κοῦμι

arise

Definition

Κοῦμι is an Aramaic word transliterated into Greek, meaning 'arise' or 'stand up.' It is an imperative command, directly instructing someone to get up from a prone or seated position. In its sole New Testament occurrence, it is spoken by Jesus in Mark 5:41 when He raises Jairus's daughter from the dead. The word carries a sense of authoritative summons, not merely a physical rising but a restoration to life and activity. As a transliterated Aramaic term, it preserves the exact sound of Jesus's spoken command in a poignant, personal moment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Mark 5:41. Jesus uses it in the specific context of performing a miracle, commanding a young girl who had died to return to life. The usage is highly contextual and dramatic, marking a direct, personal address in a language (Aramaic) commonly spoken by Jesus and His contemporaries. Its singular occurrence highlights it as a memorable, verbatim record of Jesus's powerful words.

Etymology

Κοῦμι (koymi) is not originally a Greek word but a direct Greek transliteration of the Aramaic imperative 'qûmî' (קוּמִי), which means 'arise!' (addressed to a female). It is derived from the common Semitic root *q-w-m, meaning 'to rise' or 'to stand.' The Greek text of Mark preserves this Aramaic term to capture the exact utterance of Jesus, followed immediately by its Greek translation (τὸ κοράσιον, σοὶ λέγω, ἔγειρε) for the reader's understanding.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it records the very word of command Jesus used to demonstrate His authority over death. Understanding that this is Jesus's actual spoken Aramaic, preserved in Greek letters, connects the reader intimately to the historical event and underscores the power of Christ's word to bring life from death (cf. John 5:28-29). It highlights Jesus's role as the giver of life and prefigures His own resurrection, enriching our reading by emphasizing the personal and authoritative nature of His miracles.

In its original setting, Jesus's use of Aramaic (the everyday language of Judea in the 1st century) rather than Greek or Hebrew made the command immediately understandable to the family present (Mark 5:40). The preservation of this Aramaic word in a Greek gospel may also serve to authenticate the eyewitness nature of the account, lending a sense of vivid, historical reality. The command 'arise' to a deceased person would have been culturally shocking, confronting Jewish beliefs about the finality of death.

ἐγείρω (egeirō, G1453) — The common Greek verb for 'to raise' or 'awaken,' used broadly for resurrection and waking up. ἀνίστημι (anistēmi, G450) — Means 'to stand up' or 'rise,' often with a sense of rising to action or from the dead.

Word Details

Scripture References