Bible Strands
Matthew 9:24
“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — Jesus speaks to the mourners and crowd inside the synagogue leader's house after observing their funeral preparations.
The words — ἀναχωρεῖτε (anachōreite) commands the onlookers to "go away," while Jesus denies that the κοράσιον (korasion) "girl" has ἀπέθανεν (apethanen) "died," stating she is merely asleep.
The thread — This metaphor for death appears in John 11:11 regarding Lazarus, and Acts 20:10 records Paul declaring a young man is still alive after a fall.
Why it lands — The text records the crowd laughing at Jesus' statement before He removes them to restore the girl. It places the reader at the point where human certainty of finality meets a direct claim of imminent reversal.
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
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Cross-references
- Acts 20:10 But Paul went down, threw himself on the young man, and embraced him. “Do not be alarmed!” he said. “He is still alive!”
- John 11:11 After He had said this, He told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to wake him up.”
- 1 Kings 17:18 “O man of God,” said the woman to Elijah, “what have you done to me? Have you come to remind me of my iniquity and cause the death of my son?”
- Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the LORD, the Redeemer and Holy One of Israel, to Him who was despised and abhorred by the nation, to the Servant of rulers: “Kings will see You and rise, and princes will bow down, because of the LORD, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen You.”
- Isaiah 53:3 He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.
- Matthew 27:39 And those who passed by heaped abuse on Him, shaking their heads
- John 11:4 When Jesus heard this, He said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”
- Acts 9:40 Then Peter sent them all out of the room. He knelt down and prayed, and turning toward her body, he said, “Tabitha, get up!” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter, she sat up.
- Psalms 22:6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people.