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While Jesus was saying these things, a synagogue leader came and knelt before Him. “My daughter has just died,” he said. “But come and place Your hand on her, and she will live.”
Matthew 9:18 · Berean Standard Bible
Parallel translations
  • WEB While he told these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
  • KJV While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
  • ESV While he was saying these things to them, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.”
  • NKJV While He spoke these things to them, behold, a ruler came and worshiped Him, saying, “My daughter has just died, but come and lay Your hand on her and she will live.”
  • NASB While He was saying these things to them, behold, a synagogue official came and bowed down before Him, and said, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay Your hand on her, and she will become alive again.”
  • NLT As Jesus was saying this, the leader of a synagogue came and knelt before him. “My daughter has just died,” he said, “but you can bring her back to life again if you just come and lay your hand on her.”

Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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

A synagogue ruler worships Jesus and asks him to raise his just-deceased daughter. His bold faith trusts Jesus even over death.

Overview

A leader of standing humbles himself before Jesus, believing that the touch of his hand can restore life. His confidence that his dead daughter 'will live' is striking faith. The request leads to one of Jesus' clearest displays of power over death itself, foreshadowing his own resurrection victory.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 21

  • Luke 8:41–56Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house,
  • Mark 5:22–43A synagogue leader named Jairus arrived, and seeing Jesus, he fell at His feet
  • Matt 8:2Suddenly a leper came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”
  • Luke 13:14But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”
  • 2 Kgs 5:11But Naaman went away angry, saying, “I thought that he would surely come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, and wave his hand over the spot to cure my leprosy.
  • John 11:32When Mary came to Jesus and saw Him, she fell at His feet and said, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
  • John 4:47–49When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged Him to come down and heal his son, who was about to die.
  • Matt 9:24“Go away,” He told them. “The girl is not dead, but asleep.” And they laughed at Him.
  • John 11:21–22Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
  • Luke 7:2There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.
  • Matt 15:25The woman came and knelt before Him. “Lord, help me!” she said.
  • Acts 10:25–26As Peter was about to enter, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet to worship him.
  • Luke 17:15–16When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice.
  • John 11:25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even though he dies.
  • Acts 13:15After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue leaders sent word to them: “Brothers, if you have a word of encouragement for the people, please speak.”
  • Luke 18:18Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
  • Matt 14:33Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God!”
  • Matt 28:17When they saw Him, they worshiped Him, but some doubted.
  • Matt 8:8–9The centurion answered, “Lord, I am not worthy to have You come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
  • Matt 17:14When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus and knelt before Him.
  • Matt 20:20Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and knelt down to make a request of Him.

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (3)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — Matthew videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on Matthew 9:18YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on MatthewMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

Christ at the center

Matthew presents Jesus as the promised King — son of David, son of Abraham — the new Moses and true Israel in whom every prophecy reaches 'that it might be fulfilled.'

How Matthew 9:18 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.