Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Luke 8:44
Came behind [him,] and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood staunched.
44. came behind him, and totiched the border of his garment ] Rather,
approaching from behind touched the tassel of His outer robe. This is a miracle ‘by the way’ (obiter), but, as Fuller says, “His obiter is more to the purpose than our iter” She sought to steal (as it were) a miracle of grace, and fancied that Christ’s miracles were a matter of nature, not of will and purpose. Probably the intense depression produced by her disease, aggravated by the manner in which for twelve years every one had kept aloof from her and striven not to touch her, had quite crushed her spirits. By the Levitic law she had to be “put apart, and whosoever toucheth her shall be unclean” (Lev 15:19; Lev 15:25). The word translated “border” (kraspedon, Heb. tsitsith) is a tassel at each “wing” or corner of the tallith or mantle (Mat 14:36). The Law (Num 15:38-40) required that it should be bound with a thread (not as in E. V. ribband) of blue, the colour of heaven, and so the type of revelation. The strict Jews to this day wear these tassels, though they are usually concealed. The Pharisees, to proclaim their orthodoxy, made them conspicuously large, Mat 23:5. One of the four tassels hung over the shoulder at the back, and this was the one which the woman touched. (For full particulars of the Rabbinic rules about these tassels see an article by the present writer, in the Expositor, v. 219.) The quasi-sacredness of the tassels may have fostered her impulse to touch the one that hung in view.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Came behind him,…. In the press and crowd of people, being ashamed to come before him, and tell him her case:
and touched the border of his garment the fringe the Jews were obliged to wear at the bottom of their garments, Nu 15:38 and which the more religious sort did, for by this they were distinguished from the common people: it is asked p,
“who is a plebeian, or one of the common people? every one that does not read “Keriat Shema”, (i.e. hear, O Israel), c. De 6:4 morning and evening, with the blessings belonging to it, the words of R. Meir: but the wise men say, whoever does not put on the “Tephillin” (the frontlets, De 6:8) Ben Azzai says, whoever has not , “the fringe” on his garment”
[See comments on Mt 9:20]. This woman was persuaded in her own mind, if she could but touch the clothes of Christ, she should be healed, and accordingly she was:
and immediately her issue of blood staunched stopped, and was dried up; Mr 5:28.
p T. Bab Succa, fol. 22. 1.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The border of his garment ( ). Probably the tassel of the overgarment. Of the four corners two were in front and two behind. See on Mt 9:20.
Stanched (). Second aorist active indicative,
stopped at once (effective aorist).
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
Hem. See on Mt 9:20.
Stanched [] . A common medical term.
Fuente: Vincent’s Word Studies in the New Testament
1) “Came behind him,” (proselthousa opisthen) “Approached from behind him,” so that he could not see her approach, or the disciples might not recognize what she was about to do.
2) “And touched the border of his garment:” (hepsato tou kraspedou tou himatou autou) “And touched the fringe (outer edge) of his raiment,” the fringe or tassel of blue, worn in conformity with provisions of Moses’ Law, Mat 9:20; Mar 5:27-28; Mat 14:35-36. The fringe of the garment was considered to be sacred and was accessible, Num 15:37-40.
3) “And immediately her issue of blood stanched.” (kai parachrema este he hrusis tou haimatos autes) “And at once the flow (the loss) of her blood arrested (ceased),” Mat 9:21; Mar 5:29. She believed in Him; She touched Him; She was instantly healed by Him. Those incurably plagued by sin on earth may be just as instantly cleansed, saved, and made whole by trusting Jesus Christ, by their touch of faith in Him, Joh 1:12; Rom 1:16; Rom 4:5; Rom 10:9-13; Act 10:43.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
44. ] Her inner thoughts are given in Mar 5:28 .
There was doubtless a weakness and error in this woman’s view; she imagined that healing power flowed as it were magically out of the Lord’s person; and she touched the fringe of his garment as the most sacred , as well as the most accessible part: see Mat 23:5 ; Num 15:37-40 . But she obtained what she desired . She sought it, though in error, yet in faith . And she obtained it, because this faith was known and recognized by the Lord. It is most true objectively, that there did go forth healing virtue from Him, and from his Apostles (see Mar 6:56 ; Luk 6:19 ; Act 5:15 ; Act 19:12 ), but it is also true that, in ordinary cases, only those were receptive of this whose faith embraced the truth of its existence, and ability to heal them. The error of her view was overborne, and her weakness of apprehension of truth covered, by the strength of her faith. And this is a most encouraging miracle for us to recollect, when we are disposed to think despondingly of the ignorance or superstition of much of the Christian world: that He who accepted this woman for her faith even in error and weakness, may also accept them.
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Luk 8:44 . , the tassel hanging over the shoulder; this feature not in Mk., a curious omission in so graphic a writer. : Lk.’s equivalent for . , the flow of blood ( ) stopped. , the technical term for this experience.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
border = hem (Num 15:38, Num 15:39. Deu 22:12).
stanched = stopped. A medical term.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
44.] Her inner thoughts are given in Mar 5:28.
There was doubtless a weakness and error in this womans view;-she imagined that healing power flowed as it were magically out of the Lords person; and she touched the fringe of his garment as the most sacred, as well as the most accessible part: see Mat 23:5; Num 15:37-40. But she obtained what she desired. She sought it, though in error, yet in faith. And she obtained it, because this faith was known and recognized by the Lord. It is most true objectively, that there did go forth healing virtue from Him, and from his Apostles (see Mar 6:56; Luk 6:19; Act 5:15; Act 19:12), but it is also true that, in ordinary cases, only those were receptive of this whose faith embraced the truth of its existence, and ability to heal them. The error of her view was overborne, and her weakness of apprehension of truth covered, by the strength of her faith. And this is a most encouraging miracle for us to recollect, when we are disposed to think despondingly of the ignorance or superstition of much of the Christian world: that He who accepted this woman for her faith even in error and weakness, may also accept them.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
behind: Luk 7:38
touched: Deu 22:12, Mar 5:27, Mar 5:28, Mar 6:56, Act 5:15, Act 19:12
immediately: Luk 13:13, Exo 15:26, Mal 4:2, Mat 8:3, Mat 20:34, Joh 5:13
Reciprocal: Num 15:38 – fringes in the borders Jer 46:11 – in vain Zec 8:23 – take Mat 9:20 – hem Mar 5:25 – a certain
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Luk 8:44. Luke simply states how the cure was effected. Mark tells of her thoughts. This is a most encouraging miracle for us to recollect, when we are disposed to think despondingly of the ignorance or superstition of much of the Christian world: that He who accepted this woman for her faith, even in error and weakness, may also accept them. (Alford.)
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The woman’s superstition has also created problems for some readers. However, God honored even stranger expressions of faith than hers (cf. Act 5:14; Act 19:11-12). Even though her knowledge was imperfect she believed that Jesus could heal her, and Jesus honored that faith.