and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse highlights the sheer desperation of the woman's condition, not just physically, but financially and emotionally. It's not just that the treatments didn't work; the verse emphasizes she "had suffered much under many physicians" and "spent all that she had," implying a painful, costly, and utterly futile journey that left her worse off than when she started.
and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's dying daughter when a woman, who has suffered for twelve years with a bleeding disorder, secretly touches his cloak in the crowded street. This desperate act comes after she has endured numerous painful and expensive treatments from many doctors, all of which failed and worsened her condition.
Imagine enduring years of suffering, trying every supposed remedy, and ending up poorer and sicker than when you started. This woman's story is a stark picture of that desperate reality.
The woman in Mark 5 had been afflicted for twelve years with a chronic condition. In her desperation, she sought help from numerous physicians. The text highlights the immense suffering and financial ruin this entailed:
What happens when all human efforts fail? This woman's story points to a power far greater than any physician's skill, a power that meets us at our point of absolute need.
The narrative doesn't just dwell on the woman's suffering; it pivots to the incredible encounter that follows. Her twelve years of illness and failed treatments set the stage for a miracle that transcends human limitations:
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Understand the original words
iatros · Greek Noun
A medical practitioner or healer. In the biblical context, it often refers to those who utilize various natural or traditional remedies, frequently contrasted with the healing power of God.
paschō · Greek Verb
A term used for a person who is suffering from a long-term or recurring condition, often implying physical, spiritual, or ceremonial distress. In the Gospels, it denotes someone in need of divine intervention.
This woman's desperate, costly, and ultimately futile search for healing from human physicians before encountering Jesus highlights the deep need for divine intervention, especially in a time of Roman occupation and varying quality of medical care.
c. 27 BC - AD 14
Reign of Emperor Augustus
The Roman Empire, under Augustus, established a period of relative peace and infrastructure development, which facilitated travel and the spread of information, though Roman administration and taxation were also a significant presence.
c. 4 BC
Herod the Great's Death
The death of Herod the Great led to the division of his kingdom among his sons, causing political instability and unrest in Judea, a region under Roman authority.
c. AD 25-36
Pontius Pilate's Governorship
Pontius Pilate served as the Roman prefect of Judea during this period, a time marked by religious and political tensions between the Jewish population and Roman rule.
c. AD 28-30— this verse
Jesus' Public Ministry
Jesus traveled throughout Galilee and Judea, teaching, healing, and gathering disciples, encountering crowds and facing opposition from religious authorities.
c. AD 30-33
Jesus' Crucifixion and Resurrection
Jesus was crucified in Jerusalem and, according to Christian belief, resurrected, events that formed the core of the early Christian movement.
c. AD 40s
Spread of the Gospel
The apostles, including Paul, began extensive missionary journeys, spreading the Christian message throughout the Roman Empire, leading to the establishment of numerous churches.
This passage describes the Suffering Servant who was 'despised and rejected by mankind,' mirroring the woman's suffering and rejection by earthly means. It highlights the inadequacy of human efforts in the face of deep suffering, pointing to a divine solution.
Jeremiah 17:5-6This verse warns against trusting in humans and their strength, emphasizing the futility of relying on worldly means when facing deep distress. It parallels the woman's experience of physicians failing her, showing a pattern of misplaced trust.
1 Samuel 1:6Hannah's barrenness and the distress caused by her rival, Peninnah, reflects a state of deep suffering and perceived hopelessness, similar to the woman's twelve years of illness and despair.
Job 30:11-14Job's description of his suffering and abandonment by friends after his affliction paints a vivid picture of profound despair and the failure of human comfort, much like the woman's worsening condition and depleted resources.
Luke 8:43-48This parallel account in Luke provides a slightly different perspective on the same event, reinforcing the woman's prolonged suffering and her faith that ultimately led to her healing, complementing Mark's detailed description of her desperation.
vincentMark 5:26: "And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,"
Mark is much fuller and more vivid than Matthew or Luke.Had suffered (παθοῦσα)To be taken, as everywhere in the New Testament, in the sense of suffering pain, not merely subjected to treatment. What she may have suffered will appear from the prescription for the medical treatment of such a complaint given in the Talmud. "Take of the gum of Alexandria th…
barnesMark 5:26: "And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,"
Had suffered many things - Had resorted to many things painful, by the direction of the physicians, in order to be healed.
This verse highlights the sheer desperation of the woman's condition, not just physically, but financially and emotionally. It's not just that the treatments didn't work; the verse emphasizes she "had suffered much under many physicians" and "spent all that she had," implying a painful, costly, and utterly futile journey that left her worse off than when she started.
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's dying daughter when a woman, who has suffered for twelve years with a bleeding disorder, secretly touches his cloak in the crowded street. This desperate act comes after she has endured numerous painful and expensive treatments from many doctors, all of which failed and worsened her condition.
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's dying daughter when a woman, who has suffered for twelve years with a bleeding disorder, secretly touches his cloak in the crowded street. This desperate act comes after she has endured numerous painful and expensive treatments from many doctors, all of which failed and worsened her condition.
"and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse." — This verse highlights the sheer desperation of the woman's condition, not just physically, but financially and emotionally. It's not just that the treatments didn't work; the verse emphasizes she "ha…
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Last reviewed October 2026