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Mark 9

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.

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.

And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them.

And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.

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.

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.

And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.

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.

And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.

And they asked him, saying, Why say the scribes that Elias must first come?

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.

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.

And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them.

And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;

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.

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.

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.

And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child.

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.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.

And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

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.

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.

But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.

And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.

And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it.

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.

But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.

And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way?

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

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.

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,

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.

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.

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.

For he that is not against us is on our part.

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.

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.

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:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

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:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

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:

Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.

For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.

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.

What does Mark 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Mark 9:7 appears in the context of what is traditionally known as the "Transfiguration" of Jesus. This event recounts the transformation of Jesus' appearance, where his clothing became dazzling white, on a high mountain in front of three of his disciples: Peter, James, and John.

The verse captures a moment when a cloud, symbolizing the divine presence, overshadows the group, and a voice from the cloud proclaims Jesus as God's beloved Son, commanding the listeners to "hear him." The expression "This is my beloved Son" asserts Jesus' divine sonship and unique relationship with God the Father.

The command to "hear him" emphasizes the importance of Jesus' teachings and his authoritative role as a teacher.

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Historical Context

The Transfiguration is an event reported in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

It occurred in a Jewish context where mountaintop experiences were often associated with encounters with God, as seen in the experiences of Moses and Elijah.

The presence of a cloud echoes the Shekinah glory cloud, a visible manifestation of God's presence in the Hebrew Scriptures.

During this time, Jews were expecting a Messiah, the anointed one who would fulfill the prophecies of the Hebrew Bible.

Theological Insights

Theologically, Mark 9:7 speaks to both Christology and the nature of revelation.

From a Christological perspective, it reinforces the identity of Jesus as the Son of God.

In the realm of revelation, the declaration “hear him” signifies that Jesus is the ultimate prophet whose words carry divine authority.

This event foreshadows Jesus' death and resurrection, affirming his messianic mission.

Different denominations may emphasize various aspects of this verse, such as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) or the prophetic fulfillment.

Practical Applications

Practically, this verse encourages believers to prioritize the teachings of Jesus and view them as a direct message from God.

It calls for obedience to Jesus' words and implies that understanding God's will involves listening to Jesus.

This can translate into a call for discipleship, learning from scriptures, and seeking guidance from Christ's example in daily decision-making.

Cross-References

Matthew 17:5: "While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him."
Luke 9:35: "And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him."
2 Peter 1:17: "For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Language Study

In the original Greek, key words include:

"cloud" (νεφέλη, nephelē): often associated with divine presence.
"overshadowed" (επισκιάζω, episkiazō): a covering or enveloping, also used in the context of the Holy Spirit overshadowing Mary in Luke 1:35.
"beloved" (ἀγαπητός, agapētos): indicating a deep, cherished love; the same term is used to describe Abraham's son Isaac in the Septuagint.
"Son" (υἱός, huios): denotes a filial relationship and is used in New Testament Greek to signify Jesus' unique relationship as the Son of God.
"hear" (ἀκούω, akouō): to listen or hearken, with the implication of obeying what is heard.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In ancient cultures, mountains were often seen as places where the divine and human realms met.

In the Hebrew tradition, Moses received the Law on Mount Sinai amidst clouds and divine voice.

The Transfiguration of Jesus parallels these theophanies but distinctively highlights the person of Jesus rather than just delivering a message or law.

Scientific Perspectives

The description of a cloud and voice in this verse does not directly intersect with scientific perspectives as it relates to a supernatural phenomenon.

Science may view such experiences as potential natural events that can be misinterpreted or as psychological experiences, but within the faith context, they are considered miraculous events beyond scientific explanations.

Commentaries

Commentaries typically focus on the significance of this event in Christ's ministry. They suggest that the Transfiguration serves as a revelation of Jesus' divine glory to his closest disciples, a glimpse of the resurrected Christ.

Commentators also note the connection to the Old Testament, particularly the similarities to Moses' experiences and the idea of Jesus as the new lawgiver. The voice from the cloud often leads to discussions on the nature of divine revelation and authority in Christianity.

Mark 9

Mark 9

What does Mark 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 9:7 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?