Luke 8:54

Luke 8:54, in plain English

Jesus took her hand and said, 'Child, get up!' Two words from Jesus were enough to call a dead girl back to life.

Why it's here

He touched death and death lost. Where everyone else saw a tragedy that was over, Jesus saw a daughter who was simply waiting for His voice. His gentleness in this moment is breathtaking.

Who's speaking

Jesus speaks to the dead girl directly.

Where it sits in the story

Jesus gently took her lifeless hand and called out, 'Child, get up!' The same voice that calmed storms and cast out demons now called a little girl back from death.

The scholarly reading

Jesus kratēsas tēs cheiros autēs ('took her by the hand') and called out hē pais, egeire ('child, arise'). The act of touching a corpse would normally render one unclean (Numbers 19:11), but Jesus' touch transmits life rather than receiving defilement.

Language and setting

The physical touch parallels Elijah (1 Kings 17:21) and Elisha (2 Kings 4:34) but without the elaborate procedures; Jesus' simple word and touch suffice. The command egeire ('arise') uses the same verb associated with resurrection throughout Luke-Acts.

Voice

Jesus speaks directly to the dead girl with a command of resurrection.

Significance

Jesus took the dead girl's hand and spoke two simple words: 'Child, get up.' Where prophets of old needed extended rituals, Jesus needed only a touch and a command to reverse death.

52Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.”

53And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

54But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!”

55Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.

56Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Read all of Luke 8 — A storm, a legion of demons, a bleeding woman, and a dead girl — Jesus moves through a world of chaos and brings order with a word or a touch.