Jairus
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Introduction:
Jairus is a significant figure in the New Testament, known primarily for his encounter with Jesus Christ as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. He is depicted as a man of faith and desperation, seeking divine intervention for his dying daughter. His account is a testament to the power of faith and the compassion of Jesus.

Biblical Account:
Jairus is introduced in the Gospel of Mark 5:22-43, Matthew 9:18-26, and Luke 8:41-56. He is described as a synagogue leader, a position of considerable respect and authority within the Jewish community. Despite his status, Jairus approaches Jesus with humility and urgency, demonstrating his belief in Jesus' ability to heal.

In Mark 5:22-23 , it is written: "Then one of the synagogue leaders named Jairus came, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet and pleaded with Him urgently, 'My little daughter is near death. Please come and place Your hands on her, so that she will be healed and live.'"

Faith and Desperation:
Jairus' approach to Jesus is marked by a profound sense of desperation and faith. As a synagogue leader, Jairus would have been well-versed in Jewish law and tradition, yet he turns to Jesus, acknowledging His divine authority and power. This act of faith is significant, as it demonstrates Jairus' belief in Jesus as more than just a teacher or healer, but as one who holds the power of life and death.

Interruption and Persistence:
As Jesus begins to follow Jairus to his home, they are interrupted by a woman suffering from a bleeding disorder, who touches Jesus' cloak and is healed. This delay must have been agonizing for Jairus, yet he remains persistent. His faith is further tested when messengers arrive with the news that his daughter has died. In Mark 5:36 , Jesus responds, "Do not be afraid; just believe."

Miraculous Healing:
Upon arriving at Jairus' house, Jesus encounters mourners lamenting the girl's death. He assures them that she is not dead but asleep, a statement met with disbelief. Jesus then takes the girl's parents and His disciples into the room where the child lay. In Mark 5:41-42 , it is recorded: "Taking her by the hand, He said to her, 'Talitha koum!' (which means, 'Little girl, I say to you, get up!'). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk around. She was twelve years old, and at once they were utterly astounded."

Significance:
Jairus' account is a powerful illustration of faith in action. His willingness to seek Jesus, despite societal norms and potential ridicule, highlights the transformative power of faith. The healing of his daughter serves as a testament to Jesus' authority over life and death, reinforcing His identity as the Messiah.

Theological Implications:
Jairus' encounter with Jesus underscores several key theological themes. First, it highlights the accessibility of Jesus to all who seek Him, regardless of social status. Second, it emphasizes the importance of faith, even in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Lastly, it demonstrates Jesus' compassion and willingness to respond to human suffering with divine intervention.

Conclusion:
Jairus remains a poignant example of faith and the transformative power of Jesus' ministry. His account continues to inspire believers to approach Christ with humility and trust, confident in His ability to bring healing and restoration.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
Jairus

(whom God enlightens).

  1. A ruler of a synagogue, probably in some town near the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. (Matthew 9:18; Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41) (A.D. 28.)
  2. (Esther 11:2) [JAIR, 3]
ATS Bible Dictionary
Jairus

A ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum, memorable for his faith in Christ. His deceased daughter, twelve years of age, was restored to life and health by the Savior, Mark 5:33; Luke 8:41.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
A ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum, whose only daughter Jesus restored to life (Mark 5:22; Luke 8:41). Entering into the chamber of death, accompanied by Peter and James and John and the father and mother of the maiden, he went forward to the bed whereon the corpse lay, and said, Talitha cumi, i.e., "Maid, arise," and immediately the spirit of the maiden came to her again, and she arose straightway; and "at once to strengthen that life which had come back to her, and to prove that she was indeed no ghost, but had returned to the realities of a mortal existence, he commanded to give her something to eat" (Mark 5:43).
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
JAIRUS (1)

ja'-i-rus, ja-i'-rus (Iaeiros; 1 Esdras 5:31; Additions to Esther 11:2).

See AIRUS; JAIR.

JAIRUS (2)

ja'-i-rus, ja-i'-rus (Iaeiros): A ruler in a synagogue near Capernaum whose only daughter, aged about 12 years, was raised from the dead by Jesus (Matthew 9:18-26 Mark 5:22-43 Luke 8:41-56). The accounts of the miracle are substantially the same, but vary in detail. According to Mark and Luke the arrival of Jairus in Capernaum fell immediately after the return of Jesus from Gadara, but according to Matthew the sequence of events was that Jesus had returned to Capernaum, had called Matthew, had joined the feast of the publicans, and had just finished His discourse on fasting when Jairus came to Him. Matthew and Mark both testify to the great faith of Jairus, who besought of Jesus that He should but lay His hand upon the maid and she should live. According to Matthew she was already dead when Jairus came to Capernaum; according to the others she was on the point of death; but all agree as to her death before the arrival of Jesus and His followers at her abode. Matthew implies that Jesus alone was present at the actual raising; Mark and Luke state that Peter, James, John and the parents were also there. The healing of the woman with the issue of blood by Jesus on the way is given by all.

C. M. Kerr

Greek
2383. Iairos -- Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue in Palestine
... Jairus, the ruler of a synagogue in Palestine. Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: Iairos Phonetic Spelling: (ee-ah'-i-ros) Short Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2383.htm - 6k
Library

Jairus' Daughter.
... JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. Jairus was one of the rulers of the Jewish church, or
synagogue, and he had a daughter who had been very ill and ...
/.../anonymous/mother stories from the new testament/jairus daughter.htm

Christ to Jairus
... I to XII CHRIST TO JAIRUS. ... The calm leisureliness of conscious power shines out very
brilliantly from this story of the raising of Jairus's daughter. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture e/christ to jairus.htm

With Jairus
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 5:21-43 WITH
JAIRUS. "And when Jesus had crossed over again in the boat ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 5 21-43 with jairus.htm

Cont. With Jairus Cont.
... Strong Meat for Hungry Souls: The Gospel of St. Mark CHAPTER 5:21-43 cont.
WITH JAIRUS cont. The disciples wondered at His question ...
/.../chadwick/the gospel of st mark/chapter 5 21-43 cont with jairus.htm

Raising of Jairus's Daughter. --And of the Widow's Son at Nain.
... CHAPTER VII. CHRIST'S FIRST GENERAL MINISTRY IN GALILEE. Section 134. Raising
of Jairus's Daughter."And of the Widow's Son at Nain. ...
/.../section 134 raising of jairuss.htm

Jairus' Daughter and the Invalid Woman.
... Part Fifth. From Second Passover Until Third.(Time: One Year.) LVIII. Jairus'
Daughter and the Invalid Woman. (Capernaum, Same Day as Last.) ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/lviii jairus daughter and the.htm

The Healing of the Woman - Christ's Personal Appearance - the ...
... CHAPTER XXVI. THE HEALING OF THE WOMAN - CHRIST'S PERSONAL APPEARANCE - THE RAISING
OF JAIRUS' DAUGHTER. (Matthew 9:18-26; Mark 5:21-43; Luke 8:40-56.) ...
/.../the life and times of jesus the messiah/chapter xxvi the healing of.htm

Particulars
... Jairus, ruler of a synagogue, came to Jesus and worshipped him; or as Mark, and
Luke, fell down at his feet, saying, My daughter is even now dead, or, at the ...
/.../section ii particulars.htm

Talitha Cumi
... TALITHA CUMI. And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue,
Jairus by name; and when he saw Him, he fell at His feet, 23. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/talitha cumi.htm

The General Observations are These.
... Of the miracle on Jairus's daughter, the time and place are sufficiently specified
by St. ... She is the daughter of a ruler of a synagogue, whose name was Jairus. ...
/.../section i the general observations.htm

Thesaurus
Jairus (6 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. JAIRUS (1). ja'-i-rus, ja-i'-rus (Iaeiros; 1 Esdras
5:31; Additions to Esther 11:2). See AIRUS; JAIR. JAIRUS (2). ...
/j/jairus.htm - 10k

Ja'irus (2 Occurrences)
Ja'irus. Jairus, Ja'irus. Jakan . ... Mark 5:22 Behold, one of the rulers of the
synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, (See RSV) ...
/j/ja'irus.htm - 6k

Jair (14 Occurrences)
... (c) The father of Mordecai (Esther 2:5). In the Apocrypha (Additions to
Esther 11:2) his name is given as "Jairus" (Iaeiros). (2 ...
/j/jair.htm - 14k

James (40 Occurrences)
... With John and Peter he was present at the transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark
9:2), at the raising of Jairus's daughter (Mark 5:37-43), and in the garden with ...
/j/james.htm - 78k

Named (428 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:22 and lo, there doth come one of the chiefs of the synagogue, by name Jairus,
and having seen him, he doth fall at his feet, (See NAS NIV). ...
/n/named.htm - 33k

Fell (331 Occurrences)
... Mark 5:22 Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and
seeing him, he fell at his feet, (WEB KJV WBS NAS RSV NIV). ...
/f/fell.htm - 36k

Ruler (329 Occurrences)
... Sometimes they, also, were given the same name (compare "one of the rulers of the
synagogue," Mark 5:22, 35 Luke 8:41, 49; in Matthew 9:18 Jairus is simply ...
/r/ruler.htm - 50k

Official (45 Occurrences)
... and great wailing. (See NAS). Luke 8:41 Behold, there came a man named
Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down ...
/o/official.htm - 20k

Officials (229 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Mark 5:22 Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by
name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet, (See NAS). ...
/o/officials.htm - 36k

Ja'irite (1 Occurrence)
Ja'irite. Jairite, Ja'irite. Jairus . Multi-Version Concordance Ja'irite (1
Occurrence). ... (See RSV). Jairite, Ja'irite. Jairus . Reference Bible.
/j/ja'irite.htm - 6k

Resources
Who was Jairus in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of talitha cumi? | GotQuestions.org

How many people were raised from the dead in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Jairus (6 Occurrences)

Mark 5:22
Behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, came; and seeing him, he fell at his feet,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Mark 5:35
While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler's house saying, "Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?"
(See NIV)

Luke 8:41
Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house,
(WEB KJV ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Luke 8:49
While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."
(See NIV)

Luke 8:50
But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."
(See NIV)

Luke 8:51
When he came to the house, he didn't allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother.
(See NIV)

Subtopics

Jairus

Jairus: A Ruler of the Synagogue in Capernaum

Jairus: Daughter of, Restored to Life

Related Terms

Jairus (6 Occurrences)

Jakan (2 Occurrences)

Jair's Region
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