Mark 1 5

Mark 1:5 kjv

And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:5 nkjv

Then all the land of Judea, and those from Jerusalem, went out to him and were all baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:5 niv

The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

Mark 1:5 esv

And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.

Mark 1:5 nlt

All of Judea, including all the people of Jerusalem, went out to see and hear John. And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 5 Meaning

Mark 1:5 describes the widespread popularity of John the Baptist's ministry, indicating that people from the entire region of Judaea, including Jerusalem, came to him. They submitted to baptism in the Jordan River, a public act symbolizing cleansing and repentance, as they openly confessed their sins. This highlights the preparatory nature of John’s work, gathering a humbled people in expectation of the coming Messiah.

Mark 1 5 Context

Mark 1:5 is positioned at the beginning of Mark's Gospel, directly following the introduction of John the Baptist's ministry as the prophesied forerunner to the Messiah (Mk 1:2-4). John's message was one of repentance, and his public ministry in the Judean wilderness marked a significant movement drawing immense crowds. The historical and cultural context highlights a period of spiritual longing and political subjugation under Roman rule, amidst an established Jewish religious system that many perceived as formalistic or distant from true devotion. John’s powerful preaching, rugged appearance, and unusual baptism drew people seeking a direct and tangible expression of their desire for spiritual renewal and forgiveness of sins, preparing their hearts for the Christ whom he proclaimed.

Mark 1 5 Word analysis

• And there went out unto him: (καὶ ἐξεπορεύετο πρὸς αὐτόν, kai exeporeueto pros auton). The Greek imperfect tense of "went out" (ἐξεπορεύετο) indicates a continuous, ongoing, and persistent flow of people. It conveys the vast and sustained nature of the popular movement towards John, not merely a single event.
• all the land of Judaea: (πᾶσα ἡ Ἰουδαία, pasa hē Ioudaia). While "all" (πᾶσα) can be a hyperbole, it emphasizes the overwhelmingly broad appeal of John’s message. It signifies a collective spiritual awakening and interest that extended across the entire Jewish region, beyond just specific towns or groups.
• and they of Jerusalem: (καὶ οἱ Ἱεροσολυμῖται, kai hoi Hierosolymitai). Singling out Jerusalem is significant. As the religious and political center, Jerusalem's residents coming to John highlights the depth of his impact, even drawing those from the heart of the established religious elite's influence. This suggests a powerful indictment of the religious status quo through the people's attraction to John.
• and were all baptized of him: (καὶ ἐβαπτίζοντο πάντες ὑπ’ αὐτοῦ, kai ebaptizonto pantes hyp’ autou). Again, the imperfect tense ("were baptized") suggests a continuous process of people being baptized. The word "all" (πάντες) further emphasizes the widespread participation in this ritual of purification. John’s baptism was unique for Jews, who practiced ritual washings (mikvah) but not proselyte-style baptism for themselves. His baptism signified repentance for specific sins, preparing for the Messiah.
• in the river of Jordan: (ἐν τῷ Ἰορδάνῃ ποταμῷ, en tō Iordanē potamō). The Jordan River held deep historical and symbolic significance for Israel, associated with entry into the Promised Land (Josh 3). It signifies a border crossing, a transition, and a new beginning. John intentionally chose this prominent, public place, away from temple authority, underscoring a different path to spiritual renewal.
• confessing their sins: (ἐξομολογούμενοι τὰς ἁμαρτίας αὐτῶν, exomologoumenoi tas hamartias autōn). This phrase is crucial. The Greek exomologoumenoi (ἐξομολογούμενοι) means "to agree with, acknowledge, confess publicly." It's not a mere general acknowledgment of sinfulness but a specific, open admission of transgressions. This act of public confession demonstrated humility, earnestness, and a genuine commitment to repentance. It linked their external ritual of baptism with an internal change of heart and genuine contrition. This direct confession before baptism distinguished John's ministry; it wasn't a magic ritual, but a spiritual covenant demanding inward honesty.

• Words-Group Analysis:
• "went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem": This phrase paints a vivid picture of John's unprecedented popular appeal. It implies a strong current of spiritual longing that swept across the entire region, even reaching into the heart of Jewish religiosity in Jerusalem. This was not a localized movement but a significant popular phenomenon that indicated the people's readiness for a dramatic spiritual shift, bypassing traditional religious structures.
• "were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins": This phrase encapsulates the core action and its underlying spiritual condition. The physical act of baptism in the symbolic Jordan was directly tied to the spiritual act of confession. It wasn't just a bath; it was a ritual enactment of repentance that presupposed a contrite heart and an open admission of specific transgressions. This demonstrated the radical nature of John's call: not merely purification by ritual, but purification stemming from genuine inner change and open humility before God.

Mark 1 5 Bonus section

The act of confessing sins publicly before baptism, as depicted in Mark 1:5, contrasts sharply with the common Jewish ritual baths (mikvaot) which were performed regularly for ritual purity without requiring individual sin confession for each instance. John's baptism was a once-for-all act of repentance from sin, indicating a paradigm shift from cyclical ritual cleansing to a definitive break from sin. This marked his ministry as unique and revolutionary. The location, the Jordan River, also serves as an indirect polemic against reliance solely on Temple worship for atonement. By coming to the wilderness, people actively chose a path of spiritual seeking outside the central religious system, suggesting a divine movement beyond traditional boundaries, echoing prophetic messages of God working in new ways.

Mark 1 5 Commentary

Mark 1:5 illustrates the phenomenal impact of John the Baptist, whose ministry captivated a diverse cross-section of society. The throngs from Judaea and Jerusalem, drawn to the solitary prophet by the Jordan, signified a widespread spiritual yearning among the populace. This movement implicitly challenged the established religious institutions, suggesting that true spiritual cleansing and preparation for God's kingdom lay outside their conventional bounds. John's baptism was distinctive: it wasn't merely a Jewish purification rite but a singular, decisive act for the remission of sins, conditioned on explicit public confession. This act of confession indicated genuine repentance – a radical turning away from sin and towards God – essential for those awaiting the Messiah. It created a collective understanding that readiness for God’s coming king meant a personal accounting for one's sins, setting the stage for the Christ who would bring the ultimate sacrifice for sin.