What is the meaning oftalitha cumi?

Words in the Aramaic language, signifying 'Damsel, arise.' Mark 5:41. In the Syriac version the interpretation is omitted: the words themselves would be understood.

Whilst all this had been taking place the daughter of Jairus had died, and some came from the house of sorrow to acquaint the father with the sad news. He heard their tidings, and apparently was silent. The Lord heard them also, and immediately spoke to encourage him, "Be not afraid, only believe." He who could raise the dead would first encourage the drooping spirit. Entering the house with Peter, James, and John, and proceeding to the chamber of death, He in the presence of the parents raised the dead, speaking to her, as Mark informs us, in Aramaic, not in Greek, "Talitha, cumi:" which is, being interpreted, "Damsel, I say to thee, Arise." The effect on all is noticed: "And straightway they were astonished with a great astonishment" (5:42).

In Luke 8:41-56, we have the lovely story of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue, whose only-begotten daughter, about twelve years of age, lay dying. Jairus besought the Lord to come to his house to heal her, but there was a delay on the way, and before He reached the home, a messenger came to say the little girl was dead. And they all wept and bewailed her; but He said, "Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth." But they laughed at Him, knowing she was dead. And He put them all out, and took her by the hand, and called, saying, "Maid, arise!" (Mark recalls the very words the Saviour used "Talitha Cumi!" Perhaps they mean literally: "Little Darling, I say unto thee, arise!") And her spirit came again, and she arose straightway: and He commanded to give her meat. And her parents were astonished: but He charged them that they should tell no man what was done.

"Talitha Cumi" (Mark 5:41). The glorious Person who spoke these words is none other than the Son of God — "marked out Son of God in power … by resurrection of (the) dead," Romans 1:4 (New Trans.). Into a scene of sorrow and death He brought the perfection of a love which "casteth out fear" and "is strong as death." The darkness of death's night is dispelled by the mighty power of His voice of love, using the words with which a mother would awaken her child at the commencement of a new day — "Talitha Cumi." Embedded in the salutation "Talitha" is the thought of "freshness;" "Cumi" carries the suggestion of "established;" "standing up in strength." Happy indeed are those who, in response to the voice of the Son of God, are made to live, and to "walk in newness of life." The voice of power which breaks the fetters of death, is also the voice of compassionate love which indicates the availability of food to sustain the features of life.

In Mark 5, the shadow of death had fallen upon the household of Jairus; his daughter had died, and in the wake of death was tumult and wailing. But the last word was with the Son of God, the Prince of life. Putting to silence every other voice, he proclaims that, in His presence, death has lost its terror, and is but sleep. How beautiful are His words, "Talitha Cumi." "Talitha" carries the thought of the "freshness of youth;" who but the Son of God could break the dread power of death and bring in the freshness of youth? "Straightway the damsel arose, and walked." We are considering at the moment the actual happenings in the Lord's blessed movements, but if we think of the doctrinal import of this verse, how blessed it is to see those who are "walking in newness of life" as the result of the victory of Christ!

Now let us look at the last case for a moment. In this case the messengers had been quick to bring bad news; and whenever there is bad news to be told there are always people at hand ready to tell it. There are few comparatively to tell good news; the Lord raise up more such: we long to see the tellers of good news increased. But here were these birds of ill omen that came from the house of poor Jairus, and they say to him, "Thy daughter is dead; why troublest thou the teacher [or Master] any further?" Now, beloved friends, why I allude to this is, it brings out some of the most beautiful and tender touches of the kindness and grace and consideration of the heart of our Lord Jesus Christ that I know of. The moment He heard that, He at once addresses Himself to poor Jairus, and you can understand how Jairus's heart was, as it were, swayed between hope and fear, a hope that had increased and been ministered to by the marvellous cure he had just seen take place in the case of the woman. His own little daughter, his only daughter, lay there a-dying, and the irrevocable had happened, and she is dead. Now this is how it brings the Lord Jesus so preciously before us. When He heard this, He turns to Jairus and says to him, "Be not afraid, only believe." How lovely that is; Be not afraid, Jairus, only believe. Now, beloved friends, it is these little touches that acquaint us with the Saviour. Thank God, we can speak of His power; but how blessed to see His heart; before He put forth His power to quicken that girl, the first thing in His mind was the poor father's heart. He knew it was bowed and agitated between fear and hope, and therefore He binds up the broken heart. "Be not afraid," never mind though death has come in; "only believe." How beautiful that is! Does it not lay a claim upon your confidence in Jesus Christ? How I love to hold a brief, as it were, for my Master, and to bring His worthiness and goodness and kindness and tenderness and grace before us! How sweet those outlets of His heart! What an encouragement! If I have a sick child to-night, if I have an only daughter at the point of death, if I have some weighty care and perplexing worry in my heart, do you think that the blessed Man, who is up there at the Father's right hand in glory, is different to what He was when down here? There is one little word that is attached to His name that connects Him as He was with what He is; "This same Jesus." O what a comfort that is! How that gives the poor heart confidence in Him, because of what He is. "Be not afraid; only believe." Then He takes His chosen disciples into the house with Him; and first of all, how blessed to see that He alters and takes away the dreadful name of death. And I have no doubt this was for Jairus too, though it was for others as well, but specially for the poor father. He says, "Why make ye this ado and weep?" — these were the hired mourners of those days, the weepers — "the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn." That is all they could do. Then He put them all out, and in the most precious tenderness He takes the girl by the hand (there is something so sweet in that), and He uses these words — they were the Aramaic dialect of the day "Talitha cumi, which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose and walked, for she was about the age of twelve years." Then lastly, He says, as it were, "She wants sustainment; give her something to eat." Think of the tender love displayed in that! There is tenderness in the Lord's greatness; indeed, it is only one who is great can think of little things; little things are beyond little people. O the majesty of our blessed Lord, the kindness of Jesus Christ, the tenderness of Jesus Christ in things little and great!

His compassion and His power are co-equal. In the three recorded incidents of His raising persons from the dead both shine out in their absolute perfection. In the house of Jairus (Mark 5) words of power as He dismissed death were couched in accents of precious tenderness — "Talitha Cumi," little child arise — and again His compassion is manifested in His words, "give her something to eat."

The Lord acted at once with simple directness. He took the child by the hand — a similar action is recorded in the restoration of Peter's mother-in-law. He then called to her, saying, "Damsel, arise," Mark preserving the actual Aramaic words employed, "Talitha cumi."

Similarly, in the matter of touching corpses, it is not a question of literal fulfilment. So we read in Mark 5:41: ‘Having laid hold of the hand of the child, he says to her, Talitha koumi, which is, interpreted, Damsel, I say to thee, Arise.’ Seen spiritually, the Lord Jesus was completely separate from death, for death speaks of sin and its consequences (Rom. 6:23).

1913 276 "While he yet spake,1 they came from the ruler2 of the synagogue's house, saying, Thy daughter is dead:3 why troublesT1 thou the Master any further? But Jesus, not heeding5 the word spoken,6 says unto the ruler7 of the synagogue, Fear not, only believe. And he suffered8 no man to follow with9 him, save Peter, and James and John the brother of James. And they come10 to the house of the ruler of the synagogue; and he beholdeth11 a tumult,12 and many13 weeping and wailing greatly.14 And when he was entered in,15 he says unto them, Why make ye a tumult,16 and weep? the child is not dead,17 but sleepeth.18 And they laughed him to scorn.19 But he, having put10 them all forth, taketh21 the father of the child and her mother and them that were with him, and goes in22 where the child was.23 And taking24 the child by the hand,25 he says unto her, Talitha cumi;26 which is, being interpreted, Damsel,27 I say28 unto thee, Arise.29 And straightway30 the damsel rose up,31 and walked; for she was twelve years old. And they were amazed straightway33 with a great amazement.32 And he charged them much34 that no man35 should know this; and he commanded36 that something37 should be given her to eat" (Mark 5:35-43, R.V.). {1 "was yet speaking," J.N.D., T.S.G. 2 "chief," T.S.G. 3 "has died," J.N.D. 4 "worriest," McC; "dost thou give further trouble to," T.S.G. 5 "having heard," J.N.D.; "overhearing," McC., T.S.G. 6 "the saying as it was spoken," McC.; "the speech spoken," T.S.G. 7 "synagogue-chief," T.S.G. 8 "allowed," T.S.G. 9 "accompany," J.N.D., T.S.G. 10 "he comes," J.N.D. 11 "sees," J.N.D., T.S.G.; "seeth," McC. 12 "uproar," McC.; "stir," T.S.G. 13 "people," J.N.D., T.S.G.; "folk," McC. 14 "howling," McC.; "making great outcry," T.S.G. 15 "entering in," J.N.D.; "when he was come in," McC.; "on going in," T.S.G. 16 "Why be ye in an uproar," McC.; "Why are you making a stir," T.S.G. 17 "has not died," J.N.D. 18 "sleeps," J.N.D.; "is sleeping," T.S.G. 19 "derided him," J.N.D.; "jeered him," T.S.G. 20 "having turned out," J.N.D., T.S.G.; "when he had put," McC. 21 "takes with [him]," J.N.D.; "takes with him," T.S.G. 22 "enters in," J.N.D., McC.; "enters," T.S.G. 23 "lying" added, J.N.D. 24 "having laid hold of," J.N.D.; "laid hold of," McC.; "having grasped," T.S.G. 25 "the hand of the child," J.N.D., T.S.G.; "the child's hand," McC. 26 "koumi," J.N.D.; "coum," McC.; "kumi," T.S.G. 27 "Girl," T.S.G. 28 "bid," T.S.G. 29 "Rise," T.S.G. 30 "immediately," J.N.D.; "forthwith," T.S.G. 31 "arose," J.N.D.; "rose again," McC. 32 "astonished with great astonishment," J.N.D. 33 "straightway" omitted, J.N.D., T.S.G. 34 "strictly" added, McC. 35 "one," J.N.D., McC., T.S.G. 36 "desired," J.N.D.; "spike," McC.; "bade," T.S.G. 37 "there," McC.}