Mark 5:26 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

NIV: She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse.

NASB: and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but instead had become worse—

CSB: had endured much under many doctors. She had spent everything she had and was not helped at all. On the contrary, she became worse.

NLT: She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.

KJV: And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

NKJV: and had suffered many things from many physicians. She had spent all that she had and was no better, but rather grew worse.

Jesus is about to encounter a woman who has spent twelve years plagued by a debilitating form of bleeding. Most likely, hers is a prolonged or perpetual menstrual bleeding, possibly due to cysts or other issues.

These "physicians" may have been religious leaders who had very little knowledge of biology. While the Old Testament itself does not suggest a treatment for hemorrhaging, the Talmud does. The Talmud is an extra-biblical compilation of commentaries on Jewish history, the Mosaic Law, and the application of the law. The Babylonian Talmud, in the Tractrate Shabbath (treatise on the laws regarding the Sabbath), Folio 110a-b, lists eleven treatments for excessive menstrual bleeding.

Most of these treatments involve boiling various things in wine, such as Persian onions, cumin, saffron, fenugreek, or a fern, having the woman hold it and declaring to her, "Cease your discharge." She may be told to sit at a cross-roads, holding a cup of wine, while a man comes from behind and frightens her, shouting, "Cease your discharge!" One "cure" calls her to rub flour on the lower half of her body. She may be told to burn thistles or an ostrich egg and wrap it in cloth. The strangest is the last: to fetch barley grain found in the dung of a white mule and hold it in her hand. If she holds it for one day, her bleeding will cease for one day. If she holds it for three days, the bleeding will cease forever.

It's unknown where these cures came from and why anyone thought they would work. They do serve to prove that pseudo-science, particularly that which promises healing for a hefty price, has been with us for a long time.

Mark 5:25–34 interrupts a depiction of Jesus healing a synagogue leader's daughter. Before He can get through the crowd, He feels power flowing out of Him. A woman who has been hemorrhaging for twelve years touches His robe and God heals her. This passage shows that God is sovereign over our distractions; He will sometimes give us important work in the midst of other tasks. It also shows that we are not a nuisance to Him. He always has time for us. This account is also found in Matthew 9:20–22 and Luke 8:43–48.

Jesus arrives on the other side of the Sea of Galilee and heals a man afflicted by a ''legion'' of demons. In the aftermath of this event, Jesus once again crosses the waters within this region, known as the Decapolis. There, He is approached by a synagogue leader, begging Him to come and save a dying girl. In the midst of this trip, Jesus stops the crowd to identify a woman who attempted to covertly touch his robes; her faithful act results in healing. Jesus then continues on to the home of the synagogue leader and resurrects his recently-deceased child.

Mark 4:35—5:43 sees an increase in the scope of Jesus' miracles. He has just calmed a violent storm on the Sea of Galilee. Now, He expels a legion of demons, heals a woman without overtly acting, and brings a girl back to life. All three situations—related to tombs, blood, and death—show Jesus bringing healing to unclean circumstances. In chapter 6, the tone of His ministry will develop. He will be rejected by those who should know Him best, He will send out His followers to do His work, and His direct link to the Old Testament prophets will be explained.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.