Luke - 8:52



52 All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping."

Verse In-Depth

Explanation and meaning of Luke 8:52.

Differing Translations

Compare verses for better understanding.
And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
And all were weeping, and bewailing her: but he said, Weep not; for she is not dead, but sleepeth.
And all wept and mourned for her. But he said: Weep not; the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.
And all were weeping and lamenting her. But he said, Do not weep, for she has not died, but sleeps.
and they were all weeping, and beating themselves for her, and he said, 'Weep not, she did not die, but doth sleep;
And all wept, and bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleeps.
The people were all weeping aloud and beating their breasts for her; but He said, "Leave off wailing; for she is not dead, but asleep."
And all the people were weeping and crying for her; but he said, Do not be sad, for she is not dead, but sleeping.
Now all were weeping and mourning for her. But he said: "Do not weep. The girl is not dead, but only sleeping."
And everyone was weeping and mourning for her. "Do not weep," Jesus said, "she is not dead; she is asleep."

*Minor differences ignored. Grouped by changes, with first version listed as example.


Historical Commentaries

Scholarly Analysis and Interpretation.

And all were weeping. The Evangelists mention the lamentation, that the resurrection may be more fully believed. Matthew expressly states that musicians were present, which was not usually the case till the death had been ascertained, and while the preparations for the funeral were going forward. The flute, he tells us, was heard in plaintive airs. Now, though their intention was to bestow this sort of honor on their dead, and as it were to adorn their grave, we see how strongly inclined the world is not only to indulge but to promote its faults. It was their duty to employ every method for allaying grief; but as if they had not sinned enough in disorderly lamentation, they are eager to heighten it by fresh excitements. The Gentiles even thought that this was a way of soothing departed spirits; and hence we see how many corruptions were at that time spread throughout Judea.

And all wept, and (o) bewailed her: but he said, Weep not; she is not dead, but sleepeth.
(o) The word signifies to beat and strike, and is used in the mournings and lamentations that are at burials, at which times men used this type of behaviour.

Not only her relations and friends, and the servants of the house, but the mourning women, that were hired on this occasion, and employed for this purpose:
but he said, weep not; neither in show, as the mourning women did, nor in reality, as the friends of the deceased:
she is not dead, but sleepeth; See Gill on Matthew 9:24. See Gill on Mark 5:39.

She is not dead but sleepeth - Her soul is not separated finally from the body; and this short separation is rather to be called sleep than death.

*More commentary available at chapter level.


Discussion on Luke 8:52

User discussion of the verse.






*By clicking Submit, you agree to our Privacy Policy & Terms of Use.