“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise’.” (Mark 5:41)

“Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, ‘Talitha, cumi,’ which is translated, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise’.” (Mark 5:41)

“Talitha cumi” is a transcription of an Aramaic phrase which Jesus used as He raised Jairus’ daughter from death, and St. Mark translates it for us as, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Although this healing is recorded in all three synoptic gospels, (Matthew chapter 9 and Luke chapter 8), Mark is the only one to include Jesus’ touching phrase in calling this young child back to life. 

Two other points of interest in this miraculous healing are that Jesus took the young child by her hand, which denotes compassion, and that the word “Talitha” was also term of endearment, a diminutive akin to calling her a “little lamb,” emphasizing the fact that Jesus is the “Good Shepard” caring for His flock.

Fr. John