Bible Strands
Mark 5:36
But Jesus overheard their conversation and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Jesus addresses Jairus directly after messengers report his daughter dead (v. 35) and the crowd is mocking. He speaks over their conversation, not to them.
The words — παρακοὺσας (parakousas), glossed here as "having ignored," is the verb behind the BSB's "overheard"; it carries the sense of refusing to hear or being deaf to what is said. Jesus is portrayed as deliberately not heeding the mockery.
The thread — Luke 8:50 gives the same words and adds "and she will be healed," making the promise explicit. John 11:40 ties belief to seeing God's glory in a similar reversal-of-death context.
Why it lands — The daughter is dead; the messengers have declared the matter closed. Jesus asks Jairus to believe in the face of a reported, confirmed death — not to feel hopeful, but to trust.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Greek words
King James Version
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.
Cross-references
- Luke 8:50 But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”
- Matthew 9:28 After Jesus had entered the house, the blind men came to Him. “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He asked. “Yes, Lord,” they answered.
- John 11:40 Jesus replied, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
- Mark 9:23 “If You can?” echoed Jesus. “All things are possible to him who believes!”
- Romans 4:18 Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as he had been told, “So shall your offspring be.”
- Mark 5:34 “Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”
- John 4:48 Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will never believe.”
- 2 Chronicles 20:20 Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”
- Matthew 17:20 “Because you have so little faith,” He answered. “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”