“She came up
Behind Jesus.
She touched
The fringe
Of his clothes.
Instantly,
Her bleeding stopped.”
προσελθοῦσα ὄπισθεν ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ, καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς.
Luke said that this woman came up behind Jesus (ροσελθοῦσα ὄπισθεν). She touched the fringe of his cloak (ἥψατο τοῦ κρασπέδου τοῦ ἱματίου αὐτοῦ). Instantly, her bleeding stopped (καὶ παραχρῆμα ἔστη ἡ ῥύσις τοῦ αἵματος αὐτῆς). This woman touching Jesus can also be found in Matthew, chapter 9:21, and Mark, chapter 5:27-29, so that Mark might be the source. Mark said that this woman had heard about Jesus, so that she came up behind him with the crowd all around Jesus. She wanted to touch his cloak, with no mention of the fringes or edges of Jesus’ clothes. She was saying to herself, that if she only touched his cloak or garment, she would be healed or cured. Immediately, her flowing blood dried up or stopped when she touched it. She realized in her body that she was healed from her disease. This woman was aware of what was happening to her own body as she was healed. Matthew said that she came up behind Jesus, because she wanted to touch the fringe or the tassel edge of his cloak. These fringes (κρασπέδου) or bottom tassels often reminded people about the 10 commandments. She was thinking to herself, that if she only touched his cloak or garment, she would be healed or cured. She had a plan to help herself by touching the garment of Jesus. Have you ever tried to touch someone in a crowd?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 