Matthew 9:21
New International Version
She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”

New Living Translation
for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”

English Standard Version
for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.”

Berean Standard Bible
She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

Berean Literal Bible
For she was saying within herself, "If only I shall touch His garment, I will be healed."

King James Bible
For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

New King James Version
For she said to herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well.”

New American Standard Bible
for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.”

NASB 1995
for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will get well.”

NASB 1977
for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I shall get well.”

Legacy Standard Bible
for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His garment, I will be saved from this.”

Amplified Bible
for she had been saying to herself, “If I only touch His outer robe, I will be healed.”

Christian Standard Bible
for she said to herself, “If I can just touch his robe, I’ll be made well.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
for she said to herself, “If I can just touch His robe, I’ll be made well!”

American Standard Version
for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.

Contemporary English Version
She had said to herself, "If I can just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

English Revised Version
for she said within herself, If I do but touch his garment, I shall be made whole.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
She thought, "If I only touch his clothes, I'll get well."

Good News Translation
She said to herself, "If only I touch his cloak, I will get well."

International Standard Version
because she had been saying to herself, "If I just touch his robe, I will get well."

Majority Standard Bible
She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.”

NET Bible
For she kept saying to herself, "If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed."

New Heart English Bible
for she said within herself, "If I just touch his garment, I will be made well."

Webster's Bible Translation
For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

Weymouth New Testament
for she said to herself, "If I but touch His cloak, I shall be cured."

World English Bible
for she said within herself, “If I just touch his garment, I will be made well.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
for she said within herself, “If only I may touch His garment, I will be saved.”

Berean Literal Bible
For she was saying within herself, "If only I shall touch His garment, I will be healed."

Young's Literal Translation
for she said within herself, 'If only I may touch his garment, I shall be saved.'

Smith's Literal Translation
For she said in herself, If I should only touch the hem of his garment, I shall be saved.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
For she said within herself: If I shall touch only his garment, I shall be healed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
For she said within herself, “If I will touch even his garment, I shall be saved.”

New American Bible
She said to herself, “If only I can touch his cloak, I shall be cured.”

New Revised Standard Version
for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
For she was saying to herself, If I can only touch his garment, I will be healed.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
For she was saying in herself, “If only I may touch his clothes, I shall be healed.”
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
For she said within herself: If I may only touch his mantle, I shall be saved.

Godbey New Testament
For she continued to say within herself, If I may only touch His garment, I will be saved.

Haweis New Testament
for she said within herself, If I only touch his garment, I shall be cured.

Mace New Testament
for she said within her self, if I do but touch his garment, I shall be cured:

Weymouth New Testament
for she said to herself, "If I but touch His cloak, I shall be cured."

Worrell New Testament
for she was saying within herself, "If I only touch His garment, I shall be made well."

Worsley New Testament
for she said within herself, If I can but touch his garment, I shall be cured.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Healing Touch of Jesus
20Suddenly a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If only I touch His cloak, I will be healed.” 22Jesus turned and saw her. “Take courage, daughter,” He said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was cured from that very hour.…

Cross References
Mark 5:28
For she kept saying, “If only I touch His garments, I will be healed.”

Luke 8:44
She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

Matthew 14:36
and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Mark 6:56
And wherever He went—villages and towns and countrysides—they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged Him just to let them touch the fringe of His cloak. And all who touched Him were healed.

Luke 6:19
The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

Matthew 15:28
“O woman,” Jesus answered, “your faith is great! Let it be done for you as you desire.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.

Mark 10:52
“Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Luke 17:19
Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!”

Matthew 8:3
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Mark 1:41
Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!”

Luke 5:13
Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! As you have believed, so will it be done for you.” And his servant was healed at that very hour.

Mark 5:34
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be free of your affliction.”

Luke 8:48
“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Matthew 21:22
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”


Treasury of Scripture

For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

If.

Mark 5:26-33
And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse, …

Luke 8:45-47
And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me? …

Acts 19:12
So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.

Jump to Previous
Cloak Cured Garment Hand Healed Herself Robe Saved Touch Whole Within
Jump to Next
Cloak Cured Garment Hand Healed Herself Robe Saved Touch Whole Within
Matthew 9
1. Jesus heals a paralytic
9. calls Matthew from the receipt of custom;
10. eats with tax collectors and sinners;
14. defends his disciples for not fasting;
20. cures the sick woman;
23. raises Jairus' daughter from death;
27. gives sight to two blind men;
32. heals a mute man possessed of a demon;
36. and has compassion on the multitude.














For she said to herself
This phrase reveals the internal dialogue and faith of the woman suffering from a bleeding disorder. The Greek word for "said" is "ἔλεγεν" (elegen), which is in the imperfect tense, indicating a continuous or repeated action in the past. This suggests that she had been telling herself this repeatedly, reflecting a deep-seated belief and hope. Her self-talk is a testament to her faith, which is a central theme in the Gospel of Matthew. In a historical context, women in her condition were considered unclean and were often isolated, yet her faith drove her to seek Jesus despite societal barriers.

If only I touch His cloak
The phrase "If only I touch" demonstrates the woman's belief in the power of Jesus. The Greek word for "touch" is "ἅψωμαι" (hapsomai), which implies a deliberate and intentional action. Her faith was not in a mere accidental brushing against Jesus but in a purposeful act of reaching out. The "cloak" refers to the outer garment, possibly the fringe or tassel, known as "tzitzit" in Hebrew, which Jewish men wore as a reminder of God's commandments (Numbers 15:38-39). This act signifies her recognition of Jesus' authority and her faith in His divine power to heal.

I will be healed
The phrase "I will be healed" is a declaration of faith. The Greek word for "healed" is "σωθήσομαι" (sōthēsomai), which can also mean "saved" or "delivered." This dual meaning reflects the holistic nature of Jesus' ministry, which encompasses both physical healing and spiritual salvation. Her confidence in being healed underscores the transformative power of faith in Christ. Historically, this account illustrates the breaking of social and religious barriers, as Jesus' healing was available to all who believed, regardless of their status or condition. This verse encourages believers to approach Jesus with faith, trusting in His power to heal and save.

(21) She said within herself.--The words indicate a faith real but not strong. She believed, as the leper did, in the power to heal, but did not trust the love, and shrank from the thought lest the Healer should shrink from her. And she thought not of a will that seeks to bless and save, but of a physical effluence passing from the body to the garments, and from the garments to the hand that touched them. Yet weak as the faith was, it was accepted, and outward things were endowed with a "virtue" which was not their own. So afterwards, where a like belief prevailed, the "handkerchiefs and aprons" that were brought from St. Paul's flesh became means of healing (Acts 19:12).

Verse 21. - For she said within herself, If I may; do (Revised Version). There is no thought of permission (ἐὰν μόνον ἅψωμαι). But touch his garment, I shall be whole; saved (Revised Version margin). The threefold σώζειν is suggestive. Observe that she is "saved" in spite of her superstition; God "pitieth the blind that would gladly see" (Hooker, 'Serm.,' 2. § 38).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
She said
ἔλεγεν (elegen)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.

to
ἐν (en)
Preposition
Strong's 1722: In, on, among. A primary preposition denoting position, and instrumentality, i.e. A relation of rest; 'in, ' at, on, by, etc.

herself,
ἑαυτῇ (heautē)
Reflexive Pronoun - Dative Feminine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1438: Himself, herself, itself.

“If
Ἐὰν (Ean)
Conjunction
Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc.

only
μόνον (monon)
Adverb
Strong's 3440: Alone, but, only. Neuter of monos as adverb; merely.

I touch
ἅψωμαι (hapsōmai)
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Middle - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 680: Prop: I fasten to; I lay hold of, touch, know carnally. Reflexive of hapto; properly, to attach oneself to, i.e. To touch.

His
αὐτοῦ (autou)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

cloak,
ἱματίου (himatiou)
Noun - Genitive Neuter Singular
Strong's 2440: A long flowing outer garment, tunic. Neuter of a presumed derivative of ennumi; a dress.

I will be healed.”
σωθήσομαι (sōthēsomai)
Verb - Future Indicative Passive - 1st Person Singular
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.


Links
Matthew 9:21 NIV
Matthew 9:21 NLT
Matthew 9:21 ESV
Matthew 9:21 NASB
Matthew 9:21 KJV

Matthew 9:21 BibleApps.com
Matthew 9:21 Biblia Paralela
Matthew 9:21 Chinese Bible
Matthew 9:21 French Bible
Matthew 9:21 Catholic Bible

NT Gospels: Matthew 9:21 For she said within herself If (Matt. Mat Mt)
Matthew 9:20
Top of Page
Top of Page