Jesus took her hand and spoke to her, “Talitha kum” (which translated means little one, arise.”) Mark 5:41

Jesus and those in his community spoke Aramaic. The New Testament is written in Greek. Aramaic was a dying language; Greek an ascending one. For the New Testament to be written in Greek gave it longitudinal vitality and a cultural span that Aramaic would not have afforded.

Here, Mark does not translate Jesus’ words, as he does in essentially the rest of his writing. He preserves the original Aramaic words Jesus spoke, and then provides a translation for his audience that is presumed to know Greek, but perhaps not Aramaic. In preserving the Aramaic Jesus used, Mark preserves an important nuance.

The first of the two Aramaic words, “talitha,” is usually translated to English as “little girl.” This English term itself has a variety of connotations. In some contexts and by some users, it could even be intended to be disparaging.

Looking to the Hebrew origin forecloses such ambiguity, and deepens the affection behind the word. The word could be translated “maiden,” but that term has become archaic, and itself gives conjures up a wrong impression of “matron,” or medieval fairytales.

“Talitha” comes from the Hebrew, taleh, meaning “lamb.”

• Samuel offered a suckling taleh in sacrifice and intercession, 1 Samuel 7:9
• Isaiah prophesied, like a Shepherd He will tend or nurture His flock; in His arm He will gather the taleh and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes, i.e., those who have young taleh, Isaiah 40:11
• The wolf and the taleh will graze together, Isaiah 65:24

“Little lamb,” Jesus says to the 12 year old girl, recognizing her youth and vulnerability, and His intention to care for her.

Sheep get cast down, literally, on their backs, with their feet in the air. They cannot right themselves.  In that condition they have no defense against predators; they cannot run away. If not taken by a predator, then they will die from exposure and dehydration. The only remedy is for the shepherd to pick up the lamb, and set her on her feet.

Jesus does so here. “Little lamb,” kum. “Kum” is another Aramaic word, in this case used in portions of the Hebrew Bible written in Aramaic, in Ezekiel, and Daniel. “Arise” is a fair translation. But it implies more. It is often used in geopolitical contexts, such as a king or ruler arising in power:

• It is He [God] who changes the times and the epochs. He removes kings and raises them up [kum], Daniel 2:21
• Nebuchadnezzar raised up [kum] an obelisk in his own honor, Daniel 3:1
• See Daniel 5, 6 and 7, which is written in Aramaic, and uses this word frequently

Jesus is not just telling the young women to stand up, but:

“Little lamb, rise up in power and purpose.”

Jesus’ ministry is not limited to 12 year old girls, thankfully. These words are spoken to all of us, to me.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them. Ephesians 2:1-10.

This a more expansive version of “little sheep, arise.”

He calls me out of purposelessness, and death itself. He calls me to arise, to life, to purpose, to good works that he has prepared. 

Thank God that He does.

The young girl’s father had sent for Jesus when she was seriously ill. While Jesus was still en route, word came that she had passed. “Don’t trouble the teacher anymore,” the crowd enjoined her father. “It’s too late.” Jesus pressed on. She had a purpose, and Jesus would see that she would arise to fulfill it. Death itself would not prevent Him.

It’s never too late. His Word still comes. Two little words preserved from a lost language, because they are spoken by Jesus, have eternal transformative power for all us.

Little sheep, though you were cast down, now I say to you, arise to your purpose.

~~~