Luke 8:44

44 She came up behind him and touched 1the fringe of his garment, and 2immediately her discharge of blood ceased.

Luke 8:44 Meaning and Commentary

Luke 8:44

Came behind him
In the press and crowd of people, being ashamed to come before him, and tell him her case:

and touched the border of his garment
the fringe the Jews were obliged to wear at the bottom of their garments, ( Numbers 15:38 ) ( Deuteronomy 22:12 ) and which the more religious sort did, for by this they were distinguished from the common people: it is asked F16,

``who is a plebeian, or one of the common people? every one that does not read "Keriat Shema", (i.e. hear, O Israel), &c. ( Deuteronomy 6:4 ) morning and evening, with the blessings belonging to it, the words of R. Meir: but the wise men say, whoever does not put on the "Tephillin" (the frontlets, ( Deuteronomy 6:8 ) ) Ben Azzai says, whoever has not (tyuyu) , "the fringe" on his garment''
(See Gill on Matthew 9:20). This woman was persuaded in her own mind, if she could but touch the clothes of Christ, she should be healed, and accordingly she was:

and immediately her issue of blood staunched;
stopped, and was dried up; ( Mark 5:28 Mark 5:29 ) .


FOOTNOTES:

F16 T. Bab Succa, fol. 22. 1.

Luke 8:44 In-Context

42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. As Jesus went, the people pressed around him.
43 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and though she had spent all her living on physicians, she could not be healed by anyone.
44 She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, and immediately her discharge of blood ceased.
45 And Jesus said, "Who was it that touched me?" When all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the crowds surround you and are pressing in on you!"
46 But Jesus said, "Someone touched me, for I perceive that power has gone out from me."

Cross References 2

  • 1. Matthew 14:36; Matthew 23:5; [Numbers 15:38, 39; Deuteronomy 22:12]
  • 2. Matthew 15:28; Matthew 17:18
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.