Mark 9

1 Then Jesus said to them, “Truly [with absolute certainty, in all honesty] I tell you, there are some [certain ones, a few] standing here [in this very place, among you] who will not taste [experience, partake of] death [physical or spiritual separation from God] before they see [perceive, witness] the kingdom [reign, dominion] of God [the supreme Ruler, Creator] arrive [come, appear] with power [miraculous ability, divine strength].” word study 2 After [six days later, a week] six days Jesus took [received, chose] with Him Peter [a rock, a stone], James [a son of Zebedee], and John [the Apostle, a disciple of Jesus], and led [carried, guided] them up a high [lofty] mountain [a high elevation of land] by themselves [alone, privately]. There He was [completely] transfigured [transformed, changed in form] before [in the presence of] them. word study 3 His clothes [garments, outer attire] became radiantly [shining, glistering] white [exceedingly white, like snow], brighter [whiter, more radiant] than any launderer [fuller, cloth-dresser] on earth [the world, soil] could [be able to] bleach [whiten, make white] them. word study 4 And Elijah [a prophet of God] and Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver] appeared [were visible, became manifest] before them, talking [having a conversation, communing] with Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation]. word study 5 Peter [one of Jesus’ closest disciples] said to Jesus, “Rabbi [my Master, a title of respect], it is good [beneficial, pleasant] for us to be here [in this place, at this moment]. Let us put up [make, construct] three shelters [tabernacles, tents] —one for You [as the Messiah], one for Moses [the lawgiver], and one for Elijah [the prophet].” word study 6 For they were all [extremely, sorely] so terrified [afraid, frightened] that Peter [he] did not know [was not certain, was unsure] what else [what] to say [to answer, to speak]. word study 7 Then a cloud [overshadowing, covering with a shadow] appeared and enveloped them, and a voice [sound, noise] came from the cloud: “This is My beloved [cherished] Son [child, descendant]. Listen [hear, obey] to Him [the One I love]!” word study 8 Suddenly [without warning, unexpectedly], when they looked around [to gaze at their surroundings], they saw no one [none, nobody] with them except Jesus [the Son of God, the Savior]. word study 9 As they were coming down [from the high elevation] the mountain, Jesus admonished [gave strict orders to] them not to tell anyone [no man, nothing] what they had seen [experienced, perceived] until the Son [the divine, unique] of Man [a human being, the Messiah] had risen [come back to life, been resurrected] from the dead [the state of being lifeless, spiritually or physically]. word study 10 So they kept this matter [questioning one with another] to themselves, discussing [debating, seeking to understand] what it meant [to come back alive again] to rise [to stand up, to get up from a position of rest] from the dead [the lifeless, the spiritually or physically deceased]. word study 11 And they asked Jesus [the Messiah, the Christ], “Why do the scribes [teachers of the law, scholars] say that Elijah [the prophet, Elias] must come first [before you, beforehand]?” word study 12 He replied, “Elijah [the prophet, a messenger of God] does indeed come first [before me, to prepare the way], and he restores [brings back to a state of wholeness, renovates] all things [everything, the entire creation]. Why then is it written [recorded, prophesied] that the Son of Man [the Messiah, the representative of humanity] must suffer [experience pain, endure hardship] many things [much, a great amount] and be rejected [despised, set at nothing, treated with contempt]? word study 13 But [in contrast, however] I tell you [declare to you, say unto you] that Elijah [the prophet] has indeed come [arrived, appeared], and they have done [treated, acted] to him [toward him, against him] whatever [as much as, all that] they wished [desired, wanted], just as [even as, according to] it is written [recorded, prophesied] about him [concerning him, of him].” word study 14 When they returned [came back down the hill] to the other disciples, they saw a large [great, multitude of] crowd [large group of people, gathering] around them, and scribes [Jewish law teachers, scholars] arguing [debating, questioning] with them. word study 15 As soon as [immediately, without delay] all the people [the crowd, multitude] saw Jesus [the Messiah, Savior], they were filled with [greatly amazed, astonished by] awe [fear, reverence] and ran [hastened, rushed] to greet [pay respects to, welcome] Him [the Lord, Master]. word study 16 “What [which question, what matter] are you disputing [debating, arguing] with them [the scribes, the people]?” He [Jesus, the Master] asked [questioned, inquired of]. word study 17 Someone [one of the multitude, a man] in the crowd [a large group of people, a gathering] replied, “Teacher [instructor, rabbi], I brought [led, carried] You my son [child, boy], who has [is possessed by, holds] a spirit [breath, vital principle] that makes him mute [speechless, unable to speak]. word study 18 Whenever [at any time, wherever] it seizes [grasps, overpowers] him, it throws [dasheth, teareth] him to the ground [down violently]. He foams [streams, froths] at the mouth [lips], gnashes [grindeth] his teeth [with his teeth], and becomes [pineth away, is stiff] rigid [stiff, immobile]. I asked [spake to] Your disciples [followers, learners] to drive [cast, expel] it out [away from him], but they were [could not, were not able] unable [powerless, without strength].” word study 19 “O [faithless] unbelieving generation [of people, those living at the same time]!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain [be present, stay] with you? How long must I put up [endure, bear] with you? Bring the boy [child, young one] to Me [toward, in the presence of].” word study 20 So they brought him, and seeing [with their physical and spiritual eyes] Jesus, the [evil, unclean] spirit immediately [without delay, at once] threw the boy into a convulsion [a violent seizure, a state of intense agitation]. He fell [collapsed, was thrown down] to the ground [the earth, the soil] and rolled around [wallowed, tossed about], foaming [producing excessive saliva, frothing at the mouth] at the mouth. word study 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father [the male parent, caregiver], “How long [what period of time, since when] has this [this condition, affliction] been with him [present in his life]?” “From childhood [since he was a little kid, from a young age],” he said [replied, responded]. word study 22 “It often [frequently, many times] throws him into the fire [to burn him to death, flames] or into the water [to drown him, literal or figurative], trying to [in order to, with the purpose of] kill him. But if You can do anything [are able, have power], have compassion [pity, sympathy] on us [I, we, the speaker] and help [assist, support] us.” word study 23 “If You can [are able, have power]?” echoed Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation]. “All things [every matter, every circumstance] are possible [able, within power] to him who believes [trusts, has faith, to trust in]!” word study 24 Immediately [at once, without delay] the boy’s father [the child’s male parent, a man of faith] cried out [with tears, in desperation], “I do believe [have faith, trust in God]; help [assist, support] my unbelief [lack of faith, spiritual weakness]!” word study 25 When Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] saw [perceived, became aware of] that a crowd [a large group of people, a multitude] had come running [hurrying, gathering quickly], He rebuked [warned, commanded] the unclean [impure, morally corrupt] spirit [the vital principle, mental disposition]. “You deaf [unable to hear] and mute [speechless] spirit [the vital principle],” He said, “I command [give orders to, charge] you to come out [exit, depart] and never [not again] enter [go into, invade] him again [into the same state].” word study 26 After [loudly, with a great shriek] shrieking and convulsing [severely, with intense seizures] him violently, the spirit [an unclean, evil entity] came out [was expelled, departed]. The boy became [was left, remained] like [as one, resembling] a corpse [a lifeless body, dead], so that many [a large crowd, most] said, “He is [has become, appears to be] dead [lifeless, without vital signs].” word study 27 But Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation] took him by the hand [with a grasp of compassion] and helped him to his feet [lifted him up, raised him], and he stood up [arose, got to his feet]. word study 28 After Jesus had gone into the house [his private dwelling place], His disciples [learners, followers] asked Him privately [in a secluded, intimate setting], “Why couldn’t we [as Your representatives] drive [expel, cast out] it [the evil spirit] out [from the boy]?” word study 29 Jesus answered, “This kind [of evil spirit, a specific sort] cannot come out, except [unless it is through] by prayer [and fasting, devotion to God].” word study 30 Going on [proceeding, moving forward] from there [that place], they passed [traveled, journeyed] through [across] Galilee [the region of Galilee]. But Jesus did not want [was unwilling] anyone [no one] to know [be aware], word study 31 because He was teaching [instructing, guiding] His disciples [learners, followers]. He told them, “The Son of Man [the Messiah, the Savior] will be delivered [handed over, surrendered] into the hands [power, control] of men [human beings, mortals]. They will kill [destroy, take the life of] Him, and after three [a period of testing, a span of time] days He will rise [be resurrected, come back to life].” word study 32 But they did not understand [were ignorant of, lacked insight into] this statement [declaration, utterance], and they were afraid [feared, reverenced] to ask Him [question, seek information from] about it [the matter, the saying]. word study 33 Then they came [arrived, entered] to Capernaum [a town in Palestine]. While Jesus was in [inside, within] the house [home, dwelling place], He asked [questioned, inquired of] them, “What were you discussing [reasoning, talking about] on the way [road, path, journey] [among yourselves, with each other]?” word study 34 But they were silent [held their peace, did not say anything], for on the way [road, path] they had been arguing [disputing, reasoning] about which [who, what] of them was the greatest [most important, supreme]. word study 35 Sitting down [seating himself, taking a position to teach], Jesus called [summoned, invited] the Twelve [his twelve apostles, disciples] and said, “If anyone [any person, one who desires] wants to be [desires to become, wishes to attain] first [the most important, foremost], he must be [must become, has to be] the last [the least, the last in sequence] of all [every person, everything] and the servant [attendant, minister] of all [everyone, all people].” word study 36 Then He had a little child [a young one, a juvenile] stand among [in the midst of, surrounded by] them. Taking [receiving, embracing] the child [a young person] in His arms [enfolding, holding closely], He said [spoke, uttered] to them [unto, towards], word study 37 “Whoever welcomes [receives with open arms, gives a hearty reception to] one of these little children [young ones, those who are humble and dependent] in My name [as a representative of Me, in My authority] welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes [receives, accepts] Me welcomes not only Me, but the One [Him] who sent [appointed, commissioned] Me.” word study 38 John said to Him, “Teacher [Rabbi, Master, one who guides and instructs], we saw someone else [a certain one, an individual] driving out [expelling, casting out] demons [evil spirits, unclean beings] in Your name [authority, character, reputation], and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany [follow, walk with] us [as disciples, followers].” word study 39 “Do not stop [forbid, hinder] him,” Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] replied. “For no one [none, nobody] who performs [does, makes] a miracle [mighty work, powerful deed] in My name [character, authority] can turn around [quickly, without delay] and speak evil [curse, revile] of Me [I, the speaker, referring to Himself]. word study 40 For [on the basis of this fact, as a reason] whoever [he who, anyone] is not [completely, in no way] against [in opposition to, contrary to] us [you, as followers of Christ] is [exists, stands] for [on our side, in support of] us [you, as believers]. word study 41 Indeed, if anyone [whoever, any person] gives you even a cup [a drinking vessel] of water [literal or figurative] because you bear [carry, represent] the name [authority, character] of Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah], truly [verily, assuredly] I tell you, he will never [not at all, in no way] lose [destroy, forfeit] his reward [wage, payment for service]. word study 42 But if anyone causes [causes to stumble, leads into sin] one of these little ones [small, humble, or lowly] who believe [trust, have faith] in Me to stumble [sin, apostatize], it would be better [more desirable, advantageous] for him to have a large [great, heavy] millstone [used for grinding grain] hung around his neck [a symbol of vulnerability] and to be thrown [cast, tossed] into the sea [a large body of water]. word study 43 If your hand [the instrument of your actions, your power] causes you to sin [to stumble, to offend], cut it off [sever it, remove it]. It is better for you to enter [to go into, to experience] life [eternal life, spiritual existence] crippled [maimed, imperfect] than to have two hands [to possess full strength, to be unimpaired] and go into [to enter, to be thrown into] hell [Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment], into the unquenchable [never extinguished, eternal] fire [the fire that never ceases]. word study 45 If your foot causes you to sin [causes you to stumble, leads you into sin], cut it off [completely remove it, amputate it]. It is better for you to enter [go into, become part of] life [eternal life, spiritual existence] lame [crippled, physically imperfect] than to have two feet [be fully physically able] and be thrown [cast, forcibly thrown] into hell [Gehenna, a place of eternal punishment]. word study 47 And if your eye [the window to your soul, the source of vision] causes you to sin [to stumble, to fall into temptation], pluck it out [gouge it out, remove it completely]. It is better for you to enter [to go into, to become a part of] the kingdom [the reign, the dominion] of God [the supreme Creator, the one true deity] with one eye [being one-eyed, having limited vision] than to have two eyes [having full vision, being able to see clearly] and be thrown [to be cast, to be forcefully driven] into hell [Gehenna, the place of eternal punishment, the valley of fire], word study 48 where [in that place, a location of suffering] ‘their worm [a symbol of suffering and decay] never dies [does not decease, comes to no end], and the fire [flames] is never quenched [not extinguished, never goes out].’ word study 49 For [as an explanation, introducing a reason] everyone [all people, every individual] will be salted [seasoned, preserved] with fire [a refining flame]. word study 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its saltiness [becomes flavorless, unsalty], with what will you season [make savory] it? Have salt [preserving influence] among yourselves, and be at peace [live harmoniously, reconciled] with one another [in mutual love and respect].” word study