he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus calls the girl's death a "sleep," not to deny she's gone, but to reveal her condition isn't permanent. The mourners' laughter highlights their complete lack of hope and their inability to grasp that Jesus's words are a preview of His power.
he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus has just healed a woman who touched his cloak, and now a synagogue ruler named Jairus approaches him. Jairus's daughter is gravely ill, and he pleads with Jesus to come and heal her, but while Jesus is on his way, messengers arrive with the devastating news that the girl has died. When Jesus hears this, he tells Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe, and continues to the ruler's house, where he dismisses the noisy mourners and tells them the girl is only sleeping, a statement that is met with ridicule.
When Jesus said the girl 'is not dead but sleeping,' everyone present erupted in laughter. What did He mean by that, and why did they react so strongly?
When Jesus declared, 'the girl is not dead but sleeping,' He wasn't denying the reality of her physical death to the mourners. Instead, He was using a well-known biblical metaphor.
A Different Perspective
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Laughter in the face of death and a divine word? That’s exactly what happened. Discover why people mock what they don't understand.
The reaction of the mourners was stark: they 'laughed him to scorn.' This wasn't just mild amusement; it was ridicule born from their absolute certainty that the girl was dead and Jesus was out of His mind.
The Root of Ridicule
Understand the original words
apothnēskō · Greek Verb/Adjective
A term indicating a state of biological cessation of life, though frequently used by Jesus to describe a temporary state from which He has the authority to awaken someone, equating death to sleep in the context of His power to resurrect.
katheudō · Greek Verb
A state of physical rest; in the teachings of Jesus, it is a euphemism for death, signaling that for Him, death is not a final state but a temporary one over which He exercises authority to "awaken" the person.
The disbelief of the mourners highlights the stark contrast between human understanding of death and Jesus's divine power over it, even as it underscores the cultural practice of professional mourning in ancient Judea.
c. AD 28— this verse
Jairus's Daughter Dies
Jairus, a synagogue ruler, seeks Jesus to heal his desperately ill daughter. While Jesus is on his way, the news arrives that the girl has died.
c. AD 28
Jesus Enters the House
Jesus arrives at Jairus's home and finds a scene of intense mourning and professional mourners making a loud lament.
c. AD 28
Jesus Declares She is Asleep
Jesus tells the mourners, 'The girl is not dead but sleeping,' a statement they mockingly disregard, convinced of her death.
c. AD 28
Jesus Raises the Girl
Jesus enters the room where the girl lies, takes her by the hand, and commands her to rise, bringing her back to life.
c. AD 28
Disciples and Parents Witness
Jesus permits only the inner circle of disciples (Peter, James, John) and the parents to witness the miracle, keeping the event private for the moment.
c. AD 28
Command for Silence and Food
Jesus instructs the parents not to spread the word about the miracle and tells them to give the girl something to eat.
Jesus also uses the metaphor of sleep when referring to the death of Lazarus, indicating that physical death is not a final end but a temporary state before resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:20Paul speaks of Christ's resurrection as the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep in death, reinforcing the idea of death as a temporary sleep before a new life.
Acts 7:60In his dying moments, Stephen prays for his persecutors, saying 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them,' and the text notes that he 'fell asleep,' linking death with a peaceful rest before judgment or resurrection.
1 Thessalonians 4:13Paul addresses the Thessalonian believers' grief over their deceased loved ones by explaining that believers who die will be raised by Christ, referring to them as those who 'sleep in Jesus'.
bensonMatthew 9:24: "He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn."
Matthew 9:24 . He said unto them, Give place — Mark, whose narrative is more particular, says, When he was come in, namely, into the house, he said unto them, Why make ye this ado and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. — As the company at the ruler’s house, when Jesus entered it, were employed in making such lamentation for the damsel as they used to make for the dead,…
barnesMatthew 9:24: "He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn."
The maid is not dead, but sleepeth - It cannot be supposed that our Lord means "literally" to say that the child was not dead. Every possible evidence of her death had been given, and he acted on that himself, and conveyed to the people the idea that he raised her "from the dead." He meant to speak in opposition to their opinions. It is not unlikely that Jairus and the people fa…
Jesus calls the girl's death a "sleep," not to deny she's gone, but to reveal her condition isn't permanent. The mourners' laughter highlights their complete lack of hope and their inability to grasp that Jesus's words are a preview of His power.
Jesus has just healed a woman who touched his cloak, and now a synagogue ruler named Jairus approaches him. Jairus's daughter is gravely ill, and he pleads with Jesus to come and heal her, but while Jesus is on his way, messengers arrive with the devastating news that the girl has died. When Jesus hears this, he tells Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe, and continues to the ruler's house, where he dismisses the noisy mourners and tells them the girl is only sleeping, a statement that is met with ridicule.
Jesus has just healed a woman who touched his cloak, and now a synagogue ruler named Jairus approaches him. Jairus's daughter is gravely ill, and he pleads with Jesus to come and heal her, but while Jesus is on his way, messengers arrive with the devastating news that the girl has died. When Jesus hears this, he tells Jairus not to be afraid, but to believe, and continues to the ruler's house, where he dismisses the noisy mourners and tells them the girl is only sleeping, a statement that is met with ridicule.
"he said, “Go away, for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him." — Jesus calls the girl's death a "sleep," not to deny she's gone, but to reveal her condition isn't permanent. The mourners' laughter highlights their complete lack of hope and their inability to gras…
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Last reviewed October 2026