“Talitha koum”… Many have heard the story of Jairus’ daughter. But this is a view that you may not have thought of or studied before. I posted this the other day in relation to our granddaughter who is critically ill in the hospital. We believe she will be healed and know that Jesus will lift her up.
In Mark 5:21-43 is an outstanding example of healing: Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, approached Jesus and fell at his feet, his daughter was ill. He came to ask Jesus to heal her, but before Jesus had reached Jairus’ house, his messengers told him his daughter had died, but Jesus told Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” He then forbid the crowd to follow them. He chose only Peter, James, and John to accompany them (those who believed) to Jairus’ house. When they arrived, he told the people who gathered to mourn; that the girl only slept and they laughed and scorned him. So, Jesus told them all to leave. He only allowed her parents and the three disciples to accompany him into her room. He went in took her by the hand and told her, “Talitha koum.” Immediately, the 12 year old girl arose, then Jesus instructed the parents to feed her nourishment.
The phrase, ‘Talitha koum’ stood out to me and in the different translations, it is worded many different ways, but I felt there was more than has been translated, so I did some searching of my own on the root word. If you look up the etymology of the word ‘talitha’ in Aramaic, going all the way back to the root, it means “lamb.” If you look at it in Hebrew, the word ‘taleth’ is very similar in sound and also means, “lamb.” But there is also another set of words that are very similar to these two ‘talya’ and the meanings are to lift up and to cover. This word later became the name Talith, meaning “a cloak of honor or distinction.”
Who is Our covering, but THE LAMB, Jesus, and we are His Lambs, we Belong to Jesus. So to me it is no wonder, he would say, “Lamb, you are covered, be lifted up!” Remember only the lamb can resurrect the dead in Christ and can heal the sick. The power to heal comes through Jesus.
Katie Storme 