King James Version

What Does Mark 5:39 Mean?

Mark 5:39 in the King James Version says “And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.” — study this verse from Mark chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.”

Mark 5:39 · KJV

Context

37

And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

38

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

39

And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

40

And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

41

And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. Jesus confronts the mourning crowd with challenging words. 'Why make ye this ado, and weep?' (τί θορυβεῖσθε καὶ κλαίετε, ti thorybeisthe kai klaiete) questions their excessive commotion. The word θορυβέω (thorybeō) means to make uproar, create disturbance—Jesus challenged their chaotic mourning. His statement 'the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth' (τὸ παιδίον οὐκ ἀπέθανεν ἀλλὰ καθεύδει, to paidion ouk apethanen alla katheudei) uses sleep as metaphor for death from divine perspective.

Was Jesus denying the girl's actual death? No—the mourners and narrative clearly indicate genuine death occurred. Rather, Jesus spoke from God's viewpoint: death is temporary, like sleep before awakening. For One with power to raise the dead, death becomes merely sleep—a temporary state before resurrection awakening. This language became Christian terminology for death (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14; 1 Corinthians 15:51). Jesus' words challenged unbelieving mourning, replacing despair with hope. Their mockery (v. 40) proved they understood He meant she would awaken—they just didn't believe it possible. Jesus' statement previewed His ultimate victory over death through resurrection and pointed toward final resurrection when all believers will 'awaken' to eternal life.

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Historical & Cultural Context

The metaphor of death as sleep appears in Old Testament (Daniel 12:2) and Greek literature, but with different implications. Greeks viewed death as eternal sleep (hence sleep deities in mythology). Biblical usage, especially after Christ, presented death as temporary sleep before resurrection awakening. Jesus' terminology was provocative—declaring someone only sleeping when obviously dead seemed to deny reality. Yet He was asserting a higher reality: from God's eternal perspective, physical death is temporary pause before resurrection. The mourners' scornful laughter (v. 40) showed they took His words as absurd denial of observable fact. This prefigured how the resurrection gospel would sound foolish to natural wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:18). Paul later used similar language: believers who die are 'asleep in Christ' (1 Corinthians 15:18), awaiting resurrection morning. Early church transformed funeral customs based on this teaching—Christian burial inscriptions often used sleep metaphors, and funeral services emphasized resurrection hope rather than final goodbye.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does viewing death as 'sleep' from God's perspective change your response to mortality and grief?
  2. What does the mourners' scornful laughter at Jesus' words reveal about natural human inability to grasp resurrection reality without divine revelation?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 14 words
καὶ1 of 14

“And”

G2532

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

εἰσελθὼν2 of 14

“when he was come in”

G1525

to enter (literally or figuratively)

λέγει3 of 14

“he saith”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

αὐτοῖς4 of 14

“unto them”

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

Τί5 of 14

“Why”

G5101

an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions)

θορυβεῖσθε6 of 14

“make ye this ado”

G2350

to be in tumult, i.e., disturb, clamor

καὶ7 of 14

“And”

G2532

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

κλαίετε8 of 14

“weep”

G2799

to sob, i.e., wail aloud (whereas 1145 is rather to cry silently)

τὸ9 of 14
G3588

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

παιδίον10 of 14

“the damsel”

G3813

a childling (of either sex), i.e., (properly), an infant, or (by extension) a half-grown boy or girl; figuratively, an immature christian

οὐκ11 of 14

“not”

G3756

the absolute negative (compare g3361) adverb; no or not

ἀπέθανεν12 of 14

“dead”

G599

to die off (literally or figuratively)

ἀλλὰ13 of 14

“but”

G235

properly, other things, i.e., (adverbially) contrariwise (in many relations)

καθεύδει14 of 14

“sleepeth”

G2518

to lie down to rest, i.e., (by implication) to fall asleep (literally or figuratively)

Study Guide

Historical Context

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

Theological Significance

Mark 5:39 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 Mark 5:39 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 20:101 Thessalonians 5:10John 11:11-13Daniel 12:21 Corinthians 11:301 Thessalonians 4:13-14

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