for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
The word translated "thronged" conveys a sense of being crushed and almost suffocated by the crowd pressing in on Jesus. This wasn't just a curious mob, but a press so intense it threatened to stifle the very life and movement of Jesus, creating a desperate, almost claustrophobic environment as He rushed to a dying child.
for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, desperately seeks Jesus to save his only daughter, who is twelve years old and dying. As Jesus makes His way to Jairus' home, a huge, eager crowd presses in around Him, making the journey difficult.
Imagine the scene: a precious daughter, the center of a father's world, fading away. This wasn't just any child; she was his 'only one.'
Luke, known for his compassionate heart, highlights the gravity of Jairus's situation by emphasizing his daughter's unique status.
The Weight of 'Only'
Jesus was on His way to save a life, but the very crowd meant to support Him became an obstacle. Ever felt overwhelmed by the 'noise' around you?
The description of the crowd pressing in on Jesus is more than just a physical detail; it's a powerful image.
More Than a Crowd
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This event unfolds amidst a significant crowd, highlighting how Jesus' ministry, though deeply personal for individuals like Jairus and the bleeding woman, happens within the public eye and amidst great popular interest.
c. AD 28
Jesus teaches in Capernaum
Jesus is in Capernaum, a busy town by the Sea of Galilee, where he has a strong following. Many people are eager to hear him speak and witness his miracles.
c. AD 28
Jairus seeks Jesus
Jairus, a respected leader of the local synagogue, hears that Jesus is in town. He finds Jesus at the synagogue or a nearby location and desperately pleads for him to heal his dying daughter.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jesus travels to Jairus' house
Jesus agrees to go with Jairus to his home. A large, enthusiastic crowd presses in around Jesus as he walks through the streets, eager to see what will happen.
c. AD 28
The woman with the hemorrhage
During the journey, a woman who had been bleeding for 12 years touches Jesus' cloak, seeking healing. Jesus stops and speaks with her, commending her faith.
c. AD 28
News of the daughter's death
Messengers arrive from Jairus' house with the tragic news that his daughter has died. This would have been devastating for Jairus and discouraging to Jesus' mission.
c. AD 28
Jesus raises Jairus' daughter
Jesus reassures Jairus, telling him to believe, and proceeds to the house. He enters the room, tells the mourners the girl is only sleeping, and raises her back to life.
This passage recounts the same event from Matthew's Gospel, offering a parallel perspective on Jairus's plea and the daughter's condition, highlighting the urgency and desperation.
Mark 5:42Mark's account provides additional details, such as the age of the girl and the reactions of the onlookers, enriching our understanding of the scene and Jesus' interaction.
Luke 7:12This cross-reference highlights Luke's characteristic focus on compassion for the vulnerable and the grieving, as he also records Jesus raising the only son of a widow at Nain.
John 11:3The description of Lazarus as 'the one whom you love' being 'sick' mirrors the profound affection Jairus had for his 'only daughter,' emphasizing the deep personal loss Jesus is intervening in.
Jeremiah 31:15This Old Testament prophecy speaks of Rachel weeping for her children, a profound image of grief and loss that resonates with the potential sorrow of Jairus and his wife over their dying child.
gillLuke 8:42: "For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him."
For he had one only daughter,.... And so exceedingly dear to him: about twelve years of age; See Gill on Matthew 9:18. And she lay a dying, or "was near death", as the Syriac and Persic versions; or "was just ready to die", as the Ethiopic version. The Vulgate Latin and Arabic versions render it, "she was dead", or "now dead", and which agrees with Matthew 9:18. See…
ellicottLuke 8:42: "For he had one only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she lay a dying. But as he went the people thronged him."
(42) About twelve years of age. —St. Luke, as with the precision of a practised writer, names the age at the beginning of the narrative, St. Mark incidentally ( Mark 5:42 ) at its close.
The word translated "thronged" conveys a sense of being crushed and almost suffocated by the crowd pressing in on Jesus. This wasn't just a curious mob, but a press so intense it threatened to stifle the very life and movement of Jesus, creating a desperate, almost claustrophobic environment as He rushed to a dying child.
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, desperately seeks Jesus to save his only daughter, who is twelve years old and dying. As Jesus makes His way to Jairus' home, a huge, eager crowd presses in around Him, making the journey difficult.
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, desperately seeks Jesus to save his only daughter, who is twelve years old and dying. As Jesus makes His way to Jairus' home, a huge, eager crowd presses in around Him, making the journey difficult.
"for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying.
As Jesus went, the people pressed around him." — The word translated "thronged" conveys a sense of being crushed and almost suffocated by the crowd pressing in on Jesus. This wasn't just a curious mob, but a press so intense it threatened to stifle…
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Last reviewed October 2026