Divine Awakening: ταλιθα (Strong’s G5008: talitha) Speaks Life Authority

Strong’s G5008: An Aramaic word meaning “young girl” or “maiden,” ταλιθα appears in Mark’s account of Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter. Its preservation in the original Aramaic emphasizes the intimate, personal nature of the Messiah’s healing power.

U- Unveiling the Word

ταλιθα represents a powerful moment where divine authority meets tender compassion. This Aramaic term, preserved in Mark’s Greek text, captures the intimate nature of the Messiah’s healing ministry. Its use in the raising of Jairus’ daughter demonstrates how Jesus often employed the common language of the people to perform His mighty works. The early church saw significance in Mark’s preservation of the original Aramaic, recognizing it as evidence of both the historical authenticity of the account and the personal nature of divine intervention. Today, it continues to remind believers that the Messiah’s power operates not just globally but in intimate, personal ways using our own language and cultural context.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ταλιθα, talitha, /ta-LEE-tha/
• Phonetic Guide: “ta” as in “father,” “lee” as in “leaf,” “tha” as in “father”
• Part of Speech: Noun (Feminine)

Etymology:

• From Aramaic טליתא (telitha) – feminine form meaning “young girl”
• Transliterated directly into Greek without modification

D – Defining Meanings

• Young girl
• Maiden
• Little girl

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but an Aramaic loan word

Translation Options:

• Young girl – captures age and gender
• Maiden – preserves formal equivalent
• Little one – emphasizes tenderness

E – Exploring Similar Words

• παιδίον (paidion) /pai-DEE-on/ – “little child” in Greek
  See G3813
• κοράσιον (korasion) /ko-RAH-see-on/ – “little girl” in Greek
  See G2877

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological Features:

• Case: Vocative
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: Indeclinable

As an Aramaic loan word, it remains unchanged in Greek text. The English translation typically appears as “young girl” or is left untranslated as “talitha.”

• Cross-references: None in Biblical Greek as this is a unique Aramaic term

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes ταλιθα’s significance as an Aramaic term preserved in Mark’s Greek text, noting its intimate character. Thayer’s explores its Aramaic origin, highlighting its use as a term of endearment. LSJ, dealing primarily with Greek terms, notes this as a significant Aramaic inclusion. Vine’s highlights its preservation alongside the Greek translation, showing Mark’s desire to capture both the historical moment and its meaning. Strong’s connects it to similar Aramaic terms for young people. Moulton and Milligan discuss its unique preservation in the New Testament, demonstrating its importance in early Christian tradition.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First Appearance:
Mark 5:41: “And taking the child by the hand, He said to her, ‘[ταλιθα] Talitha kum,’ which translated means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, arise!'”

Additional References:
This is the only occurrence in the New Testament.

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

ταλιθα powerfully demonstrates how the Messiah enters our world and speaks our language to bring life and healing. This preserved Aramaic word reveals His intimate approach to ministry, showing that divine power operates through personal connection. The good news shines through as we see Jesus using the everyday language of the people to perform extraordinary miracles. It reminds us that He continues to meet us where we are, speaking into our situations with both authority and tenderness.

D – Did You Know?

1. ταλιθα is one of only a few Aramaic phrases preserved in the Greek New Testament.
2. The term was commonly used as an endearing way to address young girls in first-century Jewish culture.
3. Early church tradition saw special significance in Mark’s preservation of the original Aramaic words.

Strong’s G5008: An Aramaic word meaning “young girl” or “maiden,” ταλιθα appears in Mark’s account of Jesus raising Jairus’ daughter. Its preservation in the original Aramaic emphasizes the intimate, personal nature of the Messiah’s healing power.

Part of speech: Noun (Feminine)

Tags: Aramaic, healing miracles, resurrection, personal ministry, divine authority, cultural connection, Mark’s Gospel, Jairus’ daughter, intimate ministry, healing words​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​