Mark 9
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Chapter 9
1 [a](A)He also said to them, “Amen, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come in power.”
The Transfiguration of Jesus.[b] 2 After six days Jesus took Peter, James, and John and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves.(B) And he was transfigured before them, 3 and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. 4 Then Elijah appeared to them along with Moses, and they were conversing with Jesus. 5 [c]Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Rabbi, it is good that we are here! Let us make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He hardly knew what to say, they were so terrified. 7 Then a cloud came, casting a shadow over them;[d] then from the cloud came a voice, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone but Jesus alone with them.
The Coming of Elijah.[e] 9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he charged them not to relate what they had seen to anyone, except when the Son of Man had risen from the dead.(C) 10 So they kept the matter to themselves, questioning what rising from the dead meant. 11 (D)Then they asked him, “Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 12 He told them, “Elijah will indeed come first and restore all things, yet how is it written regarding the Son of Man that he must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt? 13 But I tell you that Elijah has come and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written of him.”(E)
The Healing of a Boy with a Demon.[f] 14 When they came to the disciples,(F) they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. 15 Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. 16 He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” 17 Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. 18 Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” 19 He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” 20 They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. 21 Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. 22 It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” 23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” 24 Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” 25 Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” 26 Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. 28 When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” 29 [g]He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”
The Second Prediction of the Passion. 30 (G)They left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it.(H) 31 He was teaching his disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise.” 32 But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question him.
IV. The Full Revelation of the Mystery
The Greatest in the Kingdom.[h] 33 They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?”(I) 34 But they remained silent. They had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. 35 Then he sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.”(J) 36 Taking a child he placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, 37 “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”(K)
Another Exorcist.[i] 38 John said to him,(L) “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39 Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us.(M) 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.(N)
Temptations to Sin. 42 (O)“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna,[j] into the unquenchable fire. [44 ][k] 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. [46 ] 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’(P)
The Simile of Salt. 49 [l]“Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”(Q)
Footnotes
- 9:1 There are some standing…come in power: understood by some to refer to the establishment by God’s power of his kingdom on earth in and through the church; more likely, as understood by others, a reference to the imminent parousia.
- 9:2–8 Mark and Mt 17:1 place the transfiguration of Jesus six days after the first prediction of his passion and death and his instruction to the disciples on the doctrine of the cross; Lk 9:28 has “about eight days.” Thus the transfiguration counterbalances the prediction of the passion by affording certain of the disciples insight into the divine glory that Jesus possessed. His glory will overcome his death and that of his disciples; cf. 2 Cor 3:18; 2 Pt 1:16–19. The heavenly voice (Mk 9:7) prepares the disciples to understand that in the divine plan Jesus must die ignominiously before his messianic glory is made manifest; cf. Lk 24:25–27. See further the note on Mt 17:1–8.
- 9:5 Moses and Elijah represent, respectively, law and prophecy in the Old Testament and are linked to Mount Sinai; cf. Ex 19:16–20:17; 1 Kgs 19:2, 8–14. They now appear with Jesus as witnesses to the fulfillment of the law and the prophets taking place in the person of Jesus as he appears in glory.
- 9:7 A cloud came, casting a shadow over them: even the disciples enter into the mystery of his glorification. In the Old Testament the cloud covered the meeting tent, indicating the Lord’s presence in the midst of his people (Ex 40:34–35) and came to rest upon the temple in Jerusalem at the time of its dedication (1 Kgs 8:10).
- 9:9–13 At the transfiguration of Jesus his disciples had seen Elijah. They were perplexed because, according to the rabbinical interpretation of Mal 3:23–24, Elijah was to come first. Jesus’ response shows that Elijah has come, in the person of John the Baptist, to prepare for the day of the Lord. Jesus must suffer greatly and be treated with contempt (Mk 9:12) like the Baptist (Mk 9:13); cf. Mk 6:17–29.
- 9:14–29 The disciples’ failure to effect a cure seems to reflect unfavorably on Jesus (Mk 9:14–18, 22). In response Jesus exposes their lack of trust in God (Mk 9:19) and scores their lack of prayer (Mk 9:29), i.e., of conscious reliance on God’s power when acting in Jesus’ name. For Matthew, see note on Mt 17:14–20. Lk 9:37–43 centers attention on Jesus’ sovereign power.
- 9:29 This kind can only come out through prayer: a variant reading adds “and through fasting.”
- 9:33–37 Mark probably intends this incident and the sayings that follow as commentary on the disciples’ lack of understanding (Mk 9:32). Their role in Jesus’ work is one of service, especially to the poor and lowly. Children were the symbol Jesus used for the anawim, the poor in spirit, the lowly in the Christian community.
- 9:38–41 Jesus warns against jealousy and intolerance toward others, such as exorcists who do not follow us. The saying in Mk 9:40 is a broad principle of the divine tolerance. Even the smallest courtesies shown to those who teach in Jesus’ name do not go unrewarded.
- 9:43, 45, 47 Gehenna: see note on Mt 5:22.
- 9:44, 46 These verses, lacking in some important early manuscripts, are here omitted as scribal additions. They simply repeat Mk 9:48 itself a modified citation of Is 66:24.
- 9:49 Everyone will be salted with fire: so the better manuscripts. Some add “every sacrifice will be salted with salt.” The purifying and preservative use of salt in food (Lv 2:13) and the refinement effected through fire refer here to comparable effects in the spiritual life of the disciples of Jesus.
Mark 9
Common English Bible
9 1 Jesus continued, “I assure you that some standing here won’t die before they see God’s kingdom arrive in power.”
Jesus transformed
2 Six days later Jesus took Peter, James, and John, and brought them to the top of a very high mountain where they were alone. He was transformed in front of them, 3 and his clothes were amazingly bright, brighter than if they had been bleached white. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. 5 Peter reacted to all of this by saying to Jesus, “Rabbi, it’s good that we’re here. Let’s make three shrines—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 He said this because he didn’t know how to respond, for the three of them were terrified.
7 Then a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice spoke from the cloud, “This is my Son, whom I dearly love. Listen to him!” 8 Suddenly, looking around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.
9 As they were coming down the mountain, he ordered them not to tell anyone what they had seen until after the Human One[a] had risen from the dead. 10 So they kept it to themselves, wondering, “What’s this ‘rising from the dead’?” 11 They asked Jesus, “Why do the legal experts say that Elijah must come first?”
12 He answered, “Elijah does come first to restore all things. Why was it written that the Human One[b] would suffer many things and be rejected? 13 In fact, I tell you that Elijah has come, but they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it was written about him.”
A demon-possessed boy
14 When Jesus, Peter, James, and John approached the other disciples, they saw a large crowd surrounding them and legal experts arguing with them. 15 Suddenly the whole crowd caught sight of Jesus. They ran to greet him, overcome with excitement. 16 Jesus asked them, “What are you arguing about?”
17 Someone from the crowd responded, “Teacher, I brought my son to you, since he has a spirit that doesn’t allow him to speak. 18 Wherever it overpowers him, it throws him into a fit. He foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and stiffens up. So I spoke to your disciples to see if they could throw it out, but they couldn’t.”
19 Jesus answered them, “You faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring him to me.”
20 They brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a fit. He fell on the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked his father, “How long has this been going on?”
He said, “Since he was a child. 22 It has often thrown him into a fire or into water trying to kill him. If you can do anything, help us! Show us compassion!”
23 Jesus said to him, “‘If you can do anything’? All things are possible for the one who has faith.”
24 At that the boy’s father cried out, “I have faith; help my lack of faith!”
25 Noticing that the crowd had surged together, Jesus spoke harshly to the unclean spirit, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 After screaming and shaking the boy horribly, the spirit came out. The boy seemed to be dead; in fact, several people said that he had died. 27 But Jesus took his hand, lifted him up, and he arose.
28 After Jesus went into a house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why couldn’t we throw this spirit out?”
29 Jesus answered, “Throwing this kind of spirit out requires prayer.”
Jesus predicts his death
30 From there Jesus and his followers went through Galilee, but he didn’t want anyone to know it. 31 This was because he was teaching his disciples, “The Human One[c] will be delivered into human hands. They will kill him. Three days after he is killed he will rise up.” 32 But they didn’t understand this kind of talk, and they were afraid to ask him.
33 They entered Capernaum. When they had come into a house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about during the journey?” 34 They didn’t respond, since on the way they had been debating with each other about who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be least of all and the servant of all.” 36 Jesus reached for a little child, placed him among the Twelve, and embraced him. Then he said, 37 “Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me isn’t actually welcoming me but rather the one who sent me.”
Recognize your allies
38 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”
39 Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him. No one who does powerful acts in my name can quickly turn around and curse me. 40 Whoever isn’t against us is for us. 41 I assure you that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly be rewarded.
42 “As for whoever causes these little ones who believe in me to trip and fall into sin, it would be better for them to have a huge stone hung around their necks and to be thrown into the lake. 43 If your hand causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter into life crippled than to go away with two hands into the fire of hell, which can’t be put out.[d] 45 If your foot causes you to fall into sin, chop it off. It’s better for you to enter life lame than to be thrown into hell with two feet.[e] 47 If your eye causes you to fall into sin, tear it out. It’s better for you to enter God’s kingdom with one eye than to be thrown into hell with two. 48 That’s a place where worms don’t die and the fire never goes out.[f] 49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 Salt is good; but if salt loses its saltiness, how will it become salty again? Maintain salt among yourselves and keep peace with each other.”
Footnotes
- Mark 9:9 Or Son of Man
- Mark 9:12 Or Son of Man
- Mark 9:31 Or Son of Man
- Mark 9:43 9:44 is omitted in most critical editions of the Gk New Testament where worms don’t die and the fire never goes out.
- Mark 9:45 9:46 is omitted in most critical editions of the Gk New Testament where worms don’t die and the fire never goes out.
- Mark 9:48 Isa 66:24
Markos 9
Orthodox Jewish Bible
9 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was saying to them, Omein, I say to you, there are some of those standing here who shall not taste mavet (death) until they see that the Malchut Hashem has come in gevurah.
2 And after shishah yamim Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach takes Kefa and Yaakov and Yochanan, and brought them up a high mountain by themselves. And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was transfigured before them;
3 And his garments became like a dazzlingly brilliant kittel, gantz (exceedingly) white, more white than anyone on earth could bleach them.
4 And Eliyahu Hanavi appeared to them along with Moshe (Rabbeinu), and they were talking with Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
5 And in reply, to Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, Kefa says: Rebbe, it is tov [for] us to be here, and let us make shalosh sukkot, one for you and one for Moshe (Rabbeinu) and one for Eliyahu Hanavi.
6 Kefa did not know what he was answering, for they were tzufloigen (dazed) with pachad (terror).
7 And there came an anan (cloud) that was overshadowing them, and there came a bat kol out of the anan, ZEH BENI AHUVI, ELAV TISHMAUN (Listen to him!) (TEHILLIM 2:7) [SHEMOT 24:16]
8 And suddenly, when they looked around, they saw no one in their company any more, except only Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach.
9 And [as] they were coming down from the mountain, he gave instructions to them that they should tell no one what they saw, except when the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14] should stand up in his Techiyas HaMoshiach.
10 And they retained Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s dvar, discussing among themselves what he might mean by the Techiyas HaMoshiach from HaMesim.
11 And they were questioning him, saying, Why is it that the Sofrim (Scribes) say it is necessary for Eliyahu Hanavi to come rishonah (first)?
12 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, Eliyahu Hanavi indeed does come rishonah and brings tikkun (restoration) to all things. And yet how is it written of the Ben HaAdam [Moshiach] that he must suffer many things and be NIVZEH VACHADAL (despised and rejected YESHAYAH 53:3)?
13 But I say to you, that Eliyahu Hanavi has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, just as it has been written concerning him. [MELACHIM ALEF 19:2, 10; MALACHI 3:23f (4:5f)]
14 And when they returned to the talmidim, they saw a great multitude around them and [the] Sofrim (Scribes) arguing with Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach’s talmidim.
15 And ofen ort, as soon as the multitude saw Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, they were surprised and began running up to [him] with Birkat Shalom greetings.
16 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach questioned them, About what are you arguing with them?
17 And one of the multitude answered Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach: Rabbi, I brought beni (my son) to you, because he has a shed that makes him illem (mute).
18 And whenever it seizes him, it throws him into convulsions and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. And I told your talmidim in order that they might cast it out, and they did not have the koach.
19 In reply to them, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach says, O dor without emunah, how long will I be with you? How long will I put up with you? Bring the bocher to me!
20 They brought the bocher to him. And when the shed saw Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, it threw the bocher into convulsions, and, falling to the ground, the bocher began rolling around foaming at the mouth.
21 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach questioned the bocher’s abba, How long has this been happening to him? And he said, From kinderyoren.
22 And also it has often thrown him into the eish and into the mayim that it might destroy him. But if you can do anything, grant rachmei shomayim upon us and help us!
23 Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to him, If you can?!! All things are possible to him who has emunah!
24 Ofen ort (immediately) the abba of the bocher cried out and began saying, Ani maamin (I believe)! Help my lack of emunah!
25 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having seen that a multitude was gathering, rebuked the ruach hatumah (unclean spirit), saying to it, You cheresh-illem (deaf and mute) ruach hatemeiah, I command you, come out from him and do not ever enter into him again!
26 And after shrieking a shrai (scream) and throwing the bocher into violent seizures, the ruach hatemeiah came out. And the bocher was so like a geviyah (corpse) that many exclaimed he was niftar.
27 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, having grasped the hand of the bocher, lifted him up; and the bocher stood up.
28 And, having entered into a bais, his talmidim began questioning Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach in a yechidus: Why were we not able to perform the gerush shedim (exorcism)?
29 And Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said to them, This kind of gerush shedim is accomplished only by davening with tzomot.
30 And from there they went forth and were passing through the Galil, and Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach did not want anyone to have daas.
31 For Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was teaching his talmidim and was saying to them, The Ben HaAdam [Moshiach, DANIEL 7:13-14] is to be betrayed into the hands of Bnei Adam, and MOSHIACH YIKARET (Moshiach will be violently killed, DANIEL 9:26), and when he has been killed and has his histalkus (passing), he will rise in his Techiyas HaMoshiach from HaMesim on Yom HaShelishi (the Third Day).
32 But they did not have binah concerning this dvar, and they were afraid to inquire further.
33 And they came to Kfar-Nachum. And when Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach was in the bais, he began questioning them, What were you arguing about baderech (on the road)?
34 But they were keeping silent, for baderech they were discussing with one another which of the talmidim was hagadol.
35 And sitting down, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach called the Shneym Asar and says to them, If anyone wishes to be Rishon (First), he shall be Acharon (Last), and mesharet (minister, servant) of all.
36 And having taken a yeled, Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach set him in [the] center of them, and, having taken the yeled into his arms, he said to them,
37 Whoever receives one yeled such as this biShmi (in my Name) receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not only me but the One who sent me.
38 Yochanan said to him, Rebbe, we saw someone performing a gerush shedim in your Name, and we were trying to stop him, because he was not one of your chasidim. [BAMIDBAR 11:27-29]
39 But Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach said, Do not stop him, for no one who will accomplish niflaot (wonders) biShmi (in my Name) will be able soon afterward to speak lashon hora about me.
40 For the one who is not our mitnagged is for us.
41 For whoever gives you to drink a kos of mayim (cup of water) biShmi (in my Name) because you are talmidim of Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach, omein, I say to you, he shall not lose his sachar (reward).
42 And whoever causes a michshol (stumbling block) for one of these little ones, the maaminim b’Moshiach who have emunah in me, it would be better for him if a heavy millstone, one turned by a donkey, were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea.
43 And if your yad causes you a michshol, cut off your yad; for it is better for you if you enter Chayyei Olam as an amputee, than, having both yadayim, you go away into Gehinnom, into the EISH LO TIKHBEH (fire not [ever] extinguished, YESHAYAH 66:24),
44 Where their TOLAAT LO TAMUT (worm does not die YESHAYAH 66:24) and EISH LO TIKHBEH (the fire not [ever] extinguished YESHAYAH 66:24).]
45 And if your regel (foot) causes you a michshol, cut off your regel; it is better for you to enter Chayyei Olam lame, than, having both raglayim, to be cast into Gehinnom,
46 Where their TOLAAT LO TAMUT (worm does not die YESHAYAH 66:24) and EISH LO TIKHBEH (the fire not [ever] extinguished YESHAYAH 66:24).]
47 And if your ayin (eye) causes you a michshol, take it out; for it is better for you to enter the Malchut Hashem one-eyed, than, having both eynayim, to be cast into Gehinnom,
48 Where their TOLAAT LO TAMUT (worm does not die YESHAYAH 66:24) and EISH LO TIKHBEH (the fire not [ever] extinguished YESHAYAH 66:24).
49 For everyone will have eish as his melach (salt). [VAYIKRA 2:13]
50 Melach is tov, but if the melach becomes unsalty, by what [means] will you make it salty again? Have melach in yourselves. And among yourselves let there be shalom.
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