Mark 5:21-24 meaning

The parallel Gospel accounts for Mark 5:21-24Mark 5:21-24 commentary are Matthew 9:1Matthew 9:1 commentary, 9:18-199:18-19 commentary, and commentary Luke 8:40-42Luke 8:40-42 commentary.

Mark 5:21-24Mark 5:21-24 commentary introduces the account of how a synagogue official named Jairus comes to Jesus when He returns to Capernaum and desperately begs Him to save his daughter who is sick and on the verge of death.

When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore (v 21).

After a brief visit to the country of the Gerasenes (Mark 5:1Mark 5:1 commentary) near the Greek Decapolis, Jesus crossed back over the Sea of Galilee. At the country of the Gerasenes, He had healed a demon-possessed man by casting the demons into a herd of swine, which then drowned in the sea (Mark 5:13Mark 5:13 commentary). Fearful of His power, the locals urged Him to leave (Mark 5:17Mark 5:17 commentary). Jesus then returned by boat to the predominantly Jewish region of Galilee. Matthew’s account specifies that He arrived in "His own city" (Matthew 9:1Matthew 9:1 commentary), referring to Capernaum—His ministry’s base (Mark 2:1Mark 2:1 commentary)—rather than Nazareth, where He was raised. Capernaum was situated on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

When Jesus was back on the other side of the Sea of Galilee, a large crowd gathered around Jesus. Mark points out that the crowd which gathered around Jesus was large. The people of the crowd had seen many of His miracles and had been astonished by His teachings. Apparently, they wanted to see and hear more from Jesus. Luke’s account notes that the people “had all been waiting for Him” to return (Luke 8:40Luke 8:40 commentary).

Because the crowd was large, Jesus did not enter town, instead He stayed by the seashore. Jesus may have been reluctant to enter town and draw attention from His enemies (Mark 3:6-7Mark 3:6-7 commentary), who also may have been waiting for Him to return.

One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet (v 22).

When Jesus was by the shoreline, one of Capernaum’s synagogue officials came up to Jesus. This official’s name was Jairus.

In Hebrew, the name Jairus (יָאִיר) means “he enlightens” or “he will give light.” Its root, “ya'ar,” is linked to the Hebrew verb “'or” (אוֹר), which means “to shine” or “to enlighten,” conveying the idea of illumination or bringing light.

Jairus was a synagogue official. Synagogues functioned as local gathering places where Jews assembled for worship, community, and to study God’s law. The Pharisees oversaw these synagogues, and a local leader would typically appoint an official to maintain the building and safeguard the sacred scrolls. This role was usually held by a respected official in the community.

The Pharisees were generally opposed to Jesus. They did not believe He was the Christ. And they saw Him as a threat to their power. Some Pharisees were already plotting how they might destroy Him (Mark 3:6Mark 3:6 commentary). Jairus did not seem to be among the growing anti-Jesus faction of Pharisees.

When Jairus heard that Jesus had returned and was by the seashore, he came up to find Him. And seeing Him, he approached Jesus and fell at His feet.

Falling at Jesus’s feet was an act of worship. Matthew highlights this when he describes how Jairus “bowed down before Him” (Matthew 9:18Matthew 9:18 commentary). This act signifies that Jairus saw Jesus as more than just a great teacher—he recognized Him as the Messiah. This public act of worship was bold—especially for a Pharisee.

Jairus’s falling at Jesus’s feet was not only an act of faith, it was also display of desperation. As Jairus bowed before Jesus’s feet, he told Him devastating news:

And [Jairus] implored Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay your hands on her, so that she will get well and live” (v 23).

Because of his little daughter’s dire condition, Jairus’s personal dignity no longer mattered. Jairus was begging. He had nowhere else to turn.

As a synagogue official in Capernaum, Jairus had likely heard of, read reports about, or even witnessed Jesus performing miracles—healing lepers, paralytics, and fevers, as well as casting out demons. Now his own little daughter was on the brink of death. Based on what he had learned or seen, he believed Jesus had the power to save her life and restore her health.

Luke’s account adds the detail that this was Jairus’s only daughter (Luke 8:42Luke 8:42 commentary), which may mean she was an only child. Both Mark and Luke state that the girl was twelve years old (Mark 5:42Mark 5:42 commentary, commentary Luke 8:42Luke 8:42 commentary).

The Gospels suggest that Jairus fell at Jesus’s feet before voicing his request. His posture of humility and desperation preceded his plea, emphasizing his recognition of Jesus’s authority and his deep need for help.

Both the Gospels of Luke and Mark record that Jairus believed his daughter was still alive when he sought Jesus’s help. He described her condition as being at the point of death.

This seems to differ from Matthew's account, where Jairus tells Jesus, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live” (Matthew 9:18Matthew 9:18 commentary).

Why is there this difference in the Gospels’ accounts?

The likely reason for the difference is that Mark and Luke provide a more detailed account of the events, capturing the dramatic moments as they unfolded, while Matthew offers a more concise version. Both approaches are valid, and all three Gospels accurately recount the same event.

For example, Matthew omits certain details, such as Jairus’s name and the arrival of the messengers who inform him that his daughter has died before Jesus can reach the house (Mark 5:39Mark 5:39 commentary, commentary Luke 8:49Luke 8:49 commentary). Instead, Matthew jumps straight to the essential point—that the synagogue official’s daughter is dead when Jesus arrives at his house. By presenting this key fact upfront, Matthew condenses the moment and skips over the additional details, including the messengers’ arrival, which are mentioned in Mark and Luke (Mark 6:35Mark 6:35 commentary, commentary Luke 8:49Luke 8:49 commentary).

Once again, summarizing events in this way was a common and acceptable practice in the ancient world. While the Gospels of Mark and Luke offer a more detailed account of the event, Matthew’s version is more concise, focusing on the essential elements of the story.

Jesus consented to Jairus's request and agreed to heal his daughter.

And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him (v 24).

It seems that the sight of Jesus heading to heal someone stirred a commotion.

The crowds pressing in on Jesus show how eager the people were to be close to Him. This crowding likely slowed Jesus's progress toward Jairus's house, which could have caused Jairus additional distress, knowing the urgency of his daughter’s condition.

Among the crowd was another woman who desperately needed Jesus. Her bold faith in Him would lead to a life-changing miracle (Mark 5:25-34Mark 5:25-34 commentary).