Mark 1:42 kjv

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:42 nkjv

As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:42 niv

Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

Mark 1:42 esv

And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

Mark 1:42 nlt

Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 42 Meaning

Mark 1:42 describes the immediate and complete divine intervention of Jesus, resulting in a dual restoration. First, the physical affliction of leprosy instantaneously departed from the man. Second, he was simultaneously "cleansed," signifying his restoration not only to physical health but also to ritual purity and full societal acceptance, effectively nullifying the severe religious and social isolation caused by the disease. This powerful act demonstrates Jesus' supreme authority over sickness, impurity, and the spiritual barriers that separated people from community and God.

Mark 1 42 Context

Mark 1:42 occurs early in Jesus' ministry, following His calling of the first disciples and His authoritative teaching and healing in Capernaum's synagogue (Mk 1:21-28) and Peter's home (Mk 1:29-34). The chapter emphasizes Jesus' power over demonic forces, diseases, and the widespread impact of His ministry across Galilee. The healing of the leper, detailed in verses 40-45, is particularly significant. In the Jewish society of Jesus' time, leprosy (tzara'at) was not merely a physical illness but also a condition of profound ritual uncleanness (Lev 13-14) that led to social ostracization. People with leprosy were compelled to live apart from the community and cry out "Unclean!" to warn others (Lev 13:45). Only a priest could declare a leper clean after strict examination and ritual procedures. Jesus' willingness to touch the leper (Mk 1:41) was an astonishing act of compassion, directly transgressing social and ritual norms, underscoring His unique authority. The immediate result in verse 42 testifies to this divine power and compassion.

Mark 1 42 Word analysis

• καὶ (kai): "And." A common conjunction in Mark, connecting the leper's plea and Jesus' touch to the miraculous outcome, emphasizing the immediate consequence of Jesus' action.

• εὐθὺς (euthys): "immediately," "at once." This adverb is a hallmark of Mark's Gospel, appearing frequently to highlight the swiftness and decisiveness of Jesus' actions. It underscores the instant, undeniable power of Christ's word and touch, leaving no room for doubt or gradual improvement.

• ἀπῆλθεν (apel_then): "departed," "went away." From aperchomai. Signifies a complete and definitive removal. The leprosy was not just alleviated or subsided; it entirely ceased to exist on the man.

• ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ (ap' autou): "from him." Clarifies that the departure of the disease was directly and fully from the man himself, a complete separation.

• ἡ λέπρα (hē lepra): "the leprosy." The specific condition. In ancient Jewish society, tzara'at (the Hebrew term translated as "leprosy") covered various chronic skin ailments and was considered a divine affliction linked to uncleanness and social death.

• καὶ (kai): "and." Connects the physical departure of the disease to the state of ritual purity, highlighting the dual nature of the healing.

• ἐκαθαρίσθη (ekatharisthē): "he was cleansed." From katharizo, meaning "to make clean" or "purify." The passive voice emphasizes that the cleansing was an action performed upon him by divine power (Jesus), rather than an active process initiated by the leper himself. This word choice is critical, directly addressing the Levitical requirement for lepers to be declared clean.

• "καὶ εὐθὺς": "And immediately." Mark's signature emphasis on instantaneousness, demonstrating the effective, authoritative, and direct nature of Jesus' power. It signals the direct result of Jesus' compassionate will and divine command.

• "ἀπῆλθεν ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ ἡ λέπρα": "the leprosy departed from him." This phrase vividly describes the physical cure, the physical malady ceasing to exist on the man. It emphasizes a complete eradication, not a partial healing.

• "καὶ ἐκαθαρίσθη": "and he was cleansed." This powerful conjunction means that not only was the disease gone, but the man was simultaneously rendered ritually pure according to the Law, capable of rejoining society and worship. This signifies Jesus' authority not just over disease, but over the very laws of impurity and the declaration of ceremonial cleanness, a role traditionally held only by priests after extensive rituals.

Mark 1 42 Bonus section

• Messianic Sign: The healing of leprosy was considered one of the signs that would accompany the Messiah's coming, a feat only God could accomplish (Is 35:5-6; cf. Lk 7:22). This miracle, therefore, functions as clear evidence of Jesus' identity.
• Jesus' Authority over the Law: By touching the leper (Mk 1:41) and immediately declaring him cleansed, Jesus demonstrated His authority to suspend or fulfill the Levitical purity laws concerning contagion. Instead of Jesus becoming unclean by touching the leper, the leper became clean by Jesus' touch.
• Symbolism of Sin: Leprosy, with its progressive defilement, social ostracism, and the need for external declaration of cleanness, was often understood as a strong symbolic parallel to the spiritual state of sin. Jesus' cleansing of the leper thus prefigures His ultimate work in cleansing humanity from the spiritual disease of sin.

Mark 1 42 Commentary

Mark 1:42 provides profound insight into Jesus' ministry. The instantaneous departure of the leprosy (the physical healing) highlights His supreme power over sickness. However, the subsequent statement "and he was cleansed" elevates the miracle beyond a mere physical recovery. For a leper, cleansing was not a medical process but a ritual declaration of purity that allowed reentry into religious and social life. By not only healing but also "cleansing" the man, Jesus performs a function previously exclusive to the Levitical priesthood (Lev 14), thus asserting a new and greater authority over the Mosaic Law and the very concept of purity. This single verse showcases Christ's comprehensive restoration – physically, socially, and ritually. It foreshadows His ultimate work of cleansing humanity from the deeper defilement of sin, returning them to a pure standing before God. This event vividly illustrates God's active compassion reaching beyond religious barriers to offer full reconciliation.