Mark 5 · Verse 36

Mark 5:36

As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Mark 5:36, King James Version

Mark 5:36 in other translations

BSBBut Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”
WEBBut Jesus, when he heard the message spoken, immediately said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Don’t be afraid, only believe.”
ASVBut Jesus, not heeding the word spoken, saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe.
YLTAnd Jesus immediately, having heard the word that is spoken, saith to the chief of the synagogue, ‘Be not afraid, only believe.'
DARBYBut Jesus immediately, having heard the word spoken, says to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not; only believe.
BBEBut Jesus, giving no attention to their words, said to the ruler of the Synagogue, Have no fear, only have faith.
WebsterAs soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith to the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe,

What does Mark 5:36 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
36. he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe--Jesus, knowing how the heart of the agonized father would sink at the tidings, and the reflections at the delay which would be apt to rise in his mind, hastens to reassure him, and in His accustomed style: "Be not afraid, only believe"--words of unchanging preciousness and power! How vividly do such incidents bring out Christ's knowledge of the human heart and tender sympathy! (He 4:15).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Barnes' Notes
Verse 36.

(p) "only believe" 2Chr 20:20, Jn 11:40

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 36 Jesus - saith - These words were spoken by our Lord to the afflicted father, immediately on his hearing of the death of his child, to prevent that distress which he otherwise must have felt on finding that the case was now, humanly speaking, hopeless.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Mark 5:35-43

We may suppose Jairus hesitating whether he should ask Christ to go on or not, when told that his daughter was dead. But have we not as much occasion for the grace of God, and the comfort of his Spirit, for the prayers of our ministers and Christian friends, when death is in the house, as when sickness is there? Faith is the only remedy against grief and fear at such a time. Believe the resurrection, then fear not…

Read the full comment on Mark 5:35-43 →

Mark 5:36 in the original Greek

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

ὉHo<the>G3588
δὲdeAndG1161
ἸησοῦςIēsousJesusG2424
εὐθέωςeutheōsimmediatelyG2112
παρακούσαςparakousashaving ignoredG3878
τὸνtontheG3588
λόγονlogonwordG3056
λαλούμενονlaloumenonspokenG2980
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
τῷtōto theG3588
ἀρχισυναγώγῳ·archisunagōgōruler of the synagogue;G752
μὴmēNotG3361
φοβοῦ,phoboudo fear,G5399
μόνονmonononlyG3441
πίστευε.pisteuedo believe.G4100

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for Mark 5:36

  • Luke 8:50

    But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole.

  • Matthew 9:28-29

    And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

  • John 11:40

    Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?

  • Mark 9:23

    Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

  • Romans 4:18-24

    Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. …

  • Mark 5:34

    And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

  • John 4:48-50

    Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

  • 2 Chronicles 20:20

    And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.

  • Matthew 17:20

    And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
only.
34; 9:23; 2Ch 20:20; Mt 9:28,29; 17:20; Lu 8:50; Joh 4:48-50; 11:40
Ro 4:18-24

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • Mark 5:35

    While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

  • Mark 5:36

    As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

  • Mark 5:37

    And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

Read all of Mark 5

Mark 5:36 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas luego Jesús, oyendo esta razón que se decía, dijo al príncipe de la sinagoga: No temas, cree solamente.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Jésus, ayant entendu la parole qui avait été dite, dit aussitôt au chef de synagogue: Ne crains pas, crois seulement.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Als aber Jesus das Wort reden hörte, spricht er alsbald zu dem Synagogenvorsteher: Fürchte dich nicht; glaube nur.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Jesus autem audito verbo quod dicebatur, ait archisynagogo: Noli timere: tantummodo crede.