“Jesus took her
By the hand.
He said to her.
‘Talitha cum!’
Which means,
‘Little girl!
Get up!’
Immediately,
The girl got up.
She began to walk.
She was twelve years of age.
At this,
They were overcome
With amazement.”
καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ παιδίου λέγει αὐτῇ Ταλιθὰ κούμ, ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον Τὸ κοράσιον, σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε.
καὶ εὐθὺς ἀνέστη τὸ κοράσιον καὶ περιεπάτει· ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα. καὶ ἐξέστησαν εὐθὺς ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ.
This curing of the girl is similar to what can be found in Matthew, chapter 9:25, and Luke, chapter 8:54-55. However, only Mark went into more detail by using Aramaic words to cure her. Mark said that Jesus took her by the hand (καὶ κρατήσας τῆς χειρὸς τοῦ παιδίου). He then said to her (λέγει αὐτῇ), “Talitha cum (Ταλιθὰ κούμ)!” that translated means (ὅ ἐστιν μεθερμηνευόμενον) “Little girl (Τὸ κοράσιον)! Get up or arise (σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε)!” Immediately (καὶ εὐθὺς), the girl arose or got up (ἀνέστη τὸ κοράσιον). She began to walk (καὶ περιεπάτει). She was 12 years old (ἦν γὰρ ἐτῶν δώδεκα), the same number of years that the lady suffered from the blood flow. At this, the crowds were immediately overcome with great amazement (καὶ ἐξέστησαν εὐθὺς ἐκστάσει μεγάλῃ). This is somewhat like the prophet Elijah who brought a child back to life in 1 Kings, chapter 17:17-24. The use and explanation of Aramaic may indicate an oral source for this story that may have been told originally in Aramaic. Mark felt compelled to explain this to his Greek non-Aramaic audience.