ταλιθά (talitha)
talitha
girl
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word talitha is a direct borrowing from Aramaic, appearing only once in the New Testament at Mark 5:41. In this context, it translates to "girl" or "maiden," referring specifically to the young daughter of Jairus who had died. Jesus uses this term when addressing her, saying, "Talitha koumi," which means "Little girl, get up."
This single occurrence highlights the historical reality that Jesus spoke Aramaic in his daily ministry, even while writing in Greek. The inclusion of the original Aramaic word preserves the intimate and personal nature of the moment, showing how Jesus connected with individuals in their own language. It serves as a reminder of the cultural and linguistic setting of the Gospels.
By retaining talitha, the text emphasizes the immediacy and authenticity of the event. It is not merely a translation but an echo of the voice Jesus used to call life back into the girl. This detail enriches our understanding of the narrative, grounding it in the specific time and place where it happened.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word Talitha appears in Scripture as a tender Aramaic term for a young girl. It is found only once, in Mark 5:41, where Jesus uses it to address the daughter of Jairus. By keeping this original language, the Gospel writer preserves the intimacy of the moment. You can almost hear the personal call Jesus made to restore life.
This detail reminds us that God cares about individuals by name and voice. He meets people in their own context, using words that carry warmth and authority. For your faith, this shows that the same power that raised the girl is available to bring hope in difficult seasons. It grounds our trust in a Savior who knows us personally.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Talitha1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ταλιθα1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:41
Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!”
This is the only occurrence, where Jesus uses the Aramaic phrase to command the dead girl to rise, preserving the original voice of the miracle.