Matthew 9:24
Give place: for the maid is not dead,
To mourners at the magistrate's house.
Matthew 9:24 Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth.
Matthew 9:24 Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.
Get back. Because she didn't pass away, this little girl. Instead, she sleeps.
Greek
Greek Word Order
Sometimes we have to move back to leave Jesus room ito wake us up.
Lost in Translation
This verse starts with a unique word for Jesus to use, but it is different from the unique word that begins the parallel verse in Mark (Mark 5:39) . The word used here has the sense of "get back" or "retire." The word may have been chosen because the crowd had jumped to a conclusion about the child's death. This verse also use a different word for "maid" that the word used for "damsel" in Mark, though this word is in the following verse of Mark. Both verses end the same.
In more modern translations, the word meaning "because" ("for" in KJV) is left out becuse Jesus seems like he is answering Unrecorded Dialogue.
Vocabulary (Greek word by word)
Ἀναχωρεῖτε, [unique]( verb 2nd pl pres imperat act) "Give place" is anachōreō, which means to "go back," "walk backwards," and "withdraw."
οὐ (partic) "Not" is ou which is the negative adverb for facts and statements, negating both single words and sentences. The other negative adverb, μή applies to will and thought; οὐ denies, μή rejects; οὐ is absolute, μή relative; οὐ objective, μή subjective. -- The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
γὰρ (partic) "For" comes from gar which is the introduction of a clause explaining a reason or explanation: "for," "since," and "as." In an abrupt question, it means "why" and "what." --
ἀπέθανεν (3rd sg aor ind act) "Dead" is from apothnesko, which means "to die," "to pass away." and "to die off."
τὸ (article sg neut nom ) "The" is the Greek definite article, hos, ("the"), which usually precedes a noun and, without a noun, takes the meaning of "the one" or, in the plural, "the ones."
κοράσιον,[2 verses](noun sg neut nom ) "Maid" is from the Greek korasion, which means "little girl" and "maiden."
ἀλλὰ (adv) "But" is from alla, which means "otherwise," "but," "still," "at least," "except," "yet," nevertheless," "rather," "moreover," and "nay." It denotes an exception or a simple opposition.
καθεύδει. [12 verses](3rd sg pres ind act) "Sleep" is from katheudo, which means "to lie down to sleep," "to sleep," and "to lie asleep."
KJV — word by word
Give place: - "Give place" is used by Jesus uniquely here. It means to "go back," "walk backwards," and "withdraw."
for - The word translated as "for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
maid - "Maid" is a Greek noun that means "little girl" and "maiden." This word is only used twice by Jesus, once here and once in a verse in Mark referring to the same girl.
is -- (WT) This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb, but the verb is not the present but a form that means "at a certain point" and can refer to past, present, or future.
not The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
dead - (WF) The word translated as "dead" is the verb that means "die." It is not the noun.
but - The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "rather." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise."
sleepeth. - "Sleepeth" is a verb means "to lie down to sleep," "to sleep," and "to lie asleep."
NIV — word by word
Go away. - "Give place" is used by Jesus uniquely here. It means to "go back," "walk backwards," and "withdraw."
missing "because" -- (MW) The untranslated word is"for" introduces a reason or explanation so "because" and, in questions, "why." However, since this word always appears in the second position, it is more like an aside remark like, "consequently" or "as a cause."
the - The word translated as "the" is the Greek definite article, which usually precedes a noun. The Greek article is much closer to our demonstrative pronouns ("this," "that," "these," "those"). See this article for more.
maid - "Maid" is a Greek noun that means "little girl" and "maiden." This word is only used twice by Jesus, once here and once in a verse in Mark referring to the same girl.
is -- (WT) This helping verb indicates the present tense of the verb, but the verb is not the present but a form that means "at a certain point" and can refer to past, present, or future.
not - The Greek word translated as "not" is the Greek negative used to deny objective facts, not opinions. It makes a negative statement of fact. Adding "really" to the sentence captures the same idea.
dead (WF) The word translated as "dead" is the verb that means "die." It is not the noun.
but - The Greek word translated as "but" denotes an exception or simple opposition. It is used to emphasize the contrast between things like we use "rather." It is the Greek word "other" like we use "otherwise."
asleep. - (WF) "Asleep" is a verb means "to lie down to sleep," "to sleep," and "to lie asleep." It is not an adjective.