The official pleaded, “Lord, please come now before my little boy dies.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The nobleman said to him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
- KJV The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.
- BSB “Sir,” the official said, “come down before my child dies.”
- NKJV The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!”
- NASB The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The official pressed on, pleading with Jesus to come before his child died. His love and desperation kept him seeking despite the rebuke.
Overview
Undeterred by Jesus' words, the father renews his plea with deeper urgency. His insistence shows a faith refined under pressure, clinging to Jesus as his last resort. This persevering approach to Christ in need is commended throughout Scripture.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Mark 5:23and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.”
- Mark 5:35–36While he was still speaking, people came from the synagogue ruler’s house saying, “Your daughter is dead. Why bother the Teacher any more?”
- Ps 88:10–12Do you show wonders to the dead? Do the departed spirits rise up and praise you? Selah.
- Ps 40:17But I am poor and needy. May the Lord think about me. You are my help and my deliverer. Don’t delay, my God.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 4:49 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.