Mark 9 · KJV
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Mark 9

Some will see the kingdom come with power

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Jesus solemnly tells his hearers that some of those standing there will not die before they see God's kingdom come with power.

What does this mean?

'Verily I say unto you' (KJV; WEB 'Most certainly I tell you') translates 'Amen I say to you', a solemn formula characteristic of Jesus. To 'taste of death' is an idiom for dying.

Why does it matter?

Interpreters differ on what Jesus means: the transfiguration that immediately follows, his resurrection, the coming of the Spirit, the destruction of the temple in 70 CE, or the final coming of God's kingdom. Mark's placement of the saying directly before the transfiguration suggests he saw at least a connection with that event.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

The transfiguration

And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus. And Peter answered and said to Jesus, Master, it is good for us to be here: and let us make three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid. And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him. And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

Six days later Jesus takes Peter, James and John up a high mountain, where he is transformed before them and his clothes become dazzling white. Elijah and Moses appear, talking with him. Peter offers to build three shelters; a cloud overshadows them and a voice says, 'This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.'

What does this mean?

'Transfigured' means changed in form or appearance. A 'fuller' (KJV) was a cloth-worker who cleaned and bleached wool (WEB 'launderer'). 'Tabernacles' (KJV) or 'tents' are temporary shelters. 'Wist' means knew; 'sore afraid' means terrified.

Historical context

Moses, the giver of the law, and Elijah, the great prophet, both met God on a mountain (Exodus 24; 1 Kings 19), and Elijah's return was expected. A cloud was a traditional sign of God's presence (Exodus 24:15–18). The mountain is unnamed; tradition identifies it as Mount Tabor, while many scholars suggest Mount Hermon, near Caesarea Philippi.

Why does it matter?

The voice repeats the words from Jesus' baptism (1:11), now addressed to the disciples, adding 'Listen to him' — directly after his hard teaching about suffering. Some interpreters connect Peter's offer with the Festival of Booths, when Jews lived in temporary shelters.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Told in three Gospels

How Mark tells it

Mark alone says Jesus' clothes became whiter than any launderer on earth could make them, and he does not mention Jesus' face shining (Matthew) or his praying (Luke). Mark names Elijah before Moses and explains that Peter spoke because he did not know what to say, being terrified. Only Luke reports what they discussed.

Coming down the mountain: Elijah

And as they came down from the mountain, he charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen, till the Son of man were risen from the dead. And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come? And he answered and told them, Elias verily cometh first, and restoreth all things; and how it is written of the Son of man, that he must suffer many things, and be set at nought. But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.

On the way down, Jesus orders the three to tell no one what they have seen until the Son of Man has risen from the dead. Puzzled, they ask why the scribes say Elijah must come first. Jesus replies that Elijah has indeed come, and people did to him whatever they wished.

What does this mean?

'Set at nought' (KJV) means treated with contempt. 'Listed' (KJV) means wished. 'Restoreth all things' refers to the expected work of setting things right before the end.

Historical context

Malachi 4:5–6 promises that God will send Elijah before the great day of the Lord, and Jewish expectation developed this into a hope that Elijah would return before the Messiah or the end of the age.

Why does it matter?

Jesus implies that John the Baptist fulfilled Elijah's role — Matthew makes this explicit (17:13) — and that John's fate foreshadows his own. The order of silence 'till the Son of man were risen' is the clearest sign in Mark that the secrecy surrounding Jesus is temporary.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

A boy with an unclean spirit

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him: and he was as one dead; insomuch that many said, He is dead. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

Coming down, Jesus finds his other disciples in an argument with scribes, having failed to drive a spirit out of a boy who suffers violent seizures. The father asks Jesus for help 'if you can'; Jesus replies that all things are possible to one who believes, and the father cries, 'I believe; help my unbelief.' Jesus drives out the spirit and raises the boy.

What does this mean?

A 'dumb spirit' (KJV) is one that makes him unable to speak. 'Teareth him' means throws him into convulsions; 'pineth away' means becomes rigid. 'Faithless generation' means unbelieving generation.

Historical context

The symptoms resemble what is now called epilepsy, a condition widely attributed in the ancient world to spirits; Matthew's version uses a word meaning 'moonstruck' (Matthew 17:15). A few important early manuscripts of verse 29 read only 'by prayer', without 'and fasting'.

Why does it matter?

The father's honest mixture of faith and doubt is one of Mark's most memorable moments. The contrast with the glory on the mountain is sharp: the disciples who stayed below are powerless. The boy who seems dead and is 'raised' anticipates the language of resurrection.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Jesus again foretells his death

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

Travelling quietly through Galilee, Jesus teaches his disciples that the Son of Man will be handed over, killed and rise again. They do not understand and are afraid to ask him.

What does this mean?

'Delivered into the hands of men' translates a verb meaning 'handed over', which Mark uses for John's arrest, Judas' betrayal, and Jesus' being handed over to Pilate and to crucifixion.

Why does it matter?

This is the second of three predictions of Jesus' death (8:31; 10:33–34). His wish for privacy is now for the sake of teaching his disciples. Their fear of asking prepares for the next scene, where their conversation on the road shows how far they are from understanding.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Who is the greatest?

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.

At Capernaum, Jesus asks what the disciples were discussing on the road; they say nothing, because they had argued about who was the greatest. He tells them that whoever wants to be first must be last and servant of all, and, taking a child in his arms, says that whoever welcomes such a child in his name welcomes him.

What does this mean?

'In my name' means for my sake, as my representative.

Historical context

Children had little status and no rights of their own in the ancient world; welcoming a child meant honouring someone who could give nothing back. Rank and precedence mattered greatly in the culture of the time.

Why does it matter?

Directly after Jesus speaks of his death, the disciples argue about status — a pattern repeated after the third prediction (10:35–45). Jesus' teaching overturns the usual order of honour, a theme running through this section of Mark.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Whoever is not against us

And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.

John reports that the disciples tried to stop someone who was driving out demons in Jesus' name, because he was not one of their group. Jesus tells them not to stop him: whoever is not against them is for them, and even someone who gives them a cup of water will be rewarded.

What does this mean?

'A miracle in my name' (KJV) means a powerful act done by calling on Jesus' name. 'Lightly' (KJV) means readily or soon. 'Because ye belong to Christ' means because you are followers of the Messiah.

Historical context

Exorcists in the ancient world, Jewish and non-Jewish, often invoked the names of powerful figures; Acts 19:13–16 describes others using Jesus' name. In Numbers 11:26–29, Moses likewise refuses to stop two men prophesying outside the camp.

Why does it matter?

Having just failed to drive out a spirit themselves (9:18), the disciples try to stop an outsider who succeeds. Matthew 12:30 and Luke 11:23 record a differently worded saying, 'He that is not with me is against me', in another context.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Warnings about causing others to stumble

And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Jesus warns severely against causing 'little ones' who believe to stumble, and says it would be better to lose a hand, a foot or an eye than to be thrown into Gehenna. He ends with sayings about salt and peace.

What does this mean?

'Offend' (KJV) means cause to stumble, to fall into sin. 'Halt' means lame. 'Hell' (KJV) translates Gehenna, the Valley of Hinnom beside Jerusalem, linked with ancient child sacrifice (Jeremiah 7:31) and used in Jewish writings as an image of final judgment. The 'millstone' is literally a donkey's millstone, the heavy upper stone of a large mill.

Historical context

Most interpreters read the language as deliberate exaggeration, not a literal command. The line about the worm and the fire comes from Isaiah 66:24; verses 44 and 46, which repeat it, are absent from many early manuscripts. Salt preserved food and was added to sacrifices (Leviticus 2:13).

Why does it matter?

Verse 49, 'every one shall be salted with fire', is one of the most obscure sayings in the Gospels, and interpreters offer many explanations. The teaching that began with the argument about greatness ends with a call to peace among the disciples.

Editorial notes, not scripture.

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

Chapters

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5
  6. 6
  7. 7
  8. 8
  9. 9
  10. 10
  11. 11
  12. 12
  13. 13
  14. 14
  15. 15
  16. 16

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Reading

Translation

KJVTraditional biblical languageWEBContemporary English

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

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Verse numbersSmall numerals within the text
About Mark