For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”
Parallel translations
- WEB for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
- KJV For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
- BSB She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”
- NASB for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.”
- NLT for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”
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 woman believes that merely touching his garment will heal her. Her inner conviction shows real, though humble, faith in Jesus' power.
Overview
Matthew records the woman's private resolve, revealing the faith behind her action. She trusts that the slightest contact with Jesus is enough. Though her understanding is simple, her confidence in his power is the kind of faith Jesus honors.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Mark 5:26–33and had suffered many things by many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better, but rather grew worse,
- Luke 8:45–47Jesus said, “Who touched me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, ‘Who touched me?’”
- Acts 19:12so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 9:21 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.