What Does Mark 5:35 Mean in the King James?
While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue’s house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The hidden pressure is not only “she is dead,” but that continuing to ask is framed as troubling the teacher.
THE MEANING
When you are still speaking into a crisis, another voice can declare the loss final and frame any further appeal as a burden. The verse names this hinge: the report is not only that life has ended; it also claims that speaking to the teacher should end with it. Yet the scene remains open.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that a final report also proves further appeal is pointless or burdensome.
THE ROOT
σκύλλεις
skylleis
GROWS FROM
σκύλλω
skyllō
To flay or skin; figuratively, to harass or distress.
The word for “troublest” carries the force of distress, with the concrete sense of flaying or skinning beneath it. This same verb appears as “harassed” in Matthew 9:36 and “trouble not” in Luke 7:6, showing how the question casts continued appeal as an imposed distress.
ALSO GROWS
eskylmenoi: Harassed, distressed
ἐσκυλμένοι
Matthew 9:36 uses this form for people weighed down by distress, showing the force this verb can carry.
skyllou: Trouble yourself
σκύλλου
Luke 7:6 uses this form in “trouble not,” echoing the question about whether further appeal is an imposition.
ἀπέθανεν
apethanen
GROWS FROM
θνῄσκω
thnēskō
To die.
“dead” in this verse is apethanen. The report presents her death as a completed event. The Greek word-family connects dying with death and mortality, while the added claim that no further appeal makes sense comes from the speakers’ question.
ALSO GROWS
apothnēskō: To die
ἀποθνῄσκω
This compound form names the act reported in the verse.
thanatos: Death
θάνατος
This related noun makes explicit the state the message declares.
thnētos: Mortal
θνητός
This related adjective describes what is subject to death, extending the word-family from an event to a condition.
THE PATTERN
A declaration that life has ended does not prevent divine speech from addressing the place where life is absent.
And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, Lazarus, come forth. And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus saith the Lord GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live:THE THREAD
As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.The news in this verse becomes “the word that was spoken” in the next, and Jesus answers it without accepting its conclusion about what can still be addressed. “Be not afraid, only believe” marks the hinge between the report of death and what follows.
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