Mark 5:38

38 They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

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 didn't listen to them. He told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid. Just believe."

37 He let only Peter, James, and John, the brother of James, follow him.

38 They came to the home of the synagogue ruler. There Jesus saw a lot of confusion. People were crying and sobbing loudly.

39 He went inside. Then he said to them, "Why all this confusion and sobbing? The child is not dead. She is only sleeping."

40 But they laughed at him. He made them all go outside. He took only the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him. And he went in where the child was.