Matthew 9:24

τὸ κοράσιον. Diminutive of affection. This form is rejected by the Atticists in favour of κόριον, κορίδιον, κορίσκη, κορίσκιον. It is frequent in Epictetus, Lucian, and other late authors. See Lob. Phryn. 73, and Sturz, De dial. Maced. p. 42.

οὐ γὰρ�. These words are reported without variation by the three Synoptists; it is open to question whether they ought not to be taken literally. For although κοιμᾶσθαι is frequently used both by classical authors and in the N.T. of the sleep of death, it is doubtful whether this metaphorical sense is ever attached to καθεύδειν in the N.T. or elsewhere. Λάζαρος ὁ φίλος ἡμῶν κεκοίμηται (not καθεύδει) John 11:11; καὶ τοῦτο εἰπὼν ἐκοιμήθη, Acts 7:60. The Jews also spoke of death as sleep, but it is clear that in this instance they understood Jesus to speak of natural sleep.

κατεγέλων. For the force of κατὰ cp. καταφιλεῖν, ch. Matthew 26:49; Acts 20:37, and Thuc. III. 83, καταγελασθὲν ἠφανίσθη.