Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 5:30
And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
30. Who touched my clothes? ] He who with the eye of His Spirit saw Nathanael under the fig tree (Joh 1:47-48), recognised at once (Mar 5:30) the magnetic touch of faith however weak and trembling (Luk 8:46). “Many throng Him, but only one touches Him.” “Caro premit, fides tangit,” says St Augustine.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
30. And Jesus immediately knowing inhimself that virtueor “efficacy.”
had gone out of himHewas conscious of the forthgoing of His healing power, which wasnotas in prophets and apostlessomething foreign to Himselfand imparted merely, but what He had dwelling within Him as”His own fulness.”
turned him about in thepresscrowd.
and said, Who touched myclothes?
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Jesus immediately knowing in himself,…. As soon as ever the woman had touched his garments, and had a cure, Christ, who knew all things in his Spirit, or divine nature, that dwelt in him, knew what was done, that the woman had touched him, and was healed thereby; though, as not without his knowledge, so neither without his will, and entirely by his power:
that virtue was gone out of him; to the healing of some person, though not at all to the diminution of that virtue, which remained as powerful and effective in him as ever. This shows that there was an internal essential virtue in Christ to cure diseases: it was not what he derived from another, or exercised under another’s influence; but what was his own, and which he put forth as the Lord God omnipotent. The apostles of Christ cured diseases, but not by their own power and holiness, by any innate virtue in them; but in the name of Christ, and by power derived and received from him: but Christ, being God, had infinite virtue within himself, which went forth from him when he pleased, to the curing of whatsoever disease he thought fit; and which was no ways lessened by the frequent exertions of it; no more than the light and heat of the sun by the continual emanations of them; only there is this difference between the emission of light and heat from the sun, and the sending forth virtue from Christ, that the one is by the necessity of nature, without knowledge, or will, but the other voluntarily, and when, and as he pleases, The same holds good with respect to healing spiritual diseases: Christ has a power within him to forgive all trespasses; and virtue may be said to go out of him to this purpose, when it is his will to make application of pardoning mercy to his people; which requires an exertion of power, as well as a display of grace.
Turned him about in the press, and said, who touched my clothes? that is, turned himself towards the woman behind him, though the press was so large about him, and asked who touched his clothes; not for his own sake, who knew very well who had done it; but that the cure might be known to others: not for the sake of ostentation and popular applause, but for the manifestation of his glory, and for the glory of God, and for the strengthening the faith of Jairus, who was with him, and with whom he was going to raise his daughter to life; and also that he might have an opportunity of showing forth, and commending this poor woman’s faith, and of confirming the cure wrought, and of dismissing her with the utmost pleasure and joy.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Perceiving in himself ( ). She thought, perhaps, that the touch of Christ’s garment would cure her without his knowing it, a foolish fancy, no doubt, but one due to her excessive timidity. Jesus felt in his own consciousness. The Greek idiom more exactly means: “Jesus perceiving in himself the power from him go out” ( ). The aorist participle here is punctiliar simply and timeless and can be illustrated by Lu 10:18: “I was beholding Satan fall” ( ), where does not mean fallen () as in Re 9:1 nor falling () but simply the constative aorist
fall (Robertson, Grammar, p. 684). So here Jesus means to say: “I felt in myself the power from me go.” Scholars argue whether in this instance Jesus healed the woman by conscious will or by unconscious response to her appeal. Some even argue that the actual healing took place after Jesus became aware of the woman’s reaching for help by touching his garment. What we do know is that Jesus was conscious of the going out of power from himself. Lu 8:46 uses (personal knowledge), but Mark has (personal and additional, clear knowledge). One may remark that no real good can be done without the outgoing of power. That is true of mother, preacher, teacher, doctor.
Who touched my garments? ( ;). More exactly,
Who touched me on my clothes ; The Greek verb uses two genitives, of the person and the thing. It was a dramatic moment for Jesus and for the timid woman. Later it was a common practice for the crowds to touch the hem of Christ’s garments and be healed (Mr 6:56). But here Jesus chose to single out this case for examination. There was no magic in the garments of Jesus. Perhaps there was superstition in the woman’s mind, but Jesus honoured her darkened faith as in the case of Peter’s shadow and Paul’s handkerchief.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Knowing [] . Rev., perceiving. Lit., having fully known.
That virtue had gone out of him [ ] . More correctly as Rev., that the power proceeding from him had gone forth. The object of the Savior ‘s knowledge was thus complex : 1st, his power; 2nd, that his power had gone forth, This and the following sentence are peculiar to Mark.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself,” (kai euthus ho lesous epignous en heauto) ”And Jesus immediately knowing in Himself,” that He had been touched, His garments had been touched by an unclean person, for He “knoweth what is in man,” 1Sa 16:7; Rev 2:23; Joh 2:24-25; Jer 17:10.
2) “That virtue had gone out of Him,” (ten eks autou dunamin ekselthousan) “That dynamic power or energy had gone forth out of Him,” Mat 14:36; Act 5:15. As men touched Him by faith again and again, and were healed, Luk 6:19; Luk 8:46.
3) “Turned Him about in the press, and said,” (episteapheis en to ochlo elegen) “Turning in the crowd He said,” openly, that it might be heard and witnessed by all about Him what had happened to the woman.
4) “Who touched my clothes?” (tis mou hepsato ton himation) “Who just touched my clothes?” from behind. He was not ignorant, but desired to secure an open confession from the worn’ an just healed, much as God questioned Adam and Eve, Gen 3:9; Gen 3:11.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
(30) That virtue had gone out of him.Literally, knowing fully in Himself the virtue that had gone out of Him. The word virtue is used in the old medical sense, the power or force which brings about a certain definite result. So men spoke of the soporific virtue of this or that drug. And the term is used here, not less than in Luk. 5:17, with a like technical precision, for the supernatural power that, as it were, flowed out at the touch of faith.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
30. Virtue Power. This is a remarkable expression. It seems to imply that faith would draw the healing power from Jesus almost without his volition! How unlike the unbelief of his own countrymen, which compelled the “virtue” to stay within him, so that he could scarce do a miracle among them. But in both cases the operation was really through the consent of his will.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And Jesus, immediately perceiving in himself that power had left him, turned himself about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” ’
Jesus knew instantly what had happened. Someone had come to Him in their need and had touched Him for healing. And He could not leave it at that. We learn here two things. Firstly that healing was a costly process for Him. Power left Him. It drew on His strength. And secondly that He was intimately concerned about people. He could not ignore a plea for His help, even in the present urgent situation. He turned round and asked, “Who touched my clothes?” The woman, one moment delirious with joy must have frozen where she stood. He knew! What was He going to do?
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
The woman’s confession:
v. 30. And Jesus, immediately knowing in Himself that virtue had gone out of Him, turned Him about in the press and said, Who touched My clothes?
v. 31. And His disciples said unto Him, Thou seest the multitude thronging Thee, and sayest Thou, Who touched Me?
v. 32. And He looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
v. 33. But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him all the truth.
v. 34. And He said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague. Jesus, the almighty God, is also omniscient. He knew all the while what the poor woman had been planning in her anxiety to regain her health. He was also fully conscious in Himself that a miraculous power had gone forth from Him. He had permitted the people before to touch Him in order to be made whole, chapter 3:10. But here was a case in which the woman had taken the liberty, in trusting faith, to draw the healing power out of Him. So He made ready to test her faith. Turning round, He inquired whether anyone had touched His clothes, or, more exactly: Who touched My clothes? And He immediately looked about to see whether the woman would confess. To the disciples His question seemed more than strange. He was in the midst of the crowd, jostled on all sides. Why, then, ask the question as to who had touched Him? But the woman realized that her act had been discovered and was known to the Lord. She was trembling with fear for her daring, and therefore came, fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth, the entire story of her illness and its misery and suffering, and the hopes that she had entertained since learning of His wonderful miracles of healing would but practice this method of dealing with the Lord oftener, there would be less suffering in the world. He is always ready to hear the recital of all our woes and trials; and He is willing to help us at all times. His help may not always be along the lines that we think right, but it will always be in the way that is best for us. “Such touching the Lord does not want to permit to be secret; as an example to us. Therefore He urges the woman with His questions that she must come forward and permit herself to be seen, also tell everything that had been done to her publicly before everybody, in order that He may have cause to praise such faith and teach us all what a cheerful service it is for Him, if we console ourselves with His help and expect nothing but good from Him. Therefore He praises the woman so highly and speaks to her so encouragingly: Be of good cheer, daughter; thy faith hath helped thee. There the disciples themselves must admit that the Lord has not asked in vain, and that it was not an ordinary touching, but something out of the ordinary, upon which much depends for the Lord and for ourselves. But it is a peculiar speech which Jesus here makes, if we would think of it. He confesses that a power has gone forth from Him. As the woman now stands before the Lord and confesses the benefit, He does not show that such power has gone forth from Him, but ascribes it to the faith of the woman, although not she herself, but the Lord had helped her. This the Lord does for this reason, to indicate how well that pleases Him if thou expect everything good from Him and seek help from Him. As though He would say: Watch closely and learn cheerfully to believe, no matter in what trouble you happen to be; for I would much rather help you than you are able to ask it. I would much rather deliver you from death than that you desire life, as He here gives evidence with His action, where it is so easily done, and He so gladly permits the power to go from Him. ” That word: Thy faith hath healed thee, gives the real reason for the cure. True faith can do anything in the sight of God, but its special strength lies in the spiritual field. The trust growing out of redeeming faith must be a conviction so firm, so undoubting, that it is ready to storm heaven itself, by His promise. And this conviction, that they can do all things through Christ that strengtheneth them, must live in all Christians.
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Mar 5:30-34. And Jesus, immediately knowing, &c. It was for the reasons alleged in the last note, that Jesus would by no means allow the opinion which this woman entertained of his power and goodness to pass silent and unapplauded: therefore he immediately turned about in the crowd, and asked who it was that had touched his clothes. He knew the person, for he knew all things; and no virtue or miraculous cure could be derived from him, unless by his own consent; but he spake in this manner, that the woman might, of her own accord, make a confession of the whole matter, by which the strength of her faith and the greatness of her cure would appear, tothe glory of God; and that he might have an opportunity to instruct and comfort her. Accordingly, when the persons nearest to him cleared themselves, and Jesus insisted upon knowing who it was that had done the thing, the woman, finding it impossible to conceal herself any longer, came to him, trembling, and told him all. Perhaps the uncleanness of her distemper was the reason of her fear, thinking that he would be offended with her for touching him: but the divine Physician, far from being angry, spake kindly to her, commending the honesty of her disposition, and the strength of her faith; and telling her that it was on account of her faith he had consented to make her whole. This incidental miracle appears very grand, when the relation which it bears to the principal one is considered. Jesus is going to give a specimen of that Almighty Power, by which the resurrection of allmen to immortality shall be effected at the last day; and behold, virtue little inferior to that which is capable of raising the dead to life, issues from him through his garment, and heals a very obstinate disease, which, having baffled the power of medicine for twelve years, had remained absolutely incurable, till the presence of Jesus, who is the resurrection and the life, chased it away! The cure, though complete, was performed in an instant, and the woman knew it by the immediate easewhich she felt, by the return of her strength, by the cheerfulness of her spirits, and by all the other agreeable sensations which accompany sudden changes from painful diseases to perfect health. St. Mark expresses this shortly and elegantly; , she felt in her body. See the learned and excellent Ader’s 12th Enarration, in his Treatise on Scripture Diseases. We may render the last words of Mar 5:34. Thy faith hath made thee well, or hath cured thee; go in peace, and be healed of thy trouble.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
29 And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30 And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
Ver. 30. That virtue had gone out of him ] As heat goeth out of the sun into the air, water, earth, earthly bodies, and yet remains in the sun; so here. Salient; aquarum font; undas si tollas, nec exhauritur, nec extenuatur, sed dulcescit; scientia, etiam docendi officio, dulcedinem sentiat, non sentiat minutias. A fountain is not drawn dry, but cleared; so skill is not lost by communicating it to others, but increased.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Mar 5:30 . , conscious of the going forth of the healing virtue; . is the substantive participle as object of the verb . The statement as given by Mk. (and Lk.) implies that the cure was not wrought by the will of Jesus. But it may nevertheless have been so. Jesus may have felt the touch, divined its meaning, and consented to the effect. Vide on Mt., ad loc , f1 : who touched me on my clothes? This verb here, as usual, takes genitive both of person and thing (Buttmann’s Grammar, N. T. , p. 167).
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
knowing = perceiving thereupon. Greek. epiginosko. App-132.
that virtue = that [inherent] power (App-172.) from Him had gone forth.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Mar 5:30. , perceiving) Faith even acts.-, had gone out) A magnetic power.
Fuente: Gnomon of the New Testament
virtue
(Greek – ,” power). Cf. Luk 6:19; Luk 8:46
Fuente: Scofield Reference Bible Notes
virtue: Luk 6:19, Luk 8:46, 1Pe 2:9, *marg.
Reciprocal: Mar 3:9 – because Luk 8:45 – the multitude Luk 22:61 – turned
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
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Virtue is from DUNAMIS and is one of the words for “power.” It says that Jesus knew of the virtue going out of him, not that he felt the loss of the power. He knew it because he had divine knowledge of what was being done. His question was for a test of the woman, but the disciples thought it was for information.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 5:30. That the power from him had gone forth. This is a literal rendering. The power, which was His and which proceeded from Him, He felt had on this occasion also gone forth to heal.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
Just as quickly (Gr. euthys) Jesus perceived that power had gone from Him. The harshness of the disciples’ reply is unique to Mark. Luke wrote that Peter voiced it (Luk 8:45). Probably the disciples were eager to get Jesus to Jairus’ house before it was too late. Yet Jesus wanted to speak to the woman and to assure her that it was her faith in Him that had resulted in her healing, not merely her touch. He "looked around" searching the faces in the crowd to discover the person of faith.
"His healing power did not work automatically, like a battery discharging its power when accidentally short-circuited. Jesus perceived in Himself, without any external suggestion, the significance of the woman’s touch, and, actively willing to honor her faith, He was immediately conscious of His healing power going toward her. His power, the inherent ability to perform, was always under the control of His conscious volition. His consciousness of that power going forth from Him suggests that His healing ministries cost Jesus much spiritual energy. It would explain why He found it necessary at times to escape the crowds to find time for refreshing through fellowship with the Father." [Note: Hiebert, pp. 129-30.]