Verse 41
And he took the damsel by the hand ,.... See Gill on Matthew 9:25 .
And said unto her ; in the Syriac language, which was then commonly spoken by the Jews, and well understood: hence the Syriac version expresses the following words without an interpretation,
Talitha Cumi . The Ethiopic version reads it, "Tabitha Cumi"; and so do some Greek copies, and Latin versions, taking it to be the same word as in Acts 9:36 whereas that signifies "Dorcas, a roe"; but this word is of another signification, as here explained,
which is, being interpreted, damsel (I say unto thee) arise . The phrase, "I say unto thee", is no part of the interpretation of the above Syriac words; but is added, by the evangelist, as being what was expressed by Christ at the same time, signifying his authority and power over death; only "damsel arise", is the interpretation of them, טלי , "Tali", signifies a "boy", and טליתא , "Talitha", a "girl"; and so they are often used in the Targums F23 Targum Hieres in Deut. xxii. 21. & Targum Sheni in Esther ii. 9. , and in the Talmud: the one is used for a boy of seventeen years of age F24 T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 142. 2. Gloss. in ib. , and the other for a girl of sixteen or seventeen years of age F25 lb. fol. 91. 2. ; so that this child might well be called by this name, since she was but twelve years of age; and קומי , "Cumi", is the imperative קום , "to arise".
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