Mar 5:38-39 | TNotes | STEP | 5:38 The commotion and weeping and wailing confirmed the report of the messengers and dramatized the hopelessness of the situation. Such outbursts of grief were typical of funerals in Jesus’ day, where professional mourners were often hired (cp. Matt 9:23 ).

a5:38►

bMatt 9:23►

c5:39►

dJohn 11:11►

e1 Thes 4:13-15►

fMatt 27:52►

gActs 7:60►

h13:36►

i1 Cor 15:6►

j18►

k20►

l51►

m1 Thes 4:13-15►

‏ Mark 5:38-39

5:38 ^a The commotion and weeping and wailing confirmed the report of the messengers and dramatized the hopelessness of the situation. Such outbursts of grief were typical of funerals in Jesus’ day, where professional mourners were often hired (cp. Matt 9:23 ^b).
5:39 ^c Sleep is a metaphor for death (John 11:11 ^d; 1 Thes 4:13-15 ^e). The child isn’t dead because she will be resurrected—she’s only asleep and will shortly “wake up” and resume her life. The same Greek word translated here as “sleep” refers to death in Matt 27:52 ^f; Acts 7:60 ^g; 13:36 ^h; 1 Cor 15:6 ⁱ, 18 ^j, 20 ^k, 51 ^l; 1 Thes 4:13-15 ^m.