Talitha Cumi

Tal'itha Cu'mi (ταλιθὰ κοῦμι; Aram. קוּמַי טלַיתָא, telitha Mimi), two Syriac words (Mark 5, 41) signifying "Damsel, arise." The word טליתא occurs in the Chald. paraphrase of Pr 9:3, where it signifies a girl; and Lightfoot (Horae Heb. Mark 5, 41) gives an instance of its use in the same sense by a rabbinical writer. Gesenius (Thesaur. p. 550) derives it from the Hebrew טלה, a lamb. The word קומי is both Hebrew and Syriac (2 p. fem. imperative, Kal, and Peal), signifying stand, arise. As might be expected, the last clause of this verse, after Cumi, is not found in the Syriac version. Jerome (Ep. 57 ad Pammachium, Opp. 1, 308 [ed. Vallars]) records that Mark was blamed for a false translation on account of the insertion of the words "I say unto thee;" but Jerome points to this as an instance of the superiority of a free over a literal translation, inasmuch as the words inserted serve to show the emphasis of our Lord's manner in giving this command on his own personal authority.

⇒See also the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia.