"And, behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue: and he fell down at Jesus' feet, and besought him that he would come into his house."
Biblical Name · Hebrew/Greek Origin
Jairus Meaning in the Bible
Jairus
boy
Jairus means "He will enlighten; God enlightens", a boy's name of Hebrew/Greek origin. Jairus appears in the King James Bible, and Luke 8:41-42 is the passage most often tied to it. Jairus models faith that pushes past bad news — even when told it's too late, he trusted that Jesus could still act.
Is Jairus in the Bible?
Yes — Jairus appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 8:41-42.
Pronunciation:/JAY-rus/
OriginHebrew/Greek
MeaningHe will enlighten; God enlightens
What does Jairus mean?
Jairus is a boy name of Hebrew/Greek origin meaning "He will enlighten; God enlightens". Jairus was a synagogue ruler who fell at Jesus' feet begging for his dying daughter.
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Editor’s reflection
A synagogue ruler who fell at Jesus' feet — and was made to wait while his daughter died.
Jairus (Greek Ἰάειρος) is the Greek form of the Hebrew Jair, 'he enlightens' or 'he shines,' from the root or, 'light.' The Old Testament Jair appears in Numbers 32:41 and as a judge in Judges 10:3.
The New Testament Jairus is 'one of the rulers of the synagogue' in Mark 5 and Luke 8 — a man with a public position who falls at Jesus' feet and begs Him to come, because his twelve-year-old daughter is dying. What happens next is the part people remember: on the way, a woman with a twelve-year issue of blood touches Jesus' garment, and the whole procession stops for her. During that delay, the message arrives: 'Thy daughter is dead; why troublest thou the Master any further?'
Jesus' answer — 'Be not afraid, only believe' — and then 'Talitha cumi' in the child's own room, is one of only three raisings recorded in the Gospels. Jairus is almost never used as a given name, but Jair and the Spanish Jairo are in steady use, and both carry the same root: light.
“Be not afraid, only believe.”
What does Jairus mean in the Bible?
Jairus means "He will enlighten; God enlightens" and is a name of Hebrew/Greek origin. Below is what Scripture and Christian tradition attach to that meaning.
Where does Jairus appear in the Bible (KJV)?
Jairus is connected to 1 key passage in the King James Bible, beginning with Luke 8:41-42. Each verse is quoted in full below.
"As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe."
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What are the variants and nicknames of Jairus?
Jairus has 1 recorded variant, short form, and translation across languages and biblical traditions.
Variants & related forms
Which books of the Bible mention Jairus?
Jairus is mentioned across 3 books of the Bible. Follow any book below to read it in the KJV.
What is the spiritual meaning of Jairus?
Jairus models faith that pushes past bad news — even when told it's too late, he trusted that Jesus could still act.
Related Promises of God
Promises connected to the meaning of the name Jairus:
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Bible promises about God's unwavering faithfulness in every situation.
God Promises Contentment Through Him
Bible promises about finding true satisfaction and contentment in God.
God Promises to Answer Prayer
Bible promises that God hears and answers the prayers of His people.
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What names are related to Jairus?
Names like Jairus
Other Hebrew/Greek biblical names that share the spirit of "He will enlighten; God enlightens" — discovered by matching meaning category and origin.
Names that pair well with Jairus
Sibling sets, middle-name combinations, and complementary pairings chosen for matching origin, meaning, and similar syllable weight.
Adriah
girl
"Rich or dark"
Jairus & Adriah
Cassia
girl
"Cinnamon-like spice"
Jairus & Cassia
Cassia
girl
"Cinnamon; Fragrant spice"
Jairus & Cassia
Cassia
girl
"Cinnamon-like spice; Fragrant bark"
Jairus & Cassia
Cassia
girl
"Fragrant spice; Cinnamon-like (Keziah)"
Jairus & Cassia
Emmaus
unisex
"Warm springs"
Jairus & Emmaus
Share the meaning of Jairus
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Jairus name meaning: frequently asked questions
Jairus is the Greek form of Hebrew Jair, 'he enlightens' or 'he shines.' In English it is commonly pronounced JYE-rus, though jah-EER-us follows the Greek more closely. The related forms Jair and Jairo are far more common as given names today.
Yes — Jairus appears in the King James Bible, including Luke 8:41-42.
Jairus means "He will enlighten; God enlightens." It is a Hebrew/Greek name. The King James Bible uses it in Luke 8:41-42, so the meaning is carried by a real person in Scripture.
Common questions about the name Jairus
Can I download a free King James Bible PDF to study the name Jairus?
Yes. The complete King James Bible is available as a free PDF download — all 66 books, 1,189 chapters, ready to read offline or print. No sign-up required.
Where can I read the full biblical context for Jairus?
You can read every verse where Jairus appears in the King James Bible by downloading the free KJV PDF or reading online. The download page also includes a bookmarked Book of Psalms KJV PDF for easy reference.