5:33

The order of the clauses of this verse is different in Greek than in most English versions. See the General Comment on 5:33a–c at the end of 5:33c for discussion of this issue.

5:33a

Then: The connector Then in the Berean Standard Bible introduces the woman’s reaction as Jesus continued to look around to discover who touched him. She knew that she was the person whom he had healed. Although she was afraid, she came, bowed at Jesus’ feet, and told him all about it. Introduce this verse in an appropriate way in your language.

knowing what had happened to her: This phrase expresses the reason that the woman came and bowed at the feet of Jesus. (Some versions and commentaries understand “knowing what had happened to her” as the reason for her fear and trembling. See, for example, Revised English Bible, New Living Translation, Phillips’ New Testament in Modern English, TRT; Hooker, Stein, Strauss. We have interpreted the clause as connecting with the series of main verbs, “came … fell … told”, judging that is more likely for a participial clause (“knowing …) to modify the main verbs rather than another participial clause (“fearing and trembling”). This interpretation of the syntax is followed by Good News Bible, New Century Version, T4T, and Cranfield.) She knew that she had been healed (5:29). She knew she was the one that Jesus was seeking. And so she came to him, maybe with mixed feelings of fear, joy, and gratitude. Indicate in a natural way in your language that this gives the reason for her coming to Jesus. For example, the Good News Bible says:

The woman realized what had happened to her, so she came, trembling with fear,…

If you think it may not be clear what knowing what had happened to her refers to, consider making this explicit. For example, the New Century Version says:

knowing that she was healed

5:33b

came: The woman was already near Jesus in the crowd. In some languages it may be more natural to use a verb that means to come a short distance or to come close to a person. For example:

she approached him
-or-
she came just in front of him

fell down before Him: The phrase fell down before Him indicates that she kneeled or bowed down with her face to the ground in front of Jesus to show respect. She did not fall accidentally. See how you translated the similar expression in 5:22b.

5:33c

trembling in fear: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as trembling in fear are literally “fearing and trembling.” These words indicate that the woman was so afraid that she was shaking. These words describe what the woman felt during all of her actions in this verse: “came,” “fell,” and “told.”

The text does not say the exact reason that the woman feared. This fear (or great awe) may have been due to being in the presence of the power of God and being the one blessed by receiving a great miracle. Or the fear may have been due the fact that her illness had made her ritually unclean. As an unclean person, she had broken the Jewish law by touching Jesus and also by being in the crowd. She may have been afraid that Jesus and the people would be angry. Because the biblical text does not make clear the reason for her fear, it is recommended that you do not make it explicit either in your translation.

told Him the whole truth: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as told Him the whole truth means that the woman admitted that she was the one who had touched Jesus. It may also imply that she also told Jesus about her illness.

Here are some other ways to translate this:

admitted/confessed that she had done this
-or-
told him the whole story (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
told him what she had done (New Living Translation)

General Comment on 5:33a–c

The order of the clauses of this verse is different in Greek than in most English versions. In Greek, the order of the clauses is:

The woman, fearing and trembling, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell before him, and said to him the whole truth.

Consider the order that would be most natural in your language.

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