Bible Dictionary
Talitha cumi
An Aramaic expression meaning “Little girl, arise.” Jesus spoke these words when He raised Jairus’s daughter, as recorded in Mark 5:41; they were not a magical formula.
Definition
Talitha cumi is an Aramaic expression meaning “Damsel, arise” or “Little maid, arise.” It is a transliteration of the words spoken by Jesus in the account of Jairus’s daughter.
Biblical Usage
Jesus used the expression when He raised Jairus’s daughter. The words are recorded to preserve the tender speech used in the miracle and have no magical significance.
Historical Background
The phrase comes from Aramaic, the language identified in the supplied material as normally, and possibly exclusively, used by Christ. New Testament manuscripts transliterate it in slightly different forms.
Scripture References
Related Figures
Historical Bible Dictionaries
Easton's Bible Dictionary
(Mark 5:41), a Syriac or Aramaic expression, meaning, “Little maid, arise.” Peter, who was present when the miracle was wrought, recalled the actual words used by our Lord, and told them to Mark.
Smith's Bible Dictionary
two Syriac words, (Mark 5:41) signifying damsel, arise .
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>ta-le'-tha koo'-me (talitha koumi): Derived from the Aramaic Talyetha' qumi, "damsel, arise"), which in the New Testament manuscripts is transliterated variously (Westcott-Hort, Taleitha koum, otherwise Talitha koumi). We have no data for determining how far Jesus employed the Aramaic language, but Mark (5:41) notes its use in this tender incident, and there is strong probability that Aramaic was used normally, if not exclusively, by Christ. There is, however, no ground for attributing any magical significance to the use of the Aramaic words in connection with this miracle.</p>