Mark 5:33
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.
Original Language Analysis
Historical Context
The woman had multiple reasons to fear: she violated purity laws by touching Jesus, potentially making Him ceremonially unclean; she interrupted Jesus' mission to Jairus's dying daughter, possibly causing fatal delay; she drew public attention to a shameful condition; and she risked community judgment for her presumptuous act. Yet Jesus' response (v. 34) replaced fear with peace, shame with honor, and isolation with acceptance. First-century honor-shame culture made public confession especially costly—revealing such intimate physical details before a crowd required extraordinary courage. The phrase 'all the truth' suggests comprehensive testimony: her condition's nature, duration, suffering, failed treatments, desperate faith, and instant healing. Early church fathers saw this as model confession—complete honesty before Christ without concealment or self-justification. Augustine wrote: 'She came in fear but departed in joy; she approached as a thief but became a confessor.' Her progression from secret touch to public testimony illustrates healthy spiritual development—from initial timid faith to mature bold witness.
Questions for Reflection
- What causes your 'fear and trembling' in coming to Christ or confessing your need before others, and how does this woman's courage challenge those fears?
- How does her progression from secret touch to public testimony model the journey from private faith to public witness that all believers should experience?
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Analysis & Commentary
But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. This verse reveals the woman's emotional response and courage in public confession. 'Fearing and trembling' (φοβηθεῖσα καὶ τρέμουσα, phobētheisa kai tremousa) describes intense anxiety—she expected rebuke for touching Jesus while ceremonially unclean, creating exposure she had tried to avoid. 'Knowing what was done in her' (εἰδυῖα ὃ γέγονεν αὐτῇ, eiduia ho gegonen autē) confirms her internal certainty of healing—experiential knowledge of transformation.
Despite fear, 'she came' (ἦλθεν, ēlthen)—obedience overcame anxiety. 'Fell down before him' (προσέπεσεν αὐτῷ, prosepesen autō) demonstrates reverent worship and humble submission. 'Told him all the truth' (εἶπεν αὐτῷ πᾶσαν τὴν ἀλήθειαν, eipen autō pasan tēn alētheian) shows complete confession—twelve years of suffering, failed remedies, desperate faith, and resultant healing. This public testimony required tremendous courage given her condition's shameful nature and her violation of purity laws by touching Jesus. Yet her honest confession brought complete liberation—physical healing, spiritual blessing, social restoration, and personal relationship with Christ. This models authentic faith response: honest acknowledgment of need, bold approach despite fear, and public testimony of Christ's work.