Strong’s Greek 2891, κούμ (koum), preserves the Aramaic imperative “arise” uttered by Jesus when raising Jairus’s twelve-year-old daughter. It appears a single time in the Greek New Testament, embedded in Mark 5:41.

Narrative Setting in Mark 5

Mark clusters three miracles—stilling the storm, expelling a legion of demons, and resurrecting Jairus’s daughter—to unveil Christ’s authority over nature, the demonic, and death. The evangelist pauses to reproduce Jesus’ exact Aramaic command:

“Taking her by the hand, He said to her, ‘Talitha koum!’ (which means, ‘Little girl, I say to you, get up!’)” (Mark 5:41).

The verb κούμ is the pivotal word that turns mourning into astonishment (Mark 5:42).

Theological Significance

1. Authority over Death: Jesus’ simple imperative reverses physical death, previewing His own resurrection and the future resurrection of believers (1 Corinthians 15:20-22).
2. Power of the Spoken Word: Scripture opens with “God said” (Genesis 1). Jesus, the incarnate Word, likewise speaks life, reinforcing the unity of divine revelation.
3. Compassionate Particularity: By using her native tongue and tender address (“little girl”), the Savior personalizes divine power, illustrating that omnipotence is exercised with intimate love.

Historical and Linguistic Notes

• Aramaic was the everyday language of first-century Galilee. Mark’s Greek-speaking audience receives a transliteration plus translation, grounding the Gospel in eyewitness memory.
• The preservation of κούμ testifies to the early church’s concern for historical accuracy, countering claims that the miracle accounts are later theological embellishments.
• Some manuscripts read κούμι, adding a final vowel to mirror the feminine form. Both reflect the same Aramaic root and carry identical force.

Foreshadowing Resurrection Hope

Jesus’ command anticipates His promise: “All who are in the tombs will hear His voice and come out” (John 5:28-29). The instantaneous response to κούμ foreshadows the day when Christ’s call will awaken all who belong to Him (1 Thessalonians 4:16).

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Comfort in Bereavement: The episode affirms that death does not have the last word for those in Christ.
• Evangelistic Appeal: As Jesus physically raised one child, He spiritually raises all who heed His voice (Ephesians 2:4-6).
• Model for Prayer: Believers intercede with confidence, knowing that the Lord who said “koum” still commands life and renewal.

Connection with “Arise” Motifs in Scripture

Though κούμ itself is unique, its theme resonates throughout Scripture:

– Elijah’s “Arise” to the widow’s son (1 Kings 17:22).

– Jesus’ “Young man, I say to you, arise” to the Nain widow’s son (Luke 7:14).

– The command, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43).

Each instance displays divine authority punctuated by a direct call, culminating in the empty tomb.

Tradition and Worship

Early baptismal liturgies sometimes echoed κούμ to symbolize rising to new life. In Christian art, scenes of Jairus’s daughter often include the Aramaic phrase, highlighting both historical rootedness and eschatological promise.

By preserving κούμ, the Gospel of Mark invites every reader to hear the same living voice that once pierced the stillness of a death-shrouded room and to trust that the One who said “arise” remains “the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).