“Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?”
The full verse · Mark 5:31 · KJV
unto , Thou the , sayest , ?
The Scene
Why It Was Asked
The purpose behind the questionTo the disciples, Jesus' question made no sense. People were pressing on Him from every side, so of course many had touched Him. Luke adds that "all denied" touching Him before Peter spoke up (Luke 8:45). Gill says, "They seem astonished at his question, and answer with some degree of warmth." Matthew Henry is blunter: the disciples, "not without a show of rudeness and indecency," "almost ridiculed his question." They were not wrong about the crowd. What they could not see was that one touch among many had been a touch of faith.
The Response
What Scripture recordsJesus did not argue with them. Mark says simply, "he looked round about to see her that had done this thing" (Mark 5:32). In Luke, He answers, "Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me" (Luke 8:46). His search ended when the woman came "fearing and trembling" and "told him all the truth" (Mark 5:33). The disciples' question was answered by the woman herself.
Historical Context
The world behind the wordsThe word "thronging" translates synthlibo, which Thayer defines as "to press together, press on all sides." It appears only twice in the New Testament, both in this story: "much people followed him, and thronged him" (Mark 5:24) and here. When Jesus came back across the sea, "much people gathered unto him" (Mark 5:21).
The verb "said" is in the imperfect tense, a form often used for continuing action. Luke's parallel puts the words in Peter's mouth: "Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee" (Luke 8:45).
The Bigger Picture
Where this fits in God's storyThe disciples saw a crowd. Jesus felt the touch of one person's faith. Many people pressed against Him that day, but only one reached out believing, "If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole" (Mark 5:28), and only one went home healed and blessed (Mark 5:34). Being near Jesus and reaching for Him in faith are not the same thing.
The moment also shows Jesus' patience with His followers. The disciples had already asked Him, in the storm, "Master, carest thou not that we perish?" (Mark 4:38). Here again they question Him, and again He simply goes on doing what they do not yet understand.
Look Closer
Why did the disciples find Jesus' question strange?
Carry the question into prayer and conversation.
Lord Jesus, in all the busyness around You in my life, what would it look like for me to reach for You in faith and not only be near You?
A prayer to carry into the day.
- The disciples saw a crowd, while Jesus noticed one person. Where is it easy for you to see people as a crowd rather than as individuals?
- Tell about a time someone noticed you when you felt lost in a crowd. What did it mean to you?
For you, a small group, a friend, or the dinner table.
It is possible to be close to Jesus, in church, in Christian friendships, in daily routines, and still not reach for Him in faith. Many people pressed against Jesus that day. One reached out to Him believing. Ask yourself which describes you today.
The disciples were not wrong about the facts. The crowd really was pressing. Their mistake was thinking that since everyone touched Him, no single touch could matter. Jesus knows the difference, and He notices you even in a crowd. When you do not understand what He is doing, you can say so honestly, as the disciples did, and then watch what He does next.
Built from the biblical text and checked against trusted commentaries and lexicons. References & Sources
Keep questioning
“Who touched me? Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?”
“Who touched my clothes?”
“Master, carest thou not that we perish?”
“Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat?”