Mark 1:43 kjv

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

Mark 1:43 nkjv

And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,

Mark 1:43 niv

Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning:

Mark 1:43 esv

And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once,

Mark 1:43 nlt

Then Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning:

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 43 Meaning

Mark 1:43 describes Jesus' forceful and immediate dismissal of the leper He had just healed. It highlights Jesus' authoritative command, compelling the man to leave swiftly after being cleansed. This stern instruction underscores a deeper purpose, emphasizing urgency and strict adherence to His directions, which will be further clarified in the subsequent verse regarding public proclamation.

Mark 1 43 Context

Mark 1:43 occurs early in Jesus' Galilean ministry, following numerous acts of healing and exorcism in Capernaum (Mk 1:21-39) and His initial decision to spread His message beyond that city (Mk 1:38-39). The healing of the leper (Mk 1:40-42) is a highly significant event. In Jewish society, leprosy rendered a person ritually unclean and an outcast, living separately from the community. Only a priest could declare a leper clean, allowing them to reintegrate into social and religious life (Lev 13-14). Jesus' act of touching and cleansing the leper demonstrated His power over disease and impurity, exceeding the boundaries of conventional ritual purity. His subsequent immediate and forceful dismissal, as described in verse 43, sets the stage for the specific instructions given in verse 44, emphasizing the critical importance of these commands to Jesus' strategy for revealing His true identity and mission.

Mark 1 43 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): A common connective in Mark's Gospel, indicating progression and quick succession in the narrative. It maintains Mark's characteristic fast pace, moving the story forward without delay.
• he (αὐτὸς - autos): Refers to Jesus. Emphasizes Jesus as the subject and instigator of the action, highlighting His authority and initiative in directing the cleansed man.
• straitly charged (ἐμβριμησάμενος - embrimēsamai): This powerful Greek verb conveys a strong sense of indignation, a stern warning, or a vehement rebuke. It is not a gentle request but a severe command, implying deep emotion or urgent strictness on Jesus' part. It suggests that Jesus felt strongly about the impending instructions, perhaps indicating a battle against the consequences of revealing too much, too soon, or even a sense of inner struggle with the misunderstanding of His ministry. The strength of this word emphasizes the gravity of the following instruction in Mark 1:44.
• him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to the newly cleansed leper. The object of Jesus' direct and stern command.
• and forthwith (καὶ εὐθὺς - kai euthys): "And immediately," "at once." This is a signature word in Mark's Gospel, appearing frequently to convey immediacy, urgency, and the dynamic energy of Jesus' actions. Here, it stresses the promptness of the leper's dismissal, highlighting the speed with which Jesus acted upon His strong warning.
• sent him away (ἐξέβαλεν - exebalen): A robust verb meaning "to cast out," "drive out," or "expel." While sometimes used for driving out demons, here, when coupled with embrimēsamai, it signifies a definitive and urgent expulsion or sending forth. It indicates that Jesus left no room for lingering, discussion, or delay, reinforcing the severity of the command to depart swiftly. This wasn't a casual farewell but an authoritative, unequivocal dispatch.

Words-group analysis:

• "straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away": This concise phrase powerfully conveys Jesus' complete authority and deliberate control over the situation. The combination of intense sternness ("straitly charged") and immediate action ("forthwith sent him away") demonstrates Jesus' intentional management of His miracles' aftermath. It indicates that the healing was part of a larger, divinely ordained plan that required precise timing and conditions, setting the stage for the command of silence in the subsequent verse (1:44). This immediate and forceful expulsion reinforces the concept of the "Messianic Secret," where Jesus purposefully regulates how His identity and power are revealed, preventing misunderstanding or political uproar stemming solely from His miraculous deeds.

Mark 1 43 Bonus section

The strong language used in this verse, particularly embrimēsamai (straitly charged), contributes significantly to the theological concept of the "Messianic Secret" found predominantly in Mark's Gospel. Jesus consistently seeks to control the dissemination of information about His identity and power, particularly through miracles. This control serves multiple purposes: it prevents Him from being mobbed by those seeking only physical healing or a political leader; it ensures that people grasp His full identity as the suffering Messiah, rather than merely a miracle worker; and it averts premature conflict with the religious and political authorities. The forceful expulsion of the leper signals the gravity of the ensuing command to remain silent, highlighting the strategic tension in Mark's narrative between the power Jesus demonstrates and the measured way in which He wishes His true mission to be understood. This dynamic also emphasizes Jesus' personal indignation, not at the healed man, but possibly at the disruptive potential of widespread, unfettered reports of miracles.

Mark 1 43 Commentary

Mark 1:43 encapsulates Jesus' sovereign authority and His purposeful strategy in ministry. Immediately after the compassionate and powerful act of cleansing a leper, Jesus exhibits a profound urgency and sternness in His command for the man to leave. This seemingly abrupt dismissal, marked by words like "straitly charged" (a very strong verb implying indignation or a grave warning) and "forthwith sent him away" (suggesting forceful expulsion), is not a sign of coldness but a calculated move within His divine plan. Jesus understands the volatile nature of public perception regarding miracles and wishes to prevent the misinterpretation of His Messiahship as purely political or solely based on sensational healing. The swift and firm command is critical to ensuring the man immediately obeys the instruction in the following verse—to present himself to the priests as required by the Law (Lev 14) and, crucially, to maintain silence. This episode underscores Jesus' adherence to the Law and His management of His public revelation, ensuring that His true mission as the suffering servant who brings spiritual redemption is not obscured by His miraculous powers.