Who was Jairus in the Bible?


Bibliaon Team
Bibliaon Team
Created and reviewed by our editors

Jairus was a synagogue leader who asked Jesus to heal his sick daughter. While they were on their way, they were told that the girl had died, but Jesus told Jairus to have faith. When they arrived, Jesus raised the girl from the dead. The story shows that even in the face of death, faith in Jesus can bring hope and miracles.

Mentioned in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Jairus was a respected man, knowledgeable in the Scriptures and influential in society. Despite this, he humbled himself before Jesus, showing how desperate he was because of his daughter’s illness.

His daughter, only twelve years old, was gravely ill. In his suffering, Jairus sought out Jesus, fell at His feet, and asked in faith that He heal the girl. This gesture was significant, since many religious leaders of the time rejected Jesus. Even so, Jairus trusted in Christ’s power.

As Jesus was on His way to Jairus’s house, a woman who had been sick was healed by touching His cloak, which delayed their journey. During that time, word came that Jairus’s daughter had died. Still, Jesus encouraged him, saying, “Do not fear; only believe.” When they arrived at the house, Jesus said that the girl was only sleeping, and He raised her from the dead by taking her by the hand.

An illustrative representation of Jairus

The Story of Jairus teaches us about the importance of faith in the midst of despair. It shows that even in the face of death, we must not lose our trust in God. The fact that a religious leader knelt before Jesus reveals humility and recognition of Christ’s divine authority.

Jairus’s legacy is one of persevering faith, confidence in the power of Jesus, and hope beyond circumstances. His story reminds us that God hears our cries and can transform any situation, no matter how impossible it seems when we place our full trust in Him.

Bible Study on Jairus

Jesus Raises Jairus’s Daughter

The account of Jairus’s daughter being raised from the dead appears in Mark 5:21–43, Matthew 9:18–26, and Luke 8:40–56. Jairus was one of the leaders of the synagogue and came to Jesus in desperation because his daughter was near death. He fell at Jesus’ feet, begging Him to come to his house and heal her.

Jesus agreed to go with him, but along the way there was a pause. A woman who had been suffering from a bleeding condition for twelve years touched Jesus’ garments and was healed (Mark 5:24–34). During this interruption, messengers arrived and told Jairus that his daughter had died. However, Jesus said to him, “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36).

When they reached the house, Jesus saw the people weeping and said, “The girl is not dead, but sleeping.” Many laughed at Him. Jesus then entered the room with the girl’s parents and three of His disciples. Taking her by the hand, He said, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” (Mark 5:41) Immediately, she came back to life.

This miracle reveals Jesus’ power over death and teaches us to trust in Him even when all hope seems lost because Jesus has the final word.

Jairus’s Daughter: What Was Her Name and Age?

The Bible does not reveal the name of Jairus’s daughter; it only states that she was twelve years old (Mark 5:42; Luke 8:42). She was an only child, dearly loved by her father Jairus, who was one of the synagogue leaders. The girl was gravely ill, on the verge of death, but the Bible does not specify the nature of her illness.

Faced with the severity of the situation, Jairus sought out Jesus, pleading with Him to come to his house and heal her. While Jesus was still on His way, messengers arrived with the news that the girl had died. Even then, Jesus encouraged Jairus to have faith. When He reached the house, He found people weeping and mourning, but declared that the girl was only sleeping. Jesus then raised her from the dead, performing a great miracle that revealed His divine power.

What We Learn from the Story of Jairus

Jairus was a man of authority and prestige among the Jews, yet when his daughter became gravely ill, he did not hesitate to seek help from Jesus. This demonstrates his humility, since many religious leaders of that time rejected Christ and did not recognize Him as the Messiah. Jairus, however, acknowledged Jesus’s power and fell at His feet, placing his hope in the Lord.

Another important lesson is faith. Even after receiving the heartbreaking news of his daughter’s death, Jesus told him, “Do not fear; only believe” (Mark 5:36). Jairus chose to trust, even when everything seemed lost and his faith was rewarded with the miracle of his daughter’s resurrection.

We also learn the importance of patience and trusting God’s timing. On the way to Jairus’s house, Jesus paused to heal a woman who had been sick for twelve years, delaying the journey. Despite his anxiety and desperation, Jairus did not give up. This teaches us to trust even when God’s answer seems delayed.

The story of Jairus shows that when we place our faith in Jesus, He can transform impossible situations. His example encourages us to seek God sincerely without fear or pride, believing that He can work powerfully in our lives.

Main Lessons:

  1. We must have humility to seek Jesus.
  2. We need to keep our faith even in the midst of despair.
  3. We must have patience when facing delays.
  4. We should have trust in God’s power and timing.
  5. We need perseverance in prayer and hope.

See also:

Bibliaon Team
Bibliaon Team
Bibliaon's Editorial Team consists of mature Christians with several years of experience in Bible teaching and in writing, all with a genuine commitment to Jesus and the Word of God.