King James Version

What Does Mark 15:35 Mean?

Mark 15:35 in the King James Version says “And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.” — study this verse from Mark chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Greek word analysis.

“And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.”

Mark 15:35 · KJV

Context

33

And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.

34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

35

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

36

And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink, saying, Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.

37

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
This verse occurs during Jesus' crucifixion, immediately after His cry "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" ("My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?"). The Greek parestēkotes (παρεστηκότες, "those standing by") likely refers to Jewish bystanders. The confusion about Jesus calling Elijah (Ēlian phōnei, Ἠλίαν φωνεῖ) stems from the similarity between "Eloi" (Aramaic for "My God") and "Elijah" (Elias in Greek). This misunderstanding carries profound irony. Jesus was experiencing absolute God-forsakenness, bearing humanity's sin as the ultimate sacrifice (2 Corinthians 5:21, Galatians 3:13), yet bystanders thought He was calling for prophetic rescue. The expectation that Elijah would come reflects Jewish eschatological hope—Malachi 4:5-6 prophesied Elijah's return before "the great and dreadful day of the LORD." The bystanders' confusion reveals spiritual blindness to what was actually occurring. They witnessed the pivotal moment of redemptive history—God's Son bearing divine wrath against sin, accomplishing atonement—yet interpreted it as a desperate cry for help. This misunderstanding demonstrates how even those physically present at Christ's crucifixion failed to comprehend its theological significance. Only through divine revelation can anyone understand the cross's true meaning (1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:14).

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Historical & Cultural Context

Crucifixion was Rome's cruelest execution method, reserved for slaves, rebels, and the worst criminals. Jesus' relatively quick death after six hours (9 AM to 3 PM) was unusual, likely hastened by the severe scourging He received beforehand. The expectation of Elijah's coming had deep roots in Jewish theology. Malachi's prophecy (Malachi 4:5-6) was interpreted to mean Elijah would return before the Messiah. Jesus had already identified John the Baptist as the fulfillment of this prophecy (Matthew 11:14; 17:10-13), but many Jews rejected this interpretation. Popular Jewish belief held that Elijah appeared to help the righteous in desperate situations—numerous rabbinical stories described such rescues. Jesus' cry in Aramaic ("Eloi") rather than Hebrew ("Eli") reflects the common language of first-century Palestine. The bystanders' confusion was linguistically plausible—"Eloi" and "Elijah" share similar sounds.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this misunderstanding illustrate humanity's spiritual blindness to the true meaning of Christ's crucifixion?
  2. What does Jesus' cry of dereliction teach us about the depth of His suffering and the cost of our salvation?
  3. In what ways do we, like the bystanders, sometimes miss the profound spiritual reality occurring before us?
  4. How should understanding Christ's God-forsakenness on the cross shape our response to feelings of abandonment or difficulty?
  5. What does this verse reveal about the necessity of divine revelation for understanding the gospel's true significance?

Original Language Analysis

Greek · 9 words
καί1 of 9

“And”

G2532

and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words

τινες2 of 9

“some of them”

G5100

some or any person or object

τῶν3 of 9
G3588

the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in english idiom)

παρεστηκότων4 of 9

“that stood by”

G3936

to stand beside, i.e., (transitively) to exhibit, proffer, (specially), recommend, (figuratively) substantiate; or (intransitively) to be at hand (or

ἀκούσαντες5 of 9

“when they heard”

G191

to hear (in various senses)

ἔλεγον6 of 9

“it said”

G3004

properly, to "lay" forth, i.e., (figuratively) relate (in words (usually of systematic or set discourse; whereas g2036 and g5346 generally refer to an

Ἰδού,7 of 9

“Behold”

G2400

used as imperative lo!

Ἠλίαν8 of 9

“Elias”

G2243

helias (i.e., elijah), an israelite

φωνεῖ9 of 9

“he calleth”

G5455

to emit a sound (animal, human or instrumental); by implication, to address in words or by name, also in imitation

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Mark. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Mark 15:35 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Mark 15:35 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Matthew 27:47-49Mark 9:11-13Matthew 17:11-13

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