Mark 5:25-34 Meaning: Faith That Reaches Jesus Through the Crowd
25A certain woman who had a discharge of blood for twelve years,
26and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd and touched his clothes.
28For she said, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be made well.”
29Immediately the flow of her blood was dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction.
30Immediately Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”
31His disciples said to him, “You see the multitude pressing against you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
32He looked around to see her who had done this thing.
33But the woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be cured of your disease.”
25And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,
26And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.
28For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.
29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.
30And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?
31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
25And a woman, who had an issue of blood twelve years,
26and had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,
27having heard the things concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind, and touched his garment.
28For she said, If I touch but his garments, I shall be made whole.
29And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her plague.
30And straightway Jesus, perceiving in himself that the power proceeding from him had gone forth, turned him about in the crowd, and said, Who touched my garments?
31And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.
33But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what had been done to her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.
25and a certain woman, having an issue of blood twelve years,
26and many things having suffered under many physicians, and having spent all that she had, and having profited nothing, but rather having come to the worse,
27having heard about Jesus, having come in the multitude behind, she touched his garment,
28for she said--`If even his garments I may touch, I shall be saved;'
29and immediately was the fountain of her blood dried up, and she knew in the body that she hath been healed of the plague.
30And immediately Jesus having known in himself that out of him power had gone forth, having turned about in the multitude, said, `Who did touch my garments?'
31and his disciples said to him, `Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and thou sayest, `Who did touch me!'
32And he was looking round to see her who did this,
33and the woman, having been afraid, and trembling, knowing what was done on her, came, and fell down before him, and told him all the truth,
34and he said to her, `Daughter, thy faith hath saved thee; go away in peace, and be whole from thy plague.'
25And a certain woman who had had a flux of blood twelve years,
26and had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent everything she had and had found no advantage from it, but had rather got worse,
27having heard concerning Jesus, came in the crowd behind and touched his clothes;
28for she said, If I shall touch but his clothes I shall be healed.
29And immediately her fountain of blood was dried up, and she knew in her body that she was cured from the scourge.
30And immediately Jesus, knowing in himself the power that had gone out of him, turning round in the crowd said, Who has touched my clothes?
31And his disciples said to him, Thou seest the crowd pressing on thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?
32And he looked round about to see her who had done this.
33But the woman, frightened and trembling, knowing what had taken place in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
34And he said to her, Daughter, thy faith has healed thee; go in peace, and be well of thy scourge.
Meaning in one sentence
Why Jesus stopped for the bleeding woman. Learn how her faith, his power, and his tender words still speak today.
Context
Jesus is on his way to heal Jairus's twelve-year-old daughter. The crowd presses so close that his disciples think he is being crushed. In the middle of that packed street, a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years reaches out. Under the law, her condition made her ceremonially unclean, which kept her from touching anyone in public. But she has heard about Jesus, and she is desperate. She touches the fringe of his cloak, and instantly she is healed. Jesus stops, not because he was unaware, but because he wants to draw her out of the shadows into a personal encounter.
Key Words
Three words carry the weight of this story. The word behind “faith” is pistis. It means trust, a conviction that Jesus can and will help. The woman didn’t have perfect theology; she had desperate trust that reaching for Jesus would be enough. That kind of faith connects us to his power. The word for “power” is dunamis, the same word used for the miracles Jesus performed. It is not just strength; it is the active, living power of God that goes out from Jesus to meet our need. And the word for “made well” in verse 34 is sozo, which can mean saved, healed, made whole. Jesus uses the same word for physical healing and for salvation. He is telling her that her whole life has been restored, not just her body. She is not only cured; she is brought back into relationship.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have found different riches here. The Wesleyan commentator Adam Clarke focuses on the woman’s faith as the channel for Christ’s virtue. Calvin sees Jesus’ words as ratifying the healing she had already experienced, reminding us that God’s gifts are secured when we receive them through his promises. The Cambridge Bible notes that Jesus calls her “Daughter,” a term he uses for no other woman in the Gospels, showing a tender personal connection. The Baptist writer John Gill points out her fear of the Law’s penalties and how Jesus replaces that fear with peace. Catholic and Orthodox readers have seen this encounter as a sign of Jesus transforming the old purity laws into a new kind of holiness that flows from him.
A common misunderstanding
Some think the woman tried to steal a cure from Jesus, as if his power worked automatically without his awareness. In fact, Jesus knew immediately that power had gone out from him. He stopped to bring her forward, not to scold her, but to confirm her healing and bless her with his personal attention. Her faith touched him, and he responded with love.
Living This Out
This week, you may feel like that woman: hidden, desperate, unsure if you even deserve to be noticed. Perhaps a health struggle, a grief, or a sin has left you feeling unclean and cut off. The crowd of your responsibilities presses in, but you can still reach for Jesus. He is aware of the smallest reach of faith. He does not rebuke you for your weakness. He says “Daughter” or “Son” and sends you into peace. Let that be your prayer: a quiet touch, a whispered trust, and rest in his power.
Main takeaway: Jesus answers the hidden cry of faith with personal compassion and complete restoration.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
There was a woman who was very sick for a long time. She touched Jesus’ clothes and got better right away. Jesus knew she had touched him, and he said, “Your faith has made you well.” Jesus loves when we trust him.
For ages 9, 12
This woman had been sick for twelve years. She had tried everything, but nothing worked. When she heard about Jesus, she was sure that if she just touched his clothes, she would be healed. She pushed through the crowd. Jesus felt her touch and stopped. He didn’t get angry; he called her “Daughter” and said her faith healed her. This story shows us that Jesus cares about the people no one else notices. He welcomes our trust, even when we feel invisible.
Questions People Ask
Why did the woman want to touch Jesus' garment?
She had been bleeding for twelve years and was considered unclean under Jewish law, which meant she was isolated from her community. She believed that even touching the hem of Jesus' cloak would heal her. This was a simple but powerful act of faith.
Did Jesus know who touched him?
Yes. Jesus perceived immediately that power had gone out from him. He asked 'Who touched my clothes?' not because he didn't know, but to bring the woman forward in public. He wanted her to know that her faith was seen and that she was not just cured but restored to relationship.
What does 'your faith has made you well' mean in this context?
The Greek word used here, sozo, means saved or made whole. Jesus is affirming that her trust in him was the channel through which his healing power flowed. It was not the touch itself that healed, but her faith in the one she touched.
Why did Jesus call her 'daughter'?
According to commentaries, this is the only time in the Gospels that Jesus addresses a woman with this term. It reveals his tenderness and personal care. She was not just a stranger healed in a crowd; she was welcomed into God's family.
What is the significance of the twelve years?
The woman had been ill for twelve years, the same length of time as Jairus's daughter's life. This parallel highlights Jesus' power over both chronic suffering and death. It also underscores the thoroughness of her suffering and the fullness of her restoration.
For pastors & researchers
Greek interlinear, 8 commentaries & word study