📖 Biblical Definition
Jairus was a ruler of the synagogue (likely at Capernaum) whose 12-year-old daughter was dying. He fell at Christ's feet, begged Him to come; on the way, the woman with the issue interrupted; messengers arrived saying the daughter had died; Christ continued anyway, took the child by the hand, said Talitha cumi (Aramaic, ‘little girl, arise'), and she rose. The story interlocks with the woman with the issue (Mk 5:21-43), forming a paired narrative.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Ruler of the synagogue (likely Capernaum) whose daughter Christ raised from the dead (Mk 5:21-43).
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Three Synoptic accounts: Mt 9:18-26, Mk 5:21-43 (most detail, including Talitha cumi), Lk 8:40-56. Mark sandwiches the woman-with-the-issue story between the two halves of Jairus's — both involve faith, both 12-year periods (the woman's 12 years of bleeding, the daughter's 12 years of life), both touched by Christ.
Ruler of the synagogue was a senior administrative-religious office. His public falling at Christ's feet was a humbling act for a man of his station. The Gospels preserve his name; the early church remembered him.
📖 Key Scripture
Mark 5:23 — "And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live."
Mark 5:36 — "Be not afraid, only believe."
Mark 5:41 — "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise."
Mark 5:42 — "And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern Christianity often passes over the interruption-and-resumption structure of Mark 5; the deferred father waited while another was healed, and his daughter died in the meantime — only to be raised.
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Be not afraid, only believe (Mk 5:36) is one of Christ's most pastoral lines, spoken at the moment Jairus heard his daughter had died. Faith asked when faith could no longer secure a normal-mode answer.
The household's lesson: God's answers sometimes come through what looks like delay. The woman with the issue had to be healed first; Jairus's daughter had to die; resurrection became the scene because of the delay. Only believe in the meantime.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
Hebrew Yair; he enlightens.
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Hebrew Yair — from or, to be light; he enlightens.
Note: the only Jairus by this name in the New Testament.
Usage
"Be not afraid, only believe."
"Faith asks when faith can no longer secure a normal-mode answer."
"God's answers sometimes come through what looks like delay."