The Meaning of Mark 2:9 Explained

Mark 2:9

KJV: Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

YLT: which is easier, to say to the paralytic, The sins have been forgiven to thee? or to say, Rise, and take up thy couch, and walk?

Darby: Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Thy sins are forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and take up thy couch and walk?

ASV: Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, and take up thy bed, and walk?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Whether  is it  easier  to say  to the sick of the palsy,  [Thy] sins  be forgiven  thee;  or  to say,  Arise,  and  take up  thy  bed,  and  walk? 

What does Mark 2:9 Mean?

Study Notes

sins
Sin.
sinned
Sin, Summary: The literal meanings of the Heb. and (Greek - ἀλεκτοροφωνία sin," "sinner," etc)., disclose the true nature of sin in its manifold manifestations. Sin is transgression, an overstepping of the law, the divine boundary between good and evil Psalms 51:1 ; Luke 15:29 , iniquity, an act inherently wrong, whether expressly forbidden or not; error, a departure from right; Psalms 51:9 ; Romans 3:23 , missing the mark, a failure to meet the divine standard; trespass, the intrusion of self-will into the sphere of divine authority Ephesians 2:1 , lawlessness, or spiritual anarchy 1 Timothy 1:9 , unbelief, or an insult to the divine veracity John 16:9 .
Sin originated with Satan Isaiah 14:12-14 , entered the world through Adam Romans 5:12 , was, and is, universal, Christ alone excepted; Romans 3:23 ; 1 Peter 2:22 , incurs the penalties of spiritual and physical death; Genesis 2:17 ; Genesis 3:19 ; Ezekiel 18:4 ; Ezekiel 18:20 ; Romans 6:23 and has no remedy but in the sacrificial death of Christ; Hebrews 9:26 ; Acts 4:12 availed of by faith Acts 13:38 ; Acts 13:39 . Sin may be summarized as threefold: An act, the violation of, or want of obedience to the revealed will of God; a state, absence of righteousness; a nature, enmity toward God.

Context Summary

Mark 2:1-22 - The Friend Of Sinners
The leper, Mark 1:40-45. The news of Christ spread fast and far until it reached the outcasts from Jewish society, the very dregs of humanity. As the story of the wonderful miracles wrought by our Lord was pondered deeply by this man, He concluded that the only question which remained was that of Christ's willingness to hear. As to His power there could be no doubt. But no one of all the religious world of that time had ever thought of extending a helping hand to such as he. Note the instantaneousness of our Lord's response to this appeal. His love and power are commensurate; when you gauge the one, you have measured the other.
The paralytic, Mark 2:1-12. The disease had resulted from sin. It was necessary to deal with the soul before the body could be emancipated. As soon as we sin, God's pardon awaits our asking for it, and of this fact our Lord gave the paralytic man definite assurance. Jesus' right to speak was evidenced by His power to heal. If the latter was effectual, so was the former.
The sinner's friend, Mark 2:13-22. They thought to coin a term of reproach, but they added a crown of glory. In eternity the Friend of sinners will surround His table with saved sinners who have become His guests. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 2

1  Jesus followed by multitudes,
3  heals a paralytic;
13  calls Matthew;
15  eats with tax collectors and sinners;
18  excuses his disciples for not fasting;
23  and for picking the heads of grain on the Sabbath day

Greek Commentary for Mark 2:9

Walk [περιπάτει]
Lit., walk about. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 2:9

Mark 2:10 That ye may know [ινα ειδητε]
The scribes could have said either of the alternatives in Mark 2:9 with equal futility. Jesus could say either with equal effectiveness. In fact Jesus chose the harder first, the forgiveness which they could not see. So he now performs the miracle of healing which all could see, that all could know that (the Son of Man, Christ‘s favourite designation of himself, a claim to be the Messiah in terms that could not be easily attacked) he really had the authority and power (εχουσιαν — exousian) to forgive sins. He has the right and power here on earth to forgive sins, here and now without waiting for the day of judgment. [source]
Acts 5:15 Into the streets [εις τας πλατειας]
Supply οδους — hodous (ways), into the broad ways. On beds and couches (επι κλιναριων και κραβαττων — epi klinariōn kai krabattōn). Little beds (κλιναρια — klinaria diminutive of κλινη — klinē) and camp beds or pallets (See note on Mark 2:4, Mark 2:9, Mark 2:11). As Peter came by Genitive absolute with present middle participle. At the least his shadow might overshadow (καν η σκια επισκιασει — kan hē skia episkiasei). Future active indicative with ινα — hina (common with οπως — hopōs in ancient Greek) and καν — kan (crasis for και εαν — kai ean =even if), even if only the shadow. The word for shadow (σκια — skia like our “sky”) is repeated in the verb and preserved in our “overshadow.” There was, of course, no virtue or power in Peter‘s shadow. That was faith with superstition, of course, just as similar cases in the Gospels occur (Matthew 9:20; Mark 6:56; John 9:5) and the use of Paul‘s handkerchief (Acts 19:12). God honours even superstitious faith if it is real faith in him. Few people are wholly devoid of superstition. [source]
Acts 5:15 On beds and couches [επι κλιναριων και κραβαττων]
Little beds (κλιναρια — klinaria diminutive of κλινη — klinē) and camp beds or pallets (See note on Mark 2:4, Mark 2:9, Mark 2:11). [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 2:9 mean?

Which is easier to say to the paralytic Are forgiven of you the sins or Arise and take up the mat walk
τί ἐστιν εὐκοπώτερον εἰπεῖν τῷ παραλυτικῷ Ἀφίενταί σου αἱ ἁμαρτίαι Ἔγειρε καὶ ἆρον τὸν κράβαττόν περιπάτει

εὐκοπώτερον  easier 
Parse: Adjective, Nominative Neuter Singular, Comparative
Root: εὔκοπος  
Sense: with easy labour.
εἰπεῖν  to  say 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
τῷ  to  the 
Parse: Article, Dative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
παραλυτικῷ  paralytic 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: παραλυτικός 
Sense: paralytic.
Ἀφίενταί  Are  forgiven 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἀφίημι 
Sense: to send away.
σου  of  you 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Genitive 2nd Person Singular
Root: σύ  
Sense: you.
ἁμαρτίαι  sins 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Feminine Plural
Root: ἁμαρτία  
Sense: equivalent to 264.
Ἔγειρε  Arise 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: ἐγείρω  
Sense: to arouse, cause to rise.
ἆρον  take  up 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: αἴρω  
Sense: to raise up, elevate, lift up.
κράβαττόν  mat 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Masculine Singular
Root: κράβαττος 
Sense: a pallet, camp bed (a rather simple bed holding only one person).
περιπάτει  walk 
Parse: Verb, Present Imperative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: περιπατέω  
Sense: to walk.

What are the major concepts related to Mark 2:9?

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