Talitha Cumi: Resurrection Power in Action
**see post script for translation information on “cumi” verses “koum”**
by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan
In Mark 5:21-43, we encounter one of the most tender moments of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jairus, a synagogue leader, pleads with Jesus to heal his dying daughter. While en route to Jairus’ home, the heartbreaking news comes: the child has died. Yet, undeterred, Jesus enters the house, takes the girl by the hand, and speaks the life-giving words in Aramaic, “Talitha koum”—”Little girl, I say to you, arise.” Immediately, she rises, a testament to His resurrection power.
The same resurrection power Jesus displayed then is alive and active today. This truth became unmistakably clear to me during a recent Bible study and prayer session.
A Modern Encounter with Resurrection Power
Several weeks ago, during an in-home Bible study on Psalm 34, a young woman stayed behind, seeking prayer for deliverance. For years, she had dabbled in the occult and struggled with demonic oppression. As three of us gathered to intercede for her, we witnessed the Holy Spirit moving powerfully. Chains of suicide and unbelief began to break. But when we prayed against generational witchcraft, it felt as though our prayers met resistance, like a snag in the spiritual realm.
It was then that the Holy Spirit prompted my friend to have me read from Mark 5:21-43, the very story of Jairus’ daughter. As I read the passage aloud, the words “Talitha koum” stood out like never before. When I reached those words, something extraordinary happened—I was filled with an authority that wasn’t mine. I began to speak in tongues, but the utterances weren’t my usual prayer language. They carried a new tone, inflection, and power, echoing with a divine authority that only the Holy Spirit could provide.
What followed was miraculous. The unclean spirit turned and visibly recognized the words of Jesus spoken through me. It was as though time collapsed, and the same voice that raised Jairus’ daughter flowed through me as a vessel. The young woman, who had been bound by demonic oppression, witchcraft, and muteness, was delivered that night by the resurrection power of Jesus. For the first time in years, she spoke, proclaiming her acceptance of Jesus as her Savior and Bridegroom.
The Bridegroom and His Bride
That night, Jesus met this young woman exactly where she was—in despair, in depression, and in oppression. He didn’t see her as a lost cause. Instead, He saw His bride and extended His hand, much like He did with Jairus’ daughter. As she embraced His love and salvation, her journey of liberation and freedom began.
Her story is a testament to the enduring power of Jesus’ resurrection. The same Jesus who said, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25) lives today, delivering, healing, and transforming lives. The victory that began at the empty tomb continues in the lives of His people.
Reflections and Encouragement
Jesus’ resurrection power isn’t limited to physical death. It extends to every area of our lives: spiritual death, addiction, demonic oppression, and hopelessness. His words, “Talitha koum,” are a call to rise, to leave behind what binds us, and to step into the abundant life He offers.
Reflect on your own life. Are there areas where you need the resurrection power of Jesus to bring healing, deliverance, or restoration? Trust in Him, for He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
A Prayer for Resurrection Power
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for the resurrection power that flows through Jesus Christ. Thank You for meeting us in our brokenness and calling us to rise. Lord, I ask for Your life-giving power to touch every area of my life and the lives of those around me. Deliver us from oppression, heal our wounds, and restore what has been lost. Help us to walk in the fullness of Your love and freedom, proclaiming Your glory to the world. Father, thank You for Your faithfulness to send Jesus to teach us Your ways, to save us from condemnation, and to give us LIFE. Father, continue to teach us the resurrection and the life as we grow closer to heaven on earth. Teach us, Father! Open up our hearts, our eyes, and our ears so that we may truly know who YOU are! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Practical Application
- Speak Life-Giving Words
The words of Jesus bring life, hope, and restoration. Speak Scripture over yourself and others, trusting in its transformative power.- “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” (Proverbs 18:21, KJV)
- “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11, NIV)
- Pursue Intimacy with Jesus
Like Jairus, fall at His feet and seek His presence, knowing He is always willing to meet you where you are.- “Come near to God and he will come near to you.” (James 4:8, NIV)
- “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13, KJV)
- Celebrate His Victory
Share your testimonies of healing and deliverance to glorify God and encourage others in their faith.- “They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death.” (Revelation 12:11, NIV)
- “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known among the nations what he has done.” (1 Chronicles 16:8, NIV)
This is the power of Jesus: to restore, to deliver, and to resurrect. Let us praise His holy name, for He truly is our Savior and Redeemer!
If you need prayer, please contact me at agingenglishmajor@gmail.com so that I and my prayer team can intercede for you. In this season, I pray for peace, for comfort, and for understanding in your walk with Jesus!
Praise While Writing
Post Script
The difference between koum and cumi lies in the transliteration and language variations, but they essentially mean the same thing: “Arise” or “Get up.”
Explanation:
- Aramaic Word:
- The original Aramaic word spoken by Jesus is קֻםיָּא (Qumiya) or a similar variant, depending on the dialect.
- In Mark 5:41, Jesus says “Talitha koum” (or “Talitha cumi” in some translations), which translates to “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”
- Transliteration Variations:
- Koum: This is the transliteration commonly used in modern translations, closer to the Aramaic pronunciation.
- Cumi: This is the older, more traditional transliteration, often seen in the King James Version (KJV) and other historical texts.
- Grammatical Insight:
- The root “kum” (קֻם) means “rise” or “stand.”
- The -i suffix in cumi denotes the imperative feminine form, addressing the girl directly as “You, rise!”
- Both koum and cumi aim to capture the same meaning, but koum is closer to the original Aramaic.
In short, there is no difference in meaning between koum and cumi—the distinction lies in the choice of transliteration and historical versus modern usage.
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The Aging English Major 