Mark 5:38

38 And he comes to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and sees the tumult, and people weeping and wailing greatly.

Mark 5:38 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 5:38

And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue,
&c.] Along with him, and the three disciples above mentioned; and the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions read, "and they came", the above persons:

and seeing the tumult;
the throng and crowd of people, of relations, friends, neighbours, and acquaintance, on this occasion, all in a hurry, and in one motion or another, expressing their concern by words and gestures.

And them that wept and wailed bitterly;
the mourning women, the same with the "preficae" of the Romans, who sung mournful songs, and made hideous noises, being hired for this purpose; as also those who played doleful tunes on musical instruments; (See Gill on Matthew 9:23).

Mark 5:38 In-Context

36 But Jesus [immediately], having heard the word spoken, says to the ruler of the synagogue, Fear not; only believe.

37 And he suffered no one to accompany him save Peter and James, and John the brother of James.

38 And he comes to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and sees the tumult, and people weeping and wailing greatly.

39 And entering in he says to them, Why do ye make a tumult and weep? the child has not died, but sleeps.

40 And they derided him. But he, having put [them] all out, takes with [him] the father of the child, and the mother, and those that were with him, and enters in where the child was lying.

Footnotes

• [a]. Many read, 'they come.'