Matthew 9:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →On the way, a woman who had bled for twelve years quietly comes up behind Jesus and touches the edge of his garment.
What Does Matthew 9:20 Mean?
As Jesus walks toward the ruler's house, the story pauses on a woman who has suffered a continual flow of blood for twelve long years. Under the law, such bleeding left her ceaselessly unclean, cut off from the temple, from worship, and even from the ordinary comfort of human touch. She comes up quietly from behind in the press of the crowd and touches only the hem of his robe, hoping to go unnoticed.
Her quiet, desperate act carries great faith within it. Forbidden open contact and used to being avoided, she dares to reach for the smallest edge of him she can find. Twelve years of suffering and isolation have not finally killed her hope. She believes that even the very fringe of his garment holds enough power to make her whole, and she stakes everything she has left on that conviction.
Matthew 9:20 in the Original Language
kraspedou (κρασπέδου), 'hem' -- the border or tassel of the garment, the fringe worn at the edge of the robe.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 9:20
What does Matthew 9:20 mean?
On the way, a woman who had bled for twelve years quietly comes up behind Jesus and touches the edge of his garment.