Matthew 9:20-21
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
This woman's boldness in touching Jesus' fringe wasn't just about grabbing for a miracle; it was a deliberate act rooted in Jewish tradition, a subtle yet powerful claim that Jesus embodied the very Law he fulfilled. Her touch, though hidden, carried immense theological weight, signifying her faith in his complete adherence to God's commands.
And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's daughter, but a crowd is pressing in on him. Amidst this throng, a woman who has suffered for twelve years with an incurable bleeding condition, and has exhausted all her resources seeking help, secretly reaches out to touch Jesus's cloak, believing this will be enough to make her well. This desperate act of faith, occurring while Jesus is focused on a more public miracle, highlights a different kind of need and a hidden encounter with his power.
Imagine living with a chronic condition for over a decade. This woman’s struggle wasn't just physical; it was a testament to enduring hope against overwhelming odds.
This woman’s suffering for twelve years highlights several profound realities:
Physical and Social Isolation
Her condition, an "issue of blood," rendered her ceremonially unclean according to Jewish law. This meant she couldn’t participate in community life, worship, or even have close physical contact without making others unclean. Her life was lived on the margins.
Exhausted Resources
She had spent all her money seeking healing from doctors, only to grow worse. This wasn’t just about physical pain but also financial ruin and the deep discouragement that comes from repeated, failed attempts at healing.
The Spark of Faith
Despite everything, she heard about Jesus. This news ignited a hope so powerful that she believed even an indirect touch—the fringe of his garment—could bring healing. Her faith defied her circumstances and the limitations imposed by law and medicine.
Why the fringe? This wasn't a casual grab, but a deliberate act rooted in deep reverence and a specific understanding of who Jesus was.
The woman’s choice to touch the or fringe of Jesus’ garment is packed with meaning:
Ask a follow-up
Respect for the Law and the Messiah
The fringes (tzitzit) on Jewish garments were a reminder of God's commandments (Numbers 15:38-39). By touching this, she was acknowledging Jesus as the Messiah, the one who perfectly embodied and fulfilled the Law. It was a sign of deep respect and recognition.
Humility and Shame
Coming from behind and touching only the fringe shows her humility and shame. Her unclean status meant she shouldn’t be close to others, especially a holy man like Jesus. She was afraid and trembling, not wanting to draw attention to her impurity or presume too much.
Bold Faith in a Subtle Act
Yet, this quiet act was incredibly bold. She believed Jesus’ power was so potent that even the slightest contact—the fringe, a part of his clothing—held the power to heal. This showed her faith was not in the physical object, but in the divine power flowing through Jesus.
In a crowd, amidst ordinary life, an extraordinary exchange happened in an instant. Jesus knew, and the woman was healed.
This brief encounter reveals the dynamic nature of God's power and Jesus' divine awareness:
Hidden Power at Work
Though Jesus was moving through a crowd, and the touch was subtle, the power that flowed from him was immediate and transformative. The text implies this power flowed from Jesus, not just from the garment itself.
Jesus' Awareness
Jesus knew instantly that power had gone out from him. This wasn't accidental. He felt the 'virtue' leave him. This demonstrates his full awareness of the spiritual and physical realities around him, even in the midst of a bustling crowd.
Faith Recognized and Affirmed
Jesus doesn't let this healing remain a secret. He seeks out the woman, not to reprimand her for her unauthorized touch (due to her uncleanness), but to affirm her faith. Her act of humility and courage is brought into the light and blessed. He calls her 'Daughter,' a term of endearment and acceptance.
Understand the original words
kraspedon · Greek Noun
"Fringe" refers to the tassels (tzitzit) commanded in the Torah (Numbers 15:38) to remind the Israelites of God's commandments. Touching the fringe reflects the woman’s deep faith in the power residing in Jesus as the one who fulfills the Law.
himation · Greek Noun
In a biblical context, this refers to the outer robe or mantle worn by a person, which in this instance is associated with the authority and power of Jesus. Touching it signifies an act of humble, desperate, and expectant faith in his miraculous healing power.
sōzō · Greek Verb
The Greek word implies being saved, healed, restored to wholeness, or delivered from danger or disease. It carries a sense of total restoration, both physically and spiritually.
This woman's twelve-year affliction, coinciding with the age of Jairus' daughter, highlights the suffering hidden within society. Her bold, yet humble, act of touching Jesus' fringed garment, a symbol of adherence to God's law, demonstrates profound faith in a time when such a condition brought social and religious isolation.
c. 26-30 AD
Jesus' Public Ministry Begins
Jesus begins his public ministry in Galilee, calling disciples and performing miracles, drawing crowds and generating excitement throughout the region.
c. 27-33 AD
Jesus Travels and Heals Throughout Galilee
Jesus travels from town to town, teaching in synagogues and healing many people. His fame spreads rapidly as news of his miraculous power reaches wider audiences.
c. 27-33 AD— this verse
Woman with Hemorrhage Approaches Jesus
A woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage, deemed ceremonially unclean by Jewish law and unable to find healing from physicians, secretly touches the fringe of Jesus' garment in faith.
c. 27-33 AD
Jesus Heals the Woman
Jesus immediately feels power go out from him and asks who touched him. The woman, fearing and trembling, confesses her action and is told her faith has made her well.
c. 27-33 AD
Jesus Reassures the Woman
Jesus comforts the woman, calling her 'Daughter' and affirming that her faith, not just the physical touch, was the source of her healing.
This passage commands the Israelites to wear fringes on their garments as a reminder of God's commandments, directly connecting to the 'hem' of Jesus' garment that the woman touched.
Leviticus 15:25-27This Old Testament law details the ceremonial uncleanness associated with a discharge of blood, explaining why the woman felt shame and approached Jesus secretly.
Matthew 14:36This verse shows another instance where people sought to touch Jesus' garment, specifically the 'fringe,' demonstrating a consistent theme of faith expressed through physical contact with Him.
Mark 5:25-34This parallel account provides more detail about the woman's suffering and Jesus' response, highlighting her desperation and Jesus' affirmation of her faith and healing.
vincentMatthew 9:20: "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:"
Hem (κρασπέδου)Rev., border. The fringe worn on the border of the outer garment, according to the command in Numbers 15:38. Dr. Edersheim ("Life and Times of Jesus") says that, according to tradition, each of the white fringes was to consist of eight threads, one of them wound round the others; first seven times, with a double knot; then eight times…
bensonMatthew 9:20: "And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:"
Matthew 9:20-22 . And, behold, a woman which was diseased — According to the circumstances of her disease, as mentioned by Mark and Luke, it was incurable by any human power, and she herself knew it to be so, having been afflicted with it for twelve years, and tried the skill of many physicians, probably of all that were of note in the country; and h…
This woman's boldness in touching Jesus' fringe wasn't just about grabbing for a miracle; it was a deliberate act rooted in Jewish tradition, a subtle yet powerful claim that Jesus embodied the very Law he fulfilled. Her touch, though hidden, carried immense theological weight, signifying her faith in his complete adherence to God's commands.
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's daughter, but a crowd is pressing in on him. Amidst this throng, a woman who has suffered for twelve years with an incurable bleeding condition, and has exhausted all her resources seeking help, secretly reaches out to touch Jesus's cloak, believing this will be enough to make her well. This desperate act of faith, occurring while Jesus is focused on a more public miracle, highlights a different kind of need and a hidden encounter with his power.
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's daughter, but a crowd is pressing in on him. Amidst this throng, a woman who has suffered for twelve years with an incurable bleeding condition, and has exhausted all her resources seeking help, secretly reaches out to touch Jesus's cloak, believing this will be enough to make her well. This desperate act of faith, occurring while Jesus is focused on a more public miracle, highlights a different kind of need and a hidden encounter with his power.
"And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”" — This woman's boldness in touching Jesus' fringe wasn't just about grabbing for a miracle; it was a deliberate act rooted in Jewish tradition, a subtle yet powerful claim that Jesus embodied the very…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
