Martha of Korazim
A Woman bent for eighteen years, healed, because of her faith, by Jesus on a Sabbath day in the synagogue of Corozaïn.[1]
This scandalizes the head of the synagogue:"There are six days to work, six days to ask and to give. Come then on those days, both to ask and to give. Come to heal on those days, without violating the Sabbath, sinners and unbelievers, corrupt and corrupters of the Law!"But Jesus, seeing him helped by four notable men, answers them:
"Hypocrites! Which of you, on this day, has not untied his ox or donkey from the manger and led it to drink? And who has not carried bundles of grass to the ewes of the flock and milked the full teats? Why then, since you have six days to do it, did you also do it today for a few denarii of milk or for fear that your ox or donkey might die of Thirst? And I, should I not have To Loosen this Woman from the chains by which Satan held her for eighteen years, only because it is the Sabbath?"[2]
Character and appearance[edit | edit source]
"Lame with her stick, at the height of which is her head".[3]
Apostolic journey[edit | edit source]
A faithful believer:"Woman, receive a reward for your silent and humble faith. Be delivered from your infirmity."[4]
She will be present at Jesus’s aGod, before his Passion, among the few faithful of Chorazin.[5]
Her name[edit | edit source]
In Aramaic "lady" or "mistress".
Where is she mentioned in the work?[edit | edit source]
EMV 337
EMV 469
Learn more about this character[edit | edit source]
The bent Woman has often been confused with the Woman with the hemorrhage whom the Christ healed[6]. These are two distinct persons: the bent Woman (here Martha of Korazim[7]) had been bent for 18 years, while the hemorrhaging woman[8] had been suffering for 12 years.