INTO HIS OWN COUNTRY (εις την πατριδα αυτου). So Matthew 13:54. There is no real reason for identifying this visit to Nazareth with that recorded in Luke 4:26-31 at the beginning of the Galilean Ministry. He was rejected both times, but it is not incongruous that Jesus should give Nazareth a seco... [ Continue Reading ]
BEGAN TO TEACH (ηρξατο διδασκειν). As was now his custom in the synagogue on the sabbath. The ruler of the synagogue (αρχισυναγωγος, see Matthew 5:22) would ask some one to speak whensoever he wished. The reputation of Jesus all over Galilee opened the door for him. Jesus may have gone to Nazaret... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT THIS THE CARPENTER? (Ουχ ουτος εστιν ο τεκτων;). Matthew 13:55 calls him "the carpenter's son" (ο του τεκτονος υιος). He was both. Evidently since Joseph's death he had carried on the business and was "the carpenter" of Nazareth. The word τεκτων comes from τεκειν, τικτω, to beget, create, l... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MARVELLED BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF (κα εθαυμασεν δια την απιστιαν αυτων). Aorist tense, but Westcott and Hort put the imperfect in the margin. Jesus had divine knowledge and accurate insight into the human heart, but he had human limitations in certain things that are not clear to us. He m... [ Continue Reading ]
BY TWO AND TWO (δυο δυο). This repetition of the numeral instead of the use of ανα δυο or κατα δυο is usually called a Hebraism. The Hebrew does have this idiom, but it appears in Aeschylus and Sophocles, in the vernacular _Koine_ (Oxyrhynchus Papyri No. 121), in Byzantine Greek, and in modern Gre... [ Continue Reading ]
SAVE A STAFF ONLY (ε μη ραβδον μονον). Every traveller and pilgrim carried his staff. Bruce thinks that Mark has here preserved the meaning of Jesus more clearly than Matthew 10:10 (nor staff) and Luke 9:3 (neither staff). This discrepancy has given trouble to commentators. Grotius suggests no se... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOD WITH SANDALS (υποδεδεμενους σανδαλια). Perfect passive participle in the accusative case as if with the infinitive πορευεσθα or πορευθηνα, (to go). Note the aorist infinitive middle, ενδυσασθα (text of Westcott and Hort), but ενδυσησθε (aorist middle subjunctive) in the margin. Change from i... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE ABIDE (εκε μενετε). So also Matthew 10:11; Luke 9:4. Only Matthew has city or village (Mark 10:11), but he mentions house in verse Mark 6:12. They were to avoid a restless and dissatisfied manner and to take pains in choosing a home. It is not a prohibition against accepting invitations.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A TESTIMONY UNTO THEM (εις μαρτυριον αυτοις). Not in Matthew. Luke 9:5 has "for a testimony against them" (εις μαρτυριον επ αυτους). The dative αυτοις in Mark is the dative of disadvantage and really carries the same idea as επ in Luke. The dramatic figure ofSHAKING OUT (εκτιναξατε, effecti... [ Continue Reading ]
PREACHED THAT MEN SHOULD REPENT (εκηρυξαν ινα μετανοωσιν). Constative aorist (εκηρυξαν), summary description. This was the message of the Baptist (Matthew 3:2) and of Jesus (Mark 1:15).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY CAST OUT MANY DEMONS AND THEY ANOINTED WITH OIL (εξεβαλλον κα ηλειφον ελαιω). Imperfect tenses, continued repetition. Alone in Mark. This is the only example in the N.T. of αλειφω ελαιω used in connection with healing save in James 5:14. In both cases it is possible that the use of oil (olive... [ Continue Reading ]
HEARD (ηκουσεν). This tour of Galilee by the disciples in pairs wakened all Galilee, for the name of Jesus thus became known (φανερον) or known till even Herod heard of it in the palace. "A palace is late in hearing spiritual news" (Bengel).THEREFORE DO THESE POWERS WORK IN HIM (δια τουτο ενεργο... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN, WHOM I BEHEADED (ον εγο απεκεφαλισα Ιωανην). His fears got the best of him and so Herod settled down on this nightmare. He could still see that charger containing John's head coming towards him in his dreams. The late verb αποκεφαλιζω means to cut off the head. Herod had ordered it done and... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HEROD HIMSELF (Αυτος γαρ ο Hηρωιδης). Mark now proceeds to give the narrative of the death of John the Baptist some while before these nervous fears of Herod. But this _post eventum_ narrative is very little out of the chronological order. The news of John's death at Machaerus may even have c... [ Continue Reading ]
THY BROTHER'S WIFE (την γυναικα του αδελφου). While the brother was alive (Leviticus 18:16; Leviticus 20:21). After a brother's death it was often a duty to marry his widow.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HERODIAS SET HERSELF AGAINST HIM (Hη δε Hηρωιδιας ενειχεν αυτω). Dative of disadvantage. Literally,HAD IT IN FOR HIM . This is modern slang, but is in exact accord with this piece of vernacular _Koine_. No object of ειχεν is expressed, though οργην or χολον may be implied. The tense is impe... [ Continue Reading ]
FEARED JOHN (εφοβειτο τον Ιωανην). Imperfect tense, continual state of fear. He feared John and also Herodias. Between the two Herod vacillated. He knew him to be righteous and holy (δικαιον κα αγιον) and so innocent of any wrong. So heKEPT HIM SAFE (συνετηρε). Imperfect tense again. Late Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A CONVENIENT DAY WAS COME (γενομενης ημερας ευκαιρου). Genitive absolute. A day well appointed ευ, well, καιρος, time) for the purpose, the day for which she had long waited. She had her plans all laid to spring a trap for her husband Herod Antipas and to make him do her will with the Baptis... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAUGHTER OF HERODIAS HERSELF (της θυγατρος αυτης Hηρωιδιαδος). Genitive absolute again. Some ancient manuscripts read αυτου (his, referring to Herod Antipas. So Westcott and Hort) instead of αυτης (herself). In that case the daughter of Herodias would also have the name Herodias as well as Sa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SWARE UNTO HER (κα ωμοσεν αυτη). The girl was of marriageable age though called κορασιον (cf. Esther 2:9). Salome was afterward married to Philip the Tetrarch. The swaggering oath to the half of the kingdom reminds one of Esther 5:3, the same oath made to Esther by Ahasuerus.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT SHALL I ASK? (Τ αιτησωμαι;). The fact that she went and spoke to her mother proves that she had not been told beforehand what to ask. Matthew 14:8 does not necessarily mean that, but he simply condenses the account. The girl's question implies by the middle voice that she is thinking of some... [ Continue Reading ]
STRAIGHTWAY WITH HASTE (ευθυς μετα σπουδης). Before the king's rash mood passed and while he was still under the spell of the dancing princess. Herodias knew her game well. See on Matthew 14:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WOULD NOT REJECT HER (ουκ ηθελησεν αθετησα αυτην). He was caught once again between his conscience and his environment. Like many since his day the environment stifled his conscience.... [ Continue Reading ]
A SOLDIER OF HIS GUARD (σπεκουλατορα). Latin word _speculator_. A spy, scout, lookout, and often executioner. It was used of the bodyguard of the Roman emperor and so for one of Herod's spies. He was used to do errands of this sort and it was soon done. It was a gruesome job, but he soon brought... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS CORPSE (το πτωμα αυτου). See on Matthew 24:28. It was a mournful time for the disciples of John. "They went and told Jesus" (Matthew 14:12). What else could they do?... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE APOSTLES GATHER THEMSELVES TOGETHER UNTO JESUS (κα συναγοντα ο αποστολο προς τον Ιησουν). Vivid historical present.ALL THINGS WHATSOEVER THEY HAD DONE AND WHATSOEVER THEY HAD TAUGHT (παντα οσα εποιησαν κα οσα εδιδαξαν). Not past perfect in the Greek, just the aorist indicative, constati... [ Continue Reading ]
COME YE YOURSELVES APART INTO A DESERT PLACE AND REST AWHILE (Δευτε υμεις αυτο κατ' ιδιαν εις ερημον τοπον κα αναπαυεσθε ολιγον). It was plain that they were over-wrought and excited and needed refreshment (αναπαυεσθε, middle voice, refresh yourselves, "rest up" literally). This is one of the nee... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WENT AWAY IN A BOAT (κα απηλθον εν τω πλοιω). They accepted with alacrity and off they went.... [ Continue Reading ]
OUTWENT THEM (προηλθον αυτους). The crowds were not to be outdone. They recognized (εγνωσαν) Jesus and the disciples and ran around the head of the lake on foot (πεζη) and got there ahead of Jesus and were waiting for Him when the boat came.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE AS SHEEP NOT HAVING A SHEPHERD (ησαν ως προβατα μη εχοντα ποιμενα). Matthew has these words in another context (Matthew 9:26), but Mark alone has them here. Μη is the usual negative for the participle in the _Koine_. These excited and exciting people (Bruce) greatly needed teaching. Matt... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE DAY WAS NOW FAR SPENT (ηδη ωρας πολλης γενομενης). Genitive absolute. Hωρα used here for day-time (so Matthew 14:15) as in Polybius and late Greek.MUCH DAY-TIME ALREADY GONE . Luke 9:12 has it began toINCLINE (κλινειν) or wear away. It was after 3 P.M., the first evening. Note second... [ Continue Reading ]
INTO THE COUNTRY AND VILLAGES ROUND ABOUT (εις τους κυκλω αγρους κα κωμας). The fields (αγρους) were the scattered farms (Latin, _villae_). The villages (κωμας) may have included Bethsaida Julias not far away (Luke 9:10). The other Bethsaida was on the Western side of the lake (Mark 6:45).SOMEWHA... [ Continue Reading ]
GO AND SEE (υπαγετε ιδετε). John says that Jesus asked Philip to find out what food they had (John 6:5) probably after the disciples had suggested that Jesus send the crowd away as night was coming on (Mark 6:35). On this protest to his command that they feed the crowds (Mark 6:37; Matthew 14:16;... [ Continue Reading ]
BY COMPANIES (συμποσια συμποσια). Distribution expressed by repetition as in Mark 6:7 (δυο δυο) instead of using ανα or κατα. Literally our word _symposium_ and originally a drinking party, Latin _convivium_, then the party of guests of any kind without the notion of drinking. So in Plutarch and... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAT DOWN IN RANKS (ανεπεσαν πρασια πρασια). They half-way reclined (ανακλιθηνα, verse Mark 6:39). Fell up here (we have to say fell down), the word ανεπεσαν means. But they were arranged in groups by hundreds and by fifties and they looked like garden beds with their many-coloured clothes whi... [ Continue Reading ]
BRAKE THE LOAVES; AND HE GAVE TO THE DISCIPLES (κα απο των ιχθυων). Apparently the fishes were in excess of the twelve baskets full of broken pieces of bread. See on Matthew 14:20 for discussion of κοφινος and σφυρις, the two kinds of baskets.... [ Continue Reading ]
MEN (ανδρες). Men as different from women as in Matthew 14:21. This remarkable miracle is recorded by all Four Gospels, a nature miracle that only God can work. No talk about accelerating natural processes will explain this miracle. And three eyewitnesses report it: the Logia of Matthew, the eyes... [ Continue Reading ]
TO BETHSAIDA (προς Βηθσαιδαν). This is Bethsaida on the Western side, not Bethsaida Julias on the Eastern side where they had just been (Luke 9:10).WHILE HE HIMSELF SENDETH THE MULTITUDE AWAY (εως αυτος απολυε τον οχλον). Matthew 14:22 has it "till he should send away" (εως ου απολυση) with the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN EVEN WAS COME (οψιας γενομενης). The second or late evening, six P.M. at this season, or sunset on.HE ALONE ON THE LAND (κα αυτος μονος ηπ της γης). Another Markan touch. Jesus had come down out of the mountain where he had prayed to the Father. He is by the sea again in the late twilight.... [ Continue Reading ]
SEEING THEM DISTRESSED IN ROWING (ιδων αυτους βασανιζομενους εν τω ελαυνειν). See also Matthew 8:29 for the word βασανιζω, to torture, torment (Matthew 4:24) with a touch-stone, then to distress as here. Papyri have δια βασανων used on slaves like our third degree for criminals. Ελαυνειν is liter... [ Continue Reading ]
IT IS I (εγο ειμ). These were the astounding words of cheer. They did not recognize Jesus in the darkness. They had never seen him or any one walk on the water. His voice reassured them.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE SORE AMAZED IN THEMSELVES (λιαν εν εαυτοις εξισταντο). Only in Mark. Imperfect tense picturing vividly the excited disciples. Mark does not give the incident of Peter's walking on the water and beginning to sink. Perhaps Peter was not fond of telling that story.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THEY UNDERSTOOD NOT (ου γαρ συνηκαν). Explanation of their excessive amazement, viz., their failure to grasp the full significance of the miracle of the loaves and fishes, a nature miracle. Here was another, Jesus walking on the water. Their reasoning process (καρδια in the general sense for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND MOORED TO THE SHORE (κα προσωρμισθησαν). Only here in the New Testament, though an old Greek verb and occurring in the papyri. Hορμος is roadstead or anchorage. They cast anchor or lashed the boat to a post on shore. It was at the plain of Gennesaret several miles south of Bethsaida owing to... [ Continue Reading ]
KNEW HIM (επιγνοντες αυτον). Recognizing Jesus, knowing fully (επ) as nearly all did by now. Second aorist active participle.... [ Continue Reading ]
RAN ABOUT (περιεδραμον). Vivid constative aorist picturing the excited pursuit of Jesus as the news spread that he was in Gennesaret.ON THEIR BEDS (επ τοις κραβαττοις). Pallets like that of the man let down through the roof (Mark 2:4).WHERE THEY HEARD HE WAS (οπου ηκουον οτ εστιν). Imperfect... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERESOEVER HE ENTERED (οπου αν εισεπορευετο). The imperfect indicative with αν used to make a general indefinite statement with the relative adverb. See the same construction at the close of the verse, οσο αν ηψαντο αυτον (aorist indicative and αν in a relative clause),AS MANY AS TOUCHED HIM .... [ Continue Reading ]