Matthew 9 · Verse 18

Matthew 9:18

While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
Matthew 9:18, King James Version

Matthew 9:18 in other translations

BSBWhile Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
WEBWhile he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
ASVWhile he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
YLTWhile he is speaking these things to them, lo, a ruler having come, was bowing to him, saying that ‘My daughter just now died, but, having come, lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.'
DARBYAs he spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler coming in did homage to him, saying, My daughter has by this died; but come and lay thy hand upon her and she shall live.
BBEWhile he was saying these things to them, there came a ruler and gave him worship, saying, My daughter is even now dead; but come and put your hand on her, and she will come back to life.
WebsterWhile he was speaking these things to them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshiped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she will live.

What does Matthew 9:18 mean?

Barnes' Notes
Verses 18-26. The account contained in these verses is also recorded, with some additional circumstances, in Mk 5:22-43, Lk 8:41-56.

Verse 18. There came a certain ruler. Mark and Luke say that his name was Jairus, and that he was a ruler of the synagogue; that is, one of the elders to whom was committed the care of the synagogue. Mt 4:23.

And worshipped him. That is, fell down before him, or expressed his respect for him by a token of profound regard. Mt 2:2.

My daughter is even now dead. Luke says that this was his only daughter, and that she was twelve years of age. Mark and Luke say that she was at the point of death, and that information of her actual death was brought to him by one who was sent by the ruler of the synagogue, while Jesus was going. Matthew combined the two facts, and stated the representation which was made to Jesus, without stopping particularly to exhibit the manner in which it was done. In a summary way he says that the ruler communicated the information. Luke and Mark, dwelling more particularly on the circumstances, state at length the way in which it was done; that is, by himself stating, in a hurry, that she was about to die, or dying, and then in a few moments sending word that she was dead. The Greek word, rendered is even now dead, does not of necessity mean, as our translation would express, that she had actually expired, but only that she was dying or about to die. Compare Gen 48:21. It is likely that a father, in these circumstances, would use a word as nearly expressing actual death as would be consistent with the fact that she was alive. The passage may be expressed thus: "My daughter was so sick that she must be, by this time, dead."

Come and lay thy hand upon her. It was customary for the Jewish prophets, in conferring favours, to lay their hand on the person benefited. Jesus had probably done so also, and the ruler had probably witnessed the fact.

(z) "While he spake" Mk 5:22, Lk 8:41 (a) "shall live" Jn 9:22,25

Albert Barnes, 1834 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 18 A certain ruler - There were two officers in the synagogue, חזן הכנסת chazan ha-ceneseth, the bishop or overseer of the congregation; and ראש הכנסת rosh ha-ceneseth, the head or ruler of the congregation. The chazan takes the book of the Law, and gives it to the rosh, or ruler; and he appoints who shall read the different sections, etc. Jairus, who is the person intended here, was, in this latter sense, the ruler or governor of one of the synagogues, probably at Capernaum. See Mar 5:22; Luk 8:41. My daughter is even now dead - Or, my daughter was just now dying; αρτι ετελευτησεν, or, is by this time dead: i.e. as Mr. Wakefield properly observes, She was so ill when I left home that she must be dead by this time. This turn of the expression reconciles the account given here with that in Mark and Luke. Michaelis conjectures that, in the Hebrew original, the words must have stood thus, עתה מתה atah matah, which, without the points, may signify either, She is dead, or She is dying. To be successful in our applications to God by prayer, four things are requisite; and this ruler teaches us what they are. First, A man should place himself in the presence of God - he came unto him. Secondly, He should humble himself sincerely before God - he fell down before him - at his feet. Mar 5:22. Thirdly, He should lay open his wants with a holy earnestness - he besought him greatly. Mar 5:23. Fourthly, he should have unbounded confidence in the power and goodness of Christ that his request shall be granted - put thy hand upon her, and she shall live. He who comes in this way to God, for salvation, is sure to be heard. Imposition of hands was a rite anciently used by the servants of God, through which heavenly influences were conveyed to the bodies and souls of men. This rite is still used in certain Churches; but, as there is no Holy Ghost communicated by it, some suppose it may be as well omitted. But why is this? Is it not because there is an unfaithfulness in the person who lays on hands, or an unfitness in him on whom they are laid? Let the rite be restored to its primitive simplicity, and God will own it as he formerly did. But, however this may be, where is the man or number of men who have authority to abrogate a rite of God's own appointment? In the appointment of men to the sacred ministry it should never be omitted: even in these degenerate days, it may still serve as a sign of the necessity of the gifts and graces of that Holy Spirit without which no man can fulfill the work of the ministry, or be the instrument of saving the souls of them that hear him. When the inventions of men are put in the place of the ordinances of God, the true Church of Christ is in great danger.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on Matthew 9:18-26
The death of our relations should drive us to Christ, who is our life. And it is high honour to the greatest rulers to attend on the Lord Jesus; and those who would receive mercy from Christ, must honour him. The variety of methods Christ took in working his miracles, perhaps was because of the different frames and tempers of mind, which those were in who came to him, and which He who searches the heart perfectly knew. A poor woman applied herself to Christ, and received mercy from him by the way. If we do but touch, as it were, the hem of Christ's garment by living faith, our worst evils will be healed; there is no other real cure, nor need we fear his knowing things which are a grief and burden to us, but which we would not tell to any earthly friend. When Christ entered the ruler's house, he said, Give place. Sometimes, when the sorrow of the world prevails, it is difficult for Christ and his comforts to enter. The ruler's daughter was really dead, but not so to Christ. The death of the righteous is in a special manner to be looked on as only a sleep. The words and works of Christ may not at first be understood, yet they are not therefore to be despised. The people were put forth. Scorners who laugh at what they do not understand, are not proper witnesses of the wonderful works of Christ. Dead souls are not raised to spiritual life, unless Christ take them by the hand: it is done in the day of his power. If this single instance of Christ's raising one newly dead so increased his fame, what will be his glory when all that are in their graves shall hear his voice, and come forth; those that have done good to the resurrection of life, and those that have done evil to the resurrection of damnation!

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

Matthew 9:18 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.

ΤαῦταTautaThese thingsG3778
αὐτοῦautouwhen heG846
λαλοῦντοςlalountosis speakingG2980
αὐτοῖςautoisto themG846
ἰδοὺidoubeholdG2400
ἄρχωνarchōna rulerG758
εἷςheiscertainG1520
ἐλθὼνelthōnhaving comeG2064
προσεκύνειprosekuneiwas kneeling downG4352
αὐτῷautōto HimG846
λέγωνlegōnsayingG3004
ὅτιhotithatG3754
ἡhēTheG3588
θυγάτηρthugatērdaughterG2364
μουmouof MineG3165
ἄρτιartipresentlyG737
ἐτελεύτησεν·eteleutēsenhas died;G5053
ἀλλ᾽all᾽butG235
ἐλθὼνelthōnhaving comeG2064
ἐπίθεςepithesdo layG2007
τὴνtēntheG3588
χεῖράcheirahandG5495
σουsouof YouG4771
ἐπ᾽ep᾽uponG1909
αὐτήν,autēnher,G846
καὶkaiandG2532
ζήσεται.zēsetaishe will live.G2198

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

Cross references for Matthew 9:18

  • Luke 8:41-56

    And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus’ feet, and besought him that he would come into his house: For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him. And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. …

  • Mark 5:22-43

    And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years, …

  • Matthew 8:2

    And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

  • 2 Kings 5:11

    But Naaman was wroth, and went away, and said, Behold, I thought, He will surely come out to me, and stand, and call on the name of the Lord his God, and strike his hand over the place, and recover the leper.

  • Luke 13:14

    And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day.

  • Matthew 9:24

    He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.

  • John 11:21-22

    Then said Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But I know, that even now, whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee.

  • John 11:32

    Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

  • John 4:47-49

    When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. 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.

  • Matthew 8:8-9

    The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

  • Matthew 15:25

    Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

  • Luke 17:15-16

    And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
behold.
Mr 5:22-43; Lu 8:41-56
ruler.
Lu 8:49; 13:14; 18:18; Ac 13:15
worshipped.
8:2; 14:33; 15:25; 17:14; 20:20; 28:17; Mr 5:22; Lu 17:15,16
Ac 10:25,26
My daughter.
24; Mr 5:23; Lu 7:2; 8:42,49; Joh 4:47-49
come.
8:8,9; 2Ki 5:11; Joh 11:21,22,25,32

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

Context

  • Matthew 9:17

    Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.

  • Matthew 9:18

    While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.

  • Matthew 9:19

    And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.

Read all of Matthew 9

Matthew 9:18 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Hablando él estas cosas á ellos, he aquí vino un principal, y le adoraba, diciendo: Mi hija es muerta poco ha: mas ven y pon tu mano sobre ella, y vivirá.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Comme il leur disait ces choses, voici, un chef de synagogue s’étant approché lui rendit hommage, disant: Ma fille vient de mourir, mais viens et pose ta main sur elle, et elle vivra.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Während er dies zu ihnen redete, siehe, da kam ein Vorsteher herein und huldigte ihm und sprach: Meine Tochter ist eben jetzt verschieden; aber komm und lege deine Hand auf sie, und sie wird leben.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Hæc illo loquente ad eos, ecce princeps unus accessit, et adorabat eum, dicens: Domine, filia mea modo defuncta est: sed veni, impone manum tuam super eam, et vivet.