King James Version

What Does Luke 8:44 Mean?

Luke 8:44 in the King James Version says “Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.” — study this verse from Luke chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.”

Luke 8:44 · KJV

Context

42

For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him.

43

And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years , which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,

44

Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched.

45

And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

46

And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. The woman's approach "behind him" (opisthe, ὄπισθε) reveals her attempt at secrecy—avoiding public attention due to shame over her unclean condition. The phrase "touched the border of his garment" (hēpsato tou kraspedou tou himatiou autou, ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ) specifies she touched the kraspedon (κράσπεδον)—the tassels or fringes that faithful Jews wore on garment corners in obedience to Numbers 15:38-39 and Deuteronomy 22:12. These tassels reminded wearers to keep God's commandments.

Her faith focused on even the least contact with Jesus—not His hand, not His body, but merely the fringe of His clothing. Yet she believed this minimal touch would suffice for healing. This demonstrates extraordinary faith—confidence that Jesus' power so permeated His being that contact with His garment edges would release healing. The adverb "immediately" (parachrēma, παραχρῆμα) indicates instantaneous effect. The verb "stanched" (estē, ἔστη, from histēmi, "to stand, stop") means the hemorrhage ceased, stopped flowing, completely ended.

The contrast between her secret touch and immediate healing creates dramatic tension. She hoped to receive blessing anonymously and slip away unnoticed. But Jesus will not allow her healing to remain secret (vv. 45-48)—He will publicly affirm her faith, restore her dignity, and grant peace. This pattern recurs throughout Scripture: God meets secret faith with public honor, rewards hidden devotion with open blessing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Jewish men wore prayer shawls (tallit) with four tassels (tzitzit) attached to corners, fulfilling the Torah command in Numbers 15:38-39: "Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments...that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD." These fringes served as visual reminders of covenant obligation and identity as God's people. Jesus, as an observant Jew, would have worn such tassels.

The woman's belief that touching these fringes would heal her may reflect Jewish understanding of God's power working through His covenant people. Alternatively, she may have connected the tassels' purpose (remembering God's commands) with God's power to heal. Her faith wasn't superstitious—she trusted not in the fabric but in Jesus' divine authority represented even in His clothing.

Her action violated Levitical purity laws. In her unclean state, touching anyone—especially a rabbi—transmitted impurity. Yet rather than Jesus becoming unclean, His purity and power overcame her impurity and disease. This reversal previews the gospel's transformative power: contact with Christ doesn't defile Him but cleanses us. His holiness is greater than our sin, His power stronger than our weakness.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the woman's faith in touching merely Jesus' garment fringe teach about confidence in Christ's complete sufficiency?
  2. How does the immediate healing upon contact demonstrate the reality and availability of divine power to those who reach out in faith?
  3. What does the reversal of ritual impurity (she doesn't defile Jesus; He heals her) reveal about the gospel's transformative power?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 16 words
προσελθοῦσα1 of 16

“Came”

G4334

to approach, i.e., (literally) come near, visit, or (figuratively) worship, assent to

ὄπισθεν2 of 16

“behind”

G3693

from g3700) with enclitic of source; from the rear (as a secure aspect), i.e., at the back (adverb and preposition of place or time)

ἥψατο3 of 16

“him and touched”

G680

properly, to attach oneself to, i.e., to touch (in many implied relations)

τοῦ4 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

κρασπέδου5 of 16

“the border”

G2899

a margin, i.e., (specially), a fringe or tassel

τοῦ6 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ἱματίου7 of 16

“garment”

G2440

a dress (inner or outer)

αὐτῆς8 of 16

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

καὶ9 of 16

“and”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

παραχρῆμα10 of 16

“immediately”

G3916

at the thing itself, i.e., instantly

ἔστη11 of 16

“stanched”

G2476

to stand (transitively or intransitively), used in various applications (literally or figuratively)

ἡ12 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

ῥύσις13 of 16

“issue”

G4511

a flux (of blood)

τοῦ14 of 16
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

αἵματος15 of 16

“of blood”

G129

blood, literally (of men or animals), figuratively (the juice of grapes) or specially (the atoning blood of christ); by implication, bloodshed, also k

αὐτῆς16 of 16

“her”

G846

the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative g1438) of the third person, and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Luke. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Luke 8:44 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Luke 8:44 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Mark 5:27-28Deuteronomy 22:12Malachi 4:2Acts 19:12Exodus 15:26Mark 6:56

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