Mark 1 2

Mark 1:2 kjv

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mark 1:2 nkjv

As it is written in the Prophets: "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You."

Mark 1:2 niv

as it is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way"?

Mark 1:2 esv

As it is written in Isaiah the prophet, "Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,

Mark 1:2 nlt

just as the prophet Isaiah had written: "Look, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
and he will prepare your way.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 2 Meaning

Mark 1:2 introduces the gospel of Jesus Christ by grounding it in Old Testament prophecy, presenting the coming of John the Baptist as the fulfillment of a divinely orchestrated plan. It cites the Lord's promise to send a messenger ahead, one who will prepare the way for His own arrival, thereby establishing John as the foretold herald and Jesus as the anticipated Lord.

Mark 1 2 Context

Mark 1:2 functions as the foundational declaration for the entire Gospel of Mark. Mark begins abruptly, launching directly into the good news (euangelion) of Jesus Christ. Instead of a birth narrative, he immediately establishes Jesus' identity and the divine orchestration of His advent by quoting Old Testament prophecy. This verse provides the divine blueprint for the appearance of John the Baptist, affirming that his ministry is not random but a fulfillment of ancient predictions concerning the preparatory work for the Messiah's arrival. Historically, after centuries of prophetic silence, the Jewish people eagerly awaited both a prophet and the Messiah. This verse immediately connects John to that expectation, identifying him as the foretold messenger who would clear the path for the coming Lord, a concept often associated with the grand arrival of a king or deity. Indirectly, it acts as a subtle polemic against any notion that John the Baptist was the Messiah himself, clearly identifying him as "My messenger" before the Lord.

Mark 1 2 Word analysis

• As it is written: (καθώς γέγραπται - kathōs gegraptai) This common New Testament formula introduces an Old Testament quotation, signaling divine authority and fulfillment. It affirms that the events unfolding in Mark's narrative are part of God's pre-ordained plan, established in sacred Scripture. The perfect tense "gegraptai" (has been written and remains written) emphasizes the enduring validity and divine permanence of the scriptural word.

• in Isaiah the prophet: (ἐν τῷ Ἡσαΐᾳ τῷ προφήτῃ - en tō Hēsaïa tō prophētē) Although this verse is a composite quotation, drawing from Malachi 3:1 and Isaiah 40:3, Mark attributes it solely to Isaiah. This practice was common in Jewish tradition, often citing the more prominent or thematic prophet when combining passages, or the initial prophet in a sequence. Mark prioritizes the broader theme of "preparing the way" for the Lord found prominently in Isaiah, even though the specific "My messenger" phrase is from Malachi. This attribution emphasizes Isaiah's powerful Messianic prophecies.

• Behold: (Ἰδοὺ - Idou) This Greek interjection serves as an exclamation, demanding immediate attention to what follows. It signals an important divine declaration or revelation, much like "Lo!" or "Look!"

• I send: (ἀποστέλλω - apostellō) This verb signifies sending with specific delegated authority or for a particular mission. It highlights God's active involvement and commissioning of His messenger, not merely an informal dispatch. This root is where the word "apostle" comes from, implying divine commission.

• My messenger: (τὸν ἄγγελόν μου - ton angelon mou) The Greek word angelos means "messenger" and can refer to a human envoy or an angelic being. In this context, directly echoing Malachi 3:1, it unequivocally refers to John the Baptist as God's human envoy. John's role is thus seen as divinely appointed and distinct.

• before Your face: (πρὸ προσώπου σου - pro prosōpou sou) This idiom denotes proximity and direct presence. The messenger is sent to appear directly before the person they are serving, indicating immediate service and preparation for that person's direct advent. It signifies intimacy and directness in the preparatory work.

• Who will prepare: (ὃς κατασκευάσει - hos kataskeuasei) The verb kataskeuazō means "to prepare thoroughly," "to make ready," "to build up," or "to furnish." It implies an active, diligent, and complete preparation, like building a road or fitting out a house. It suggests the removing of obstacles and the smoothing of a path.

• Your way: (τὴν ὁδόν σου - tēn hodon sou) The Greek word hodos literally means "road" or "path." Metaphorically, it refers to a manner of life, a course of action, or the journey itself. Here, it refers to the path or advent of the Lord Himself, necessitating removal of all barriers.

• before You: (ἔμπροσθέν σου - emprosthen sou) Similar to "before Your face," this phrase reiterates the priority and direction of the preparation. The messenger prepares the path specifically and directly for the Lord's coming. The repetition emphasizes the singularity of the purpose: all for the Lord.

• "As it is written in Isaiah the prophet": This initial phrase immediately establishes the theological framework for Mark's entire narrative. By rooting the events in Old Testament prophecy, Mark asserts the divine origin and intentionality behind John's ministry and, by extension, Jesus' identity and work. It invites the reader to see these unfolding events not as random occurrences but as the fulfillment of God's eternal purposes.

• "Behold, I send My messenger before Your face": This segment highlights God's initiative ("I send") in dispatching a specific individual ("My messenger," i.e., John the Baptist). The phrase "before Your face" conveys the directness and immediacy of this messenger's task, serving as a direct prelude to the Lord's advent. It underscores John's unique and divinely ordained role as the one commissioned directly by God to go before the coming Messiah.

• "Who will prepare Your way before You": This concluding phrase articulates the very purpose of the messenger's mission. "Prepare Your way" signifies clearing obstacles and making everything ready for the arrival of the great Lord or King. The repeated "before You" emphasizes the dedicated, singular focus of this preparation upon the specific person of the Lord. It anticipates the revolutionary and authoritative entrance of the Son of God, for whom a literal and spiritual path must be made smooth.

Mark 1 2 Bonus section

• Markan Urgency: True to Mark's characteristically immediate and fast-paced narrative, the Gospel plunges straight into the core events of Jesus' ministry without delay, starting with prophetic validation rather than genealogical or birth accounts found in other Gospels. This beginning signals the swift advance of God's kingdom.
• Conflated Quote's Purpose: While technically a combination of Malachi 3:1 (the messenger phrase) and Isaiah 40:3 (the "prepare the way" idea, fully quoted in Mk 1:3), Mark’s singular attribution to "Isaiah the prophet" underscores the immense prophetic weight and spiritual authority that Isaiah held in Israel, especially concerning the coming of the Messiah. It links John’s ministry directly to the grand salvation plan outlined in Isaiah.
• Divine Agent: The verse clearly identifies John the Baptist as a divine agent, chosen and sent by God for a specific purpose. This elevation of John’s status validates his extraordinary ministry in the wilderness.
• Royal Preparation Motif: The imagery of "preparing the way" for "Your way" invokes ancient Near Eastern customs where royal heralds or construction crews would go ahead of an arriving king or dignitary to clear paths, fill valleys, and level mountains, ensuring a smooth and grand procession. This motif highlights the cosmic and royal significance of Jesus' arrival.

Mark 1 2 Commentary

Mark 1:2 immediately positions the forthcoming narrative of Jesus as divinely anticipated and foretold. It’s a deliberate declaration of fulfillment, drawing directly from God's own words in the Old Testament. This concise verse introduces John the Baptist's preparatory role not as an accidental historical event, but as a crucial, prophetic stage of God's redemptive plan. By presenting John as "My messenger" sent "before Your face" to "prepare Your way," Mark affirms the Messianic significance of Jesus’ impending arrival, setting the expectation for a Savior who comes by divine decree. It subtly teaches that true service involves making oneself and others ready for the Lord's glorious appearing.