King James Version
Mark 9
50 verses with commentary
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.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.
View commentary
And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.
View commentary
And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.
View commentary
And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
View commentary
And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?
View commentary
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.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
Jesus Heals 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.
View commentary
And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
View commentary
And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them? with them: or, among yourselves
View commentary
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
View commentary
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. teareth: or, dasheth him
View commentary
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.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
View commentary
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
View commentary
And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately , Why could not we cast him out?
View commentary
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
View commentary
Jesus Again Foretells His Death
And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
View commentary
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?
View commentary
The phrase "by the way" (ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ, en tē hodō) has deeper meaning—ὁδός (hodos) throughout Mark represents the journey to the cross (8:27; 9:33-34; 10:32, 52). While Jesus walks toward crucifixion, explaining His coming suffering (9:30-32), the disciples quarrel about earthly greatness. This devastating irony exposes how completely they misunderstand messianic mission. Their silence in verse 34 reveals shame—they know their ambition contradicts Jesus' teaching about servant leadership.
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
View commentary
For by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest (διελέχθησαν...τίς μείζων, dielechthēsan...tis meizōn). The verb διελέχθησαν (dielechthēsan) means "debated, argued"—this was contentious discussion, not friendly conversation. The question "who is greatest" (τίς μείζων) uses the comparative form meaning "greater, more important." They argued about relative rank in the coming kingdom, revealing how thoroughly worldly ambition infected even Jesus' closest followers. This dispute anticipates James and John's request in 10:35-45 and illustrates the human heart's persistent craving for status and recognition.
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.
View commentary
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,
View commentary
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.
View commentary
Anyone Not Against Us Is for 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.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
For he that is not against us is on our part.
View commentary
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.
View commentary
Temptations to Sin
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.
View commentary
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: offend: or, cause thee to offend
View commentary
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
View commentary
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: offend: or, cause thee to offend
View commentary
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
View commentary
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: offend: or, cause thee to offend
View commentary
Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
View commentary
For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
View commentary
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.