Mark 5 · Verse 39

Mark 5:39

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.
Mark 5:39, King James Version

Mark 5:39 in other translations

BSBHe went inside and asked, “Why all this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead, but asleep.”
WEBWhen he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
ASVAnd when he was entered in, he saith unto them, Why make ye a tumult, and weep? the child is not dead, but sleepeth.
YLTand having gone in he saith to them, ‘Why do ye make a tumult, and weep? the child did not die, but doth sleep;
DARBYAnd entering in he says to them, Why do ye make a tumult and weep? the child has not died, but sleeps.
BBEAnd when he had gone in, he said to them, Why are you making such a noise and weeping? The child is not dead, but sleeping.
WebsterAnd when he had come in, he saith to them, Why make ye this tumult, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

What does Mark 5:39 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
39. And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth--so brief her state of death as to be more like a short sleep.

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

Barnes' Notes
Verse 39. This ado. This tumult, this bustle, or confusion.

And weep. Weep in this inordinate and improper manner.

But sleepeth. See Mt 9:24.

(r) "sleepeth" Jn 11:11-13

Albert Barnes, 1834 · 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 5:39 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.

καὶkaiAndG2532
εἰσελθὼνeiselthōnhaving enteredG1525
λέγειlegeiHe saysG3004
αὐτοῖς·autoisto them;G846
τίtiWhyG5101
θορυβεῖσθεthorubeisthemake you commotionG2350
καὶkaiandG2532
κλαίετε;klaieteweep?G2799
τὸtoTheG3588
παιδίονpaidionchildG3813
οὐκouknotG3756
ἀπέθανενapethanenis deadG599
ἀλλὰallabutG235
καθεύδει.katheudeisleeps.G2518

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

Cross references for Mark 5:39

  • Acts 20:10

    And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.

  • 1 Thessalonians 5:10

    Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

  • Daniel 12:2

    And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.

  • 1 Corinthians 11:30

    For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

  • 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

    But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

  • John 11:11-13

    These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
not dead.
Da 12:2; Joh 11:11-13; Ac 20:10; 1Co 11:30; 1Th 4:13,14; 5:10

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

Context

  • Mark 5:38

    And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

  • Mark 5:39

    And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

  • Mark 5:40

    And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

Read all of Mark 5

Mark 5:39 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y entrando, les dice: ¿Por qué alborotáis y lloráis? La muchacha no es muerta, mas duerme.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et étant entré, il leur dit: Pourquoi faites-vous ce tumulte, et pourquoi pleurez-vous? L’enfant n’est pas morte, mais elle dort.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als er eingetreten war, spricht er zu ihnen: Was lärmet und weinet ihr? Das Kind ist nicht gestorben, sondern es schläft.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ingressus, ait illis: Quid turbamini, et ploratis? puella non est mortua, sed dormit.