She overcame fear to publicly acknowledge her healing and the source of her miracle.
In Mark 5:33 we read, “But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth” (v.33). The scene unfolds just after Jesus, who lived between roughly 4 BC and AD 30, had crossed back over the Sea of Galilee. He was surrounded by a throng of people, including a synagogue official named Jairus. In the middle of this bustling crowd, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years mustered the courage to stealthily touch Jesus’ cloak (Mark 5:25-27). By verse 33, she realizes that touching Him—an act of not just desperation but also of faith—has resulted in her miraculous healing. Now, overwhelmed by awe, she falls at Jesus’ feet to confess everything.
The phrase “fearing and trembling” (v.33) conveys the profound reverence she felt in the presence of Jesus. Having been considered ritually unclean for over a decade due to her bleeding, she would have been excluded from many aspects of cultural and religious life (Leviticus 15:25-27). Yet, her faith overcame any social barrier or fear of rebuke. When she realizes her ailment is gone, she is compelled to declare the truth openly, despite much potential shame and embarrassment. Her humility, honesty, and courage stand out as an emblem of genuine devotion, revealing that true healing is more than physical—it reaches to the core of a person’s soul.
Jesus Himself, being the Messiah and Son of God, provides restoration that transcends the physical realm (Matthew 9:35). The woman’s reaction exemplifies how encountering Jesus confronts us with God’s holiness and power. When we come “fearing and trembling” before Him, we are invited, like this woman, to tell the whole truth about our struggles, sorrows, and hopes. This personal confession and surrender pave the way for genuine transformation and the gift of peace in Christ’s presence (John 14:27).
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Mark 5:33 meaning
In Mark 5:33 we read, “But the woman fearing and trembling, aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him and told Him the whole truth” (v.33). The scene unfolds just after Jesus, who lived between roughly 4 BC and AD 30, had crossed back over the Sea of Galilee. He was surrounded by a throng of people, including a synagogue official named Jairus. In the middle of this bustling crowd, a woman who had been suffering for twelve years mustered the courage to stealthily touch Jesus’ cloak (Mark 5:25-27). By verse 33, she realizes that touching Him—an act of not just desperation but also of faith—has resulted in her miraculous healing. Now, overwhelmed by awe, she falls at Jesus’ feet to confess everything.
The phrase “fearing and trembling” (v.33) conveys the profound reverence she felt in the presence of Jesus. Having been considered ritually unclean for over a decade due to her bleeding, she would have been excluded from many aspects of cultural and religious life (Leviticus 15:25-27). Yet, her faith overcame any social barrier or fear of rebuke. When she realizes her ailment is gone, she is compelled to declare the truth openly, despite much potential shame and embarrassment. Her humility, honesty, and courage stand out as an emblem of genuine devotion, revealing that true healing is more than physical—it reaches to the core of a person’s soul.
Jesus Himself, being the Messiah and Son of God, provides restoration that transcends the physical realm (Matthew 9:35). The woman’s reaction exemplifies how encountering Jesus confronts us with God’s holiness and power. When we come “fearing and trembling” before Him, we are invited, like this woman, to tell the whole truth about our struggles, sorrows, and hopes. This personal confession and surrender pave the way for genuine transformation and the gift of peace in Christ’s presence (John 14:27).