors that of Mark (Mark 5:21-43), while Matthew presents a more condensed version that still captures the essence of the events (Matthew 9:18-26). For further clarification, see the notes on the referenced passages. In the Gospels of Matthew and Mark, when it is stated that "the people received Him," it indicates their joy and love in welcoming Him.
The phrase "I felt the power go out" is expressed by the Savior not to imply that His healing ability left Him without His awareness, but rather to highlight the woman’s act and to demonstrate her faith as an example for others.
The healing of the woman with the issue of blood served to bolster Jairus's faith in the Lord's miraculous ability. While Jesus was still offering His comforting words to her, messengers arrived from the ruler of the synagogue's home with the heartbreaking news: “Thy daughter is dead; why trouble the Master any further?” Christ aimed to ensure they recognized the girl’s death clearly so that later, they would not doubt the reality of her resurrection (St. John Chrysostom). Upon hearing of her passing, the Lord turned to her father and said, “Do not be afraid, only believe, and she will be made whole” (St. Athanasius of Alexandria). He requests faith not out of need, for He is the Lord and the Source of faith, but to demonstrate that He responds genuinely to those who have belief (St.
Athanasius of Alexandria).
Arriving at the house, Jesus encountered a scene of great tumult—whalers and mourners surrounded Him, and cries of sorrow filled the air. “Why are you making such a commotion and weeping?”—the reality of the young girl's death was universally acknowledged, with no one suggesting she had merely suffered a serious fit or fainting (Blessed Theophylact), leading the onlookers to mock the Lord’s words. He then sent the mourners away, leaving only three of His closest disciples—Peter, James, and John—as witnesses to the forthcoming miracle, along with the girl's parents. Upon entering the room where the deceased lay, He took her by the hand and commanded, “Talitha, kumi,” meaning “little girl, arise!” The girl immediately rose, got to her feet, and began to walk. To confirm that her resurrection was truly tangible, He instructed that she be given something to eat. This remarkable event left her parents and the disciples in awe. However, the Lord instructed them not to reveal what had occurred, as He had done previously (Matt. 8:4), out of a humble desire to shield God’s work from idle talk and speculation, and out of caution to avoid inciting further resentment from His adversaries or fueling unrealistic expectations about the Messianic kingdom. Despite this strict command for silence, the news of the miracle spread throughout the region.
Passages read together with this verse.
Greek text, 13 words with lemma, transliteration and Strong’s number. Tap to expand.
THEOSIS