The Meaning of Mark 15:9 Explained

Mark 15:9

KJV: But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

YLT: and Pilate answered them, saying, 'Will ye that I shall release to you the king of the Jews?'

Darby: But Pilate answered them saying, Will ye that I release to you the King of the Jews?

ASV: And Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

But  Pilate  answered  them,  saying,  Will ye  that I release  unto you  the King  of the Jews? 

What does Mark 15:9 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 15:1-21 - The Choice Of The Multitude
The hurried consultation of the evening was followed by the more formal meeting of the early morning; and even the decision made then had no binding force till ratified by Pilate, the Roman governor, who happened at that time to be in Jerusalem. John gives a more detailed account of this memorable interview, John 18:33-38. Our Lord did not plead His own cause but committed Himself to the One who judges righteously, 1 Peter 2:23. It was only when Pilate asked questions for his own guidance that Jesus sought to help him and then He relapsed into silence. "Like a sheep dumb before her shearers, so He opened not His mouth." Men like Barabbas, embodiments of brute force, are ever the darlings of the crowd. By narrowing the people's choice to the murderer and Jesus, Pilate expected to bring them to demand the release of the lover and helper of men. But he failed to gauge the malice of which men are capable. Perhaps he hoped that the marks of extreme suffering would soften their hatred. As well appeal to a pack of hungry wolves! His purple stood for royalty won by blood; thorns, because His diadem was won by suffering; the reed, because he can wield the frailest life to momentous issues. Happy is the man who shares Christ's cross! Simon was an African, probably colored, and this incident changed his life, Romans 16:13. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 15

1  Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate
6  Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12  and Jesus delivered up to be crucified
16  He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21  faints in bearing his cross;
27  hangs between two thieves;
29  suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39  but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42  and is honorably buried by Joseph

Greek Commentary for Mark 15:9

The King of the Jews [τον βασιλεα των Ιουδαιων]
That phrase from this charge sharpened the contrast between Jesus and Barabbas which is bluntly put in Matthew 27:17 “Barabbas or Jesus which is called Christ.” See discussion there. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 15:9

Mark 15:12 Whom ye call the King of the Jews [ον λεγετε τον βασιλεα των Ιουδαιων]
Pilate rubs it in on the Jews (cf. Mark 15:9). The “then” (ουν — oun) means since you have chosen Barabbas instead of Jesus. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 15:9 mean?

- But Pilate answered them saying Wish you [that] I should release to you the King of the Jews
δὲ Πιλᾶτος ἀπεκρίθη αὐτοῖς λέγων Θέλετε ἀπολύσω ὑμῖν τὸν Βασιλέα τῶν Ἰουδαίων

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Πιλᾶτος  Pilate 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Πειλᾶτος 
Sense: the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified.
ἀπεκρίθη  answered 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀποκρίνομαι  
Sense: to give an answer to a question proposed, to answer.
λέγων  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
Θέλετε  Wish  you  [that] 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: θέλω  
Sense: to will, have in mind, intend.
ἀπολύσω  I  should  release 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Subjunctive Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: ἀπολύω  
Sense: to set free.
ὑμῖν  to  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative 2nd Person Plural
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
Βασιλέα  King 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: βασιλεύς  
Sense: leader of the people, prince, commander, lord of the land, king.
τῶν  of  the 
Parse: Article, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰουδαίων  Jews 
Parse: Adjective, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: Ἰουδαῖος  
Sense: Jewish, belonging to the Jewish race.

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