Mark 1:23 kjv

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,

Mark 1:23 nkjv

Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

Mark 1:23 niv

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out,

Mark 1:23 esv

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,

Mark 1:23 nlt

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 23 Meaning

This verse immediately follows Jesus' teaching in the synagogue, setting the scene for His first public display of divine authority over evil spirits. It reveals the sudden manifestation of a demonic presence reacting to Jesus' presence and teaching, highlighting the clash between divine light and spiritual darkness within a place of worship.

Mark 1 23 Context

This verse is central to Mark's opening account of Jesus' public ministry in Capernaum. It directly follows Jesus' authoritative teaching (Mk 1:21-22), which deeply impressed the people because He taught "as one who had authority, not as the scribes." The man's sudden outcry is the immediate consequence and dramatic evidence of this divine authority manifesting in a public, religious setting. The synagogue was the heart of Jewish communal life and worship, a place for prayer, teaching, and scripture reading. The presence of an impure spirit here is striking and disturbing, highlighting the pervasive nature of spiritual darkness even in religious institutions, and setting up Jesus' unique authority to cleanse and purify. It is Jesus' first recorded exorcism in Mark, establishing His identity and immense power over supernatural evil.

Mark 1 23 Word analysis

• Just then / And immediately (εὐθύς - euthys):
  • Significance: This adverb is characteristic of Mark's Gospel, used frequently (over 40 times). It contributes to the fast-paced, urgent narrative style of Mark.
  • Meaning: "Immediately," "straightway," "at once."
  • Implication: Emphasizes rapidity, suddenness, and direct action. In this context, it highlights the instant spiritual manifestation triggered by Jesus' presence and authoritative teaching, signifying a direct, unmediated divine response or intervention.
• a man (ἄνθρωπος - anthrōpos):
  • Meaning: "Human being," "person."
  • Significance: Identifies the afflicted one as an ordinary individual, emphasizing that spiritual oppression can affect anyone, anywhere, even within a religious assembly, setting the stage for a universally relevant demonstration of Jesus' power.
• in their synagogue (ἐν τῇ συναγωγῇ αὐτῶν - en tē synagōgē autōn):
  • "synagogue" (συναγωγῇ - synagōgē):
    • Meaning: "Assembly," "gathering place." Specifically refers to the Jewish house of worship, teaching, and community gathering in the Second Temple period.
    • Significance: A crucial setting for Jesus' ministry, being a public space for teaching, prayer, and scripture reading. The presence of an impure spirit within such a revered religious institution is striking and disturbing, emphasizing that spiritual darkness can permeate even spaces dedicated to God. This underscores the need for divine cleansing and Jesus' unparalleled authority to address such defilement from within. "Their" refers to the local Jewish community.
• who was possessed by / in an impure spirit (ἐν πνεύματι ἀκαθάρτῳ - en pneumati akathartō):
  • "spirit" (πνεύματι - pneumati):
    • Meaning: "Spirit," "wind," "breath." Here, it specifically refers to a malevolent, intelligent, non-human entity.
    • Significance: Distinct from a mere physical illness, it denotes a supernatural influence and oppression.
  • "impure" (ἀκαθάρτῳ - akathartō):
    • Meaning: "Unclean," "defiled," "ritually impure," "morally foul," that which is contrary to holiness.
    • Significance: Denotes that which is ritually, morally, and spiritually offensive to God's holiness and order. In the Jewish context, impurity often made one unfit for worship or participation in sacred activities (Leviticus 11-15). The demon is not merely evil but "unclean," a theological term linking it directly to things that defile and corrupt God's creation.
  • "possessed by / in": The Greek preposition en ("in") signifies a deep, internal, pervasive presence and control, indicating that the spirit has inhabited or profoundly controlled the man.
  • Significance of the phrase: It immediately labels the adversary as belonging to the realm of darkness, opposed to divine purity. This specific type of spirit often displays an awareness of Jesus' true identity (Mk 1:24), signaling a preternatural recognition of divine presence.
• cried out (ἀνέκραξεν - anekraxen):
  • Meaning: "Cried out," "shouted aloud," "shrieked," often suggesting a sudden, startled, involuntary, or uncontrolled vocalization.
  • Significance: The loud, public cry signifies the immediate and forceful reaction of the demonic entity to Jesus' presence and authoritative teaching. It is an instinctive, involuntary outburst that reveals the spirit's discomfort, agitation, and perhaps even defiance, signaling its recognition of Jesus' formidable power. This dramatic outcry immediately sets the stage for a confrontation, capturing the attention of all present and preventing a quiet transition.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Just then a man... cried out": This phrase immediately establishes an abrupt, human-centered dramatic response to Jesus' presence. The emphatic "just then" (immediately) highlights the rapid onset of a supernatural event, directly triggered by Jesus entering and teaching, setting a brisk pace for Mark's narrative.
• "in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit": The contrast presented here is profound: a holy place of assembly (synagogue) harbors deep spiritual defilement and oppression. This scenario immediately places Jesus in direct conflict with a tangible spiritual evil operating within the heart of a religious institution. It demonstrates that religious affiliation or physical sacred space alone does not exclude the presence of spiritual darkness, thus necessitating direct divine intervention and confrontation.

Mark 1 23 Bonus section

• Mark’s Gospel prioritizes showcasing Jesus’ actions, particularly His miraculous works like exorcisms, as a primary means of revealing His divine identity and power, rather than focusing extensively on lengthy sermons.
• The incident highlights the pervasive nature of spiritual darkness, underscoring that it can exist and operate even within sacred religious spaces, necessitating radical divine intervention for its expulsion and the restoration of purity.
• The fact that the unclean spirit immediately recognizes Jesus' identity (as explicitly shown in the subsequent verse, Mk 1:24) signifies the preternatural awareness of demonic entities regarding divine presence and power, often before humans fully comprehend who Jesus is. This awareness leads to fear and rebellion in the spirits, yet they are ultimately subjected to His authority.
• The term "unclean" (ἀκαθάρτῳ) for the spirit links not only to moral depravity but also to Old Testament concepts of defilement, which rendered one ritually unfit for worship. Jesus' presence in the synagogue effectively purifies what is defiled, foreshadowing His work of cleansing and reconciliation.

Mark 1 23 Commentary

Mark 1:23 functions as the dramatic pivot from Jesus' authoritative teaching to His authoritative action. The "unclean spirit" acts as a conscious proxy for all evil powers, instantly compelled to react to the presence of absolute holiness and authority. The instantaneous, public outcry within the synagogue vividly demonstrates that spiritual darkness cannot passively coexist with the light and truth embodied by Jesus Christ. This pivotal event establishes Jesus not merely as a profound teacher who interprets scripture with unique insight, but as one uniquely endowed with divine power to confront, subdue, and defeat the very forces of evil that bind and torment humanity. It sets a foundational precedent for the rest of Mark's Gospel: Jesus' ministry is not just a mission of teaching and healing, but an active, ongoing spiritual war, revealing His identity as the Christ, the powerful Son of God. This public display of power further legitimizes and visibly demonstrates the "authority" over spiritual realms that the people had already intuitively sensed from His teaching.