Mark 9
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
9 1 And[a] He was saying to them, “Truly I say to you that there are some of the ones standing here who will by-no-means taste death until[b] they see the kingdom of God having come in power”.
Three Disciples See Jesus Transformed, And Hear God Tell Them To Listen To Jesus
2 And after six days, Jesus takes along Peter and James and John, and brings them up on a high mountain privately, alone. And He was transfigured[c] in front of them. 3 And His garments became shining[d], very white, such as a bleacher[e] on earth is not able to make so white. 4 And Elijah appeared to them, with Moses. And they were talking-with Jesus. 5 And having responded, Peter says to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here. And let us make three dwellings[f]— one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah”. 6 For he did not know what he should respond, for they became terrified. 7 And there came-to-be a cloud overshadowing[g] them. And a voice came out of the cloud: “This is My beloved Son. Be listening-to Him”. 8 And suddenly, having looked around, they no longer saw anyone with themselves but Jesus alone.
The Disciples Ask, Wasn’t Elijah Supposed To Come Before The Messiah?
9 And while they were coming down from the mountain, He gave orders to them that they should relate to no one the things which they saw, except when the Son of Man rises-up from the dead. 10 And they held[h] the matter to themselves, discussing what the ‘rising-up from the dead’ meant. 11 And they were questioning Him, saying “Why is it that the scribes say that Elijah must come first[i]?” 12 And the One said to them, “Elijah, having come first, restores all things— and-yet how has it been written for[j] the Son of Man that He would suffer many things and be treated-with-contempt[k]? 13 But I say to you that Elijah indeed has come[l], and they did to him whatever they were wanting, just as it has been written for him”.
A Father Pleads With Jesus To Heal His Son Whom The Disciples Could Not Heal
14 And having come to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and scribes debating[m] with them. 15 And immediately all the multitude, having seen Him, were struck-with-wonder. And running-up, they were greeting Him. 16 And He asked them, “What are you debating with them?” 17 And one from the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought my son having a mute spirit to You. 18 And wherever it overcomes[n] him, it throws-him-to-the-ground, and he foams-at-the-mouth and grinds his teeth and becomes-stiff. And I spoke[o] to Your disciples in order that they might cast it out, and they were not strong-enough [p]”. 19 And the One, having responded to them, says “O unbelieving[q] generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I bear-with you? Bring him to Me”. 20 And they brought him to Him. And having seen Him, the spirit immediately convulsed him. And having fallen on the ground, he was rolling-himself while foaming-at-the-mouth. 21 And He asked his father, “How long is it since this has happened to him?” And the one said, “From childhood. 22 And it often threw him even into fire and into waters in order that it might destroy him. But if You are able to do anything, help[r] us, having felt-deep-feelings [of pity] toward us”. 23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You are able?’ All things are possible for the one believing”. 24 Immediately, having cried-out, the father of the child was saying, “I believe. Help my unbelief ”. 25 And Jesus, having seen that a crowd is running-together-upon them, rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you— come out of him and enter into him no longer”. 26 And having cried-out, and having convulsed him greatly, it came out. And he became as if dead, so that the majority were saying that “He died”. 27 But Jesus, having taken hold of his hand, raised him. And he stood-up. 28 And He having entered into a house, His disciples were questioning Him privately, “Why is it that we were not able to cast it out?” 29 And He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing except by prayer”.
Jesus Again Teaches His Disciples That He Must Die And Be Raised
30 And having gone forth from there, they were passing through Galilee. And He was not wanting anyone to know it. 31 For He was teaching His disciples, and saying to them that “The Son of Man is being handed-over into the hands of men. And they will kill Him. And having been killed, He will rise-up after three days”. 32 But the ones were not-understanding the statement, and they were fearing to question Him.
The Disciples Argue About Who Is The Greatest. Jesus Says, To Be First You Must Be Last
33 And they came to Capernaum. And having come-to-be in the house, He was questioning them, “What were you discussing on the way?” 34 But the ones were being silent. For on the way they argued with one another who was greater[s]. 35 And having sat-down, He called the twelve. And He says to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall[t] be last of all, and servant of all”.
Whoever Welcomes a Child In My Name Welcomes Me
36 And having taken a child, He stood him[u] in the middle of them. And having taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such-as-these children[v] on the basis of My name, welcomes Me. And whoever welcomes Me does not [merely] welcome Me, but the One having sent Me forth”.
John Recalls an Instance When The Disciples Did Not Welcome Someone
38 John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting-out demons in Your name. And we were forbidding him because he was not following us”. 39 But Jesus said, “Do not be forbidding him. For there is no one who will do a miracle on the basis of My name, and soon be able to speak-evil-of Me. 40 For he who is not against[w] us is for us. 41 For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in the name that you are Christ’s— truly I say to you that he will by no means lose his reward.
Whoever Causes One of These Little Ones To Fall Would Be Better Off Dead
42 “And whoever causes one of these little ones believing in Me to fall— it would be better for him if instead a donkey’s millstone[x] were lying around his neck, and he had[y] been thrown into the sea.
Better To Remove Whatever Causes You To Fall Than To Go Into Hell
43 And if your hand should be causing you to fall, cut[z] it off. It is better that you enter into life crippled than go into Gehenna[aa] having two hands— into the inextinguishable[ab] fire. 44 [ac] 45 And if your foot should be causing you to fall, cut it off. It is better that you enter into life lame than be thrown into Gehenna having two feet. 46 [ad] 47 And if your eye should be causing you to fall, throw it out. It is better that you enter into the kingdom of God one-eyed than be thrown into Gehenna having two eyes— 48 where their worm[ae] does not come-to-an-end, and the fire is not quenched. 49 For everyone will be salted with fire.
Have Salt In Yourselves, And Live In Peace
50 “Salt is good. But if the salt should become unsalty, with what will you season it? Be having salt[af] in yourselves, and be living-in-peace with one another”.
Footnotes
- Mark 9:1 In contrast to the shame of His death, which led to the words of v 33-38, Jesus now speaks of His power.
- Mark 9:1 See Mt 16:28.
- Mark 9:2 Or, transformed.
- Mark 9:3 Or, glistening, gleaming, radiant.
- Mark 9:3 Or, fuller, cloth refiner.
- Mark 9:5 Or, tents.
- Mark 9:7 Or, covering, hovering over.
- Mark 9:10 they held the matter to themselves discussing what. Or, they seized the statement, discussing with themselves what.
- Mark 9:11 Since You are the Messiah, where is Elijah. Mal 4:5 says he comes before You.
- Mark 9:12 That is, as destined to occur to.
- Mark 9:12 Or, despised. If Elijah restores all things and Messiah comes in glory, how can this be true also?
- Mark 9:13 Jesus may mean Elijah is coming in the future, but already came in John the Baptist; there are two comings of Elijah, just as with the Messiah. Or, He may mean Elijah is coming as the scribes correctly teach, but in fact has already come in John; Elijah came in an unexpected manner, just as the Messiah did. Compare Mt 17:11.
- Mark 9:14 Or, arguing, discussing.
- Mark 9:18 Or, seizes.
- Mark 9:18 spoke... cast. Or, told Your disciples to cast.
- Mark 9:18 Or, able.
- Mark 9:19 Or, faithless.
- Mark 9:22 Or, come to our aid.
- Mark 9:34 Or, greatest.
- Mark 9:35 That is, must be, a kind of command. Or, will be, a statement of fact.
- Mark 9:36 Or, her. Lit, it (the child).
- Mark 9:37 See Mt 18:5.
- Mark 9:40 That is, actively opposing us.
- Mark 9:42 That is, a large millstone turned by a donkey.
- Mark 9:42 That is, he would be better off to have been violently killed before committing this sin than to face the consequences of it.
- Mark 9:43 That is, take whatever measures are necessary to eliminate causes of falling in your life.
- Mark 9:43 That is, hell.
- Mark 9:43 Or, unquenchable.
- Mark 9:44 9:44 and 46 are added by some manuscripts, “where their worm does not come to an end and the fire is not quenched”, as in v 48.
- Mark 9:46 9:44 and 46 are added by some manuscripts, “where their worm does not come to an end and the fire is not quenched”, as in v 48.
- Mark 9:48 That is, the maggots eating their flesh never die. Jesus is quoting Is 66:24.
- Mark 9:50 Returning to the main point, be salt to those around you by being servants of all. Don’t lose your saltiness by focusing on who is greater.
Mark 9
New King James Version
The Transfiguration of Christ(A)
9 And He said to them, (B)“Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see (C)the kingdom of God [a]present with power.”
Jesus Transfigured on the Mount
2 (D)Now after six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and led them up on a high mountain apart by themselves; and He was transfigured before them. 3 His clothes became shining, exceedingly (E)white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 And Elijah appeared to them with Moses, and they were talking with Jesus. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”— 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.
7 And a (F)cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is (G)My beloved Son. (H)Hear Him!” 8 Suddenly, when they had looked around, they saw no one anymore, but only Jesus with themselves.
9 (I)Now as they came down from the mountain, He commanded them that they should tell no one the things they had seen, till the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning (J)what the rising from the dead meant.
11 And they asked Him, saying, “Why do the scribes say (K)that Elijah must come first?”
12 Then He answered and told them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and restores all things. And (L)how is it written concerning the Son of Man, that He must suffer many things and (M)be treated with contempt? 13 But I say to you that (N)Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
A Boy Is Healed(O)
14 (P)And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. 15 Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. 16 And He asked the scribes, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 Then (Q)one of the crowd answered and said, “Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. 18 And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not.”
19 He answered him and said, “O (R)faithless[b] generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I [c]bear with you? Bring him to Me.” 20 Then they brought him to Him. And (S)when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth.
21 So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?”
And he said, “From childhood. 22 And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”
23 Jesus said to him, (T)“If[d] you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; (U)help my unbelief!”
25 When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He (V)rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!” 26 Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.
28 (W)And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but (X)prayer [e]and fasting.”
Jesus Again Predicts His Death and Resurrection
30 Then they departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it. 31 (Y)For He taught His disciples and said to them, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will (Z)kill Him. And after He is killed, He will (AA)rise the third day.” 32 But they (AB)did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.
Who Is the Greatest?(AC)
33 (AD)Then He came to Capernaum. And when He was in the house He asked them, “What was it you [f]disputed among yourselves on the road?” 34 But they kept silent, for on the road they had (AE)disputed among themselves who would be the (AF)greatest. 35 And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, (AG)“If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then (AH)He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and (AI)whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me.”
Jesus Forbids Sectarianism(AJ)
38 (AK)Now John answered Him, saying, “Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.”
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him, (AL)for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. 40 For (AM)he who is not against [g]us is on [h]our side. 41 (AN)For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
Jesus Warns of Offenses(AO)
42 (AP)“But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me [i]to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. 43 (AQ)If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life [j]maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to [k]hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 [l]where
(AR)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into [m]hell, [n]into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where
(AS)‘Their worm does not die
And the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into [o]hell fire— 48 where
Tasteless Salt Is Worthless
49 “For everyone will be (AV)seasoned with fire, (AW)and[p] every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 (AX)Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? (AY)Have salt in yourselves, and (AZ)have peace with one another.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:1 having come
- Mark 9:19 unbelieving
- Mark 9:19 put up with
- Mark 9:23 NU “ ‘If You can!’ All things
- Mark 9:29 NU omits and fasting
- Mark 9:33 discussed
- Mark 9:40 M you
- Mark 9:40 M your
- Mark 9:42 To fall into sin
- Mark 9:43 crippled
- Mark 9:43 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:44 NU omits v. 44.
- Mark 9:45 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:45 NU omits the rest of v. 45 and all of v. 46.
- Mark 9:47 Gr. Gehenna
- Mark 9:49 NU omits the rest of v. 49.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.