Mark 1:7 kjv
And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
Mark 1:7 nkjv
And he preached, saying, "There comes One after me who is mightier than I, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to stoop down and loose.
Mark 1:7 niv
And this was his message: "After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Mark 1:7 esv
And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
Mark 1:7 nlt
John announced: "Someone is coming soon who is greater than I am ? so much greater that I'm not even worthy to stoop down like a slave and untie the straps of his sandals.
Mark 1 7 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mt 3:11 | "I baptize you with water for repentance... He who is coming... is mightier than I... | Parallel passage highlighting Jesus' superiority. |
| Lk 3:16 | "John answered them all, saying, 'I baptize you with water... one who is mightier than I is coming...'" | Parallel passage, underscoring the contrast between John and Jesus. |
| Jn 1:15 | "John bore witness about him... 'This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me has a higher rank...'" | John's explicit testimony to Jesus' pre-eminence and pre-existence. |
| Jn 1:27 | "He is the one who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." | Exact parallel in John's Gospel, confirming John's humility and Jesus' dignity. |
| Acts 13:25 | "As John was finishing his course, he said, 'What do you suppose that I am?... one is coming after me...'" | Paul recounts John's humble witness to Jesus in his sermon. |
| Is 9:6 | "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given... his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God..." | Prophecy of the Messiah's divine power and titles. |
| Is 11:2 | "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding... might..." | Describes the divine Spirit empowering the Messiah, showing His might. |
| Dan 7:13-14 | "...one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom..." | Prophecy of the Messiah's coming with supreme authority and an eternal kingdom. |
| Phil 2:9-11 | "Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that... every knee should bow..." | Paul's confession of Jesus' supreme exaltation and universal Lordship. |
| Heb 1:3-4 | "He is the radiance of the glory of God... he upholds the universe by the word of his power... much superior to angels..." | Defines Jesus' ultimate power and divine nature. |
| Col 1:15-17 | "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created... all things were created through him and for him." | Declaration of Jesus' role in creation and His cosmic preeminence. |
| Mal 3:1 | "'Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me...'" | Old Testament prophecy foretelling John the Baptist's role as a forerunner to the Messiah. |
| Is 40:3 | "A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'" | Prophecy fulfilled by John the Baptist, indicating his role as preparation for God's coming. |
| Mt 11:11 | "Truly, I say to you, among those born of women there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he." | Jesus affirms John's greatness as a prophet but subtly highlights a greater spiritual reality linked to Himself. |
| 1 Cor 1:25 | "For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." | Illustrates the paradox that divine power surpasses human strength and understanding, linking to Jesus' ultimate might. |
| Ex 3:5 | "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground." | Symbolism of removing sandals in the presence of divine holiness and reverence. |
| Josh 5:15 | "The commander of the Lord's army said to Joshua, 'Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.' And Joshua did so." | Another instance linking removing sandals to sacred awe and submission. |
| Jn 3:30 | "He must increase, but I must decrease." | John's summary of his mission, paralleling his humility and Jesus' growth in prominence. |
| Mk 9:7 | "And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, 'This is my beloved Son; listen to him.'" | Direct divine declaration of Jesus' authority, echoing John's implicit statement of Jesus' superior worthiness. |
| Ps 110:1 | "The Lord says to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.'" | Prophecy of the Messiah's ultimate victory and authoritative position alongside God, demonstrating supreme might. |
Mark 1 verses
Mark 1 7 Meaning
Mark 1:7 encapsulates John the Baptist's primary purpose: to prepare the way for one incomparably greater than himself. John declares Jesus' coming and emphasizes His immense power and divine authority by stating his own unworthiness even for the most demeaning tasks a servant would perform for a master, such as untying sandal straps. This statement immediately establishes Jesus as supreme, far transcending human limitations or even the status of a great prophet.
Mark 1 7 Context
Mark 1:7 is situated at the very beginning of Mark's Gospel, directly following a description of John the Baptist's ascetic life and preaching of a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This verse marks a pivotal transition, shifting the audience's focus from the preparing prophet (John) to the anticipated Messiah (Jesus). It serves as a direct, unmediated testimony from John himself, validating Jesus' supreme identity before His public ministry even begins. Historically, it reflects the widespread expectation of a coming deliverer and strategically places John's powerful witness at the forefront of the Gospel narrative, immediately establishing Jesus' unique authority and power. It also counters any potential misconception that John the Baptist himself was the Messiah.
Mark 1 7 Word analysis
- preached (ekēryssen from Greek kēryssō): Means to proclaim, to announce publicly as a herald. John acted as an official proclaimer, not just a casual speaker, lending authority and urgency to his message. It signifies a divine appointment.
- comes after me (erchetai opisō mou): Implies succession in time and perhaps also in sequence of events. While chronologically Jesus began his public ministry after John, the deeper meaning is that Jesus' authority and importance follow and transcend John's, not merely a temporal sequence.
- mightier (ischyroteros): A comparative adjective from ischyros, meaning strong or powerful. The suffix –teros intensifies this, declaring Jesus as "stronger" or "more powerful" than John. This strength is not physical but spiritual, authoritative, and even divine. It hints at Jesus' unparalleled power over sin, death, and evil.
- I am not worthy (ou ... ikanos): John uses ikanos, meaning "sufficient," "competent," or "fit for." His statement conveys profound humility and a radical recognition of Jesus' unmatched status. It highlights an extreme disparity, where John—a prophet greatly revered by many—considers himself utterly insufficient for even the lowest servant's task in relation to Jesus.
- stoop down (kypsas): This participle is unique to Mark's account of John's testimony, emphasizing the physical posture of subservience and profound deference. It paints a vivid picture of the act of humbling oneself, going beyond just acknowledging unworthiness to performing the demeaning physical action of a servant. It accentuates the level of John's humility and the immense stature of Jesus.
- untie (lysai): To loosen, to unbind. A specific, very menial task typically performed by the lowest slaves for their masters. It underscores the profound subservience.
- strap of whose sandals (ton himanta tōn hypodēmatōn): The sandal strap (himanta) itself, implying a small, insignificant part of the sandal. Untying this was considered a defiling and extremely lowly service, reflecting a servant's responsibility for their master's travel attire and personal care upon entering or leaving a dwelling. The image vividly communicates the abject humility John feels in contrast to Jesus' divine eminence. This specific act emphasizes the ultimate humility of John towards Jesus.
- comes after me... I am not worthy to stoop down and untie: This phrase group profoundly defines John's self-perception in relation to Jesus. It is a powerful declaration of theological humility, where John fully acknowledges his subservient, preparatory role to one whose status is so exalted that John is unfit for even the most basic and humiliating servitude. This sets a very high initial Christology for Mark's Gospel.
Mark 1 7 Bonus section
Mark's inclusion of "stoop down" (kypsas) uniquely emphasizes John's humble posture, giving a deeper visual and emotional dimension to his self-proclaimed unworthiness not explicitly present in the parallel accounts of Matthew or Luke. This detail highlights Mark's immediate focus on Jesus' superior authority and status right from the introduction, before His baptism or public ministry. The scene contrasts the prophet of the wilderness, revered by many, with the Messiah, showing the divine-human gulf. This verse also implicitly foreshadows Jesus' later act of servant-hood by washing His disciples' feet, presenting a radical counter-cultural image where the "mightier" One Himself engages in acts of profound humility and service (Jn 13:4-5), transforming the very concept of power.
Mark 1 7 Commentary
Mark 1:7 is a masterful stroke in introducing Jesus to the audience, leveraging John the Baptist's respected prophetic authority to immediately establish Jesus' supreme identity. It's not just a statement of future arrival but a declaration of inherent, unmatched worth. John's self-deprecating words, particularly his humility in declaring himself unworthy of even the most basic servant's duty, dramatically elevate Jesus far beyond human kingship or even prophetic office. This instant establishment of Jesus as "mightier" sets the stage for His subsequent miracles and authoritative teachings in Mark's Gospel, ensuring the reader understands that He is truly the unique Son of God. The image of the sandal strap symbolizes not just a mundane task, but an extreme contrast between human potential and divine glory, making Jesus' divine nature clear from the very beginning.