Mark 1 9

Mark 1:9 kjv

And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.

Mark 1:9 nkjv

It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:9 niv

At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:9 esv

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Mark 1:9 nlt

One day Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee, and John baptized him in the Jordan River.

Mark 1 verses

Mark 1 9 Meaning

Mark 1:9 describes the beginning of Jesus' public ministry as He travels from His hometown, Nazareth of Galilee, to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. This pivotal moment signifies the inauguration of His divine mission, aligning Him with the people He came to save, and serving as a public anointing for His service to God.

Mark 1 9 Context

Mark 1:9 marks a crucial turning point in Mark's narrative, swiftly transitioning from the prophetic ministry of John the Baptist to the direct introduction of Jesus. Prior to this verse, Mark concisely describes John's role as the promised forerunner, baptizing people for repentance in the wilderness and foreshadowing one greater who would come. The sudden appearance of Jesus immediately after John's preaching sets the stage for Jesus' public ministry and highlights His humble but decisive entrance. Historically, Galilee was often viewed with less prestige by Judean Jews, and Nazareth was a particularly obscure town. Jesus' choice to come from Nazareth and to be baptized in the Jordan—a common ritual purification site but now central to John's movement—underscored His identification with the common people and His commitment to fulfilling God's righteousness amidst the ongoing spiritual renewal in Israel initiated by John. This event implicitly validated John's divine commission and prepared the way for Jesus to be publicly acknowledged by God.

Mark 1 9 Word analysis

• And: Kai (καὶ, Greek). A connective particle, linking Jesus' arrival directly to the preceding narrative of John the Baptist's ministry. It emphasizes continuity in God's plan.
• it came to pass: While not explicit in every English translation of Mark 1:9, the original Greek construction often implies this kind of narrative transition (kai egeneto - 'and it happened' is very common). Mark, known for his directness, presents events succinctly.
• in those days: En ekeinais tais hemerais (ἐν ἐκείναις ταῖς ἡμέραις, Greek). A common biblical phrase used to set the temporal context, indicating continuity with John the Baptist's period of ministry described just prior.
• that Jesus: Iesous (Ἰησοῦς, Greek). The Hellenized form of the Hebrew Yeshua or Yehoshua, meaning "Yahweh saves" or "the Lord is salvation." This is the first appearance of Jesus in Mark's narrative after the Gospel's opening statement, highlighting His immediate centrality.
• came: Elthen (ἦλθεν, Greek). An aorist verb, indicating a singular, completed action. Jesus' arrival was intentional and decisive, a deliberate act to begin His ministry.
• from Nazareth: apo Nazaret (ἀπὸ Ναζαρὲτ, Greek). Nazareth was a small, inconspicuous town in Galilee, culturally somewhat separated from the religious hub of Jerusalem. Its mention immediately roots Jesus in a humble, even overlooked, origin.
• of Galilee: tes Galilaias (τῆς Γαλιλαίας, Greek). The region in northern Israel, often looked down upon by Judeans (cf. Jn 1:46). Its designation reinforces Jesus' unexpected geographical origins, which align with Old Testament prophecies regarding light arising from "Galilee of the Gentiles" (Isa 9:1-2).
• and was baptized: kai ebaptisthe (καὶ ἐβαπτίσθη, Greek). A passive voice verb, indicating that the action was performed upon Him by another. It highlights Jesus' submission to John's authority and God's plan. His baptism was not for personal repentance, as He was without sin, but for identification with humanity, to fulfill all righteousness (Mt 3:15), and as an anointing for His public ministry.
• of John: hypo Iōannou (ὑπὸ Ἰωάννου, Greek). "By John." This identifies the baptizer and emphasizes John's crucial role as the forerunner appointed by God, validating his prophetic ministry by Jesus' submission to it.
• in the Jordan: eis ton Iordane (εἰς τὸν Ἰορδάνη, Greek). The Jordan River, geographically significant, representing a spiritual boundary. In Old Testament history, it was the place where Israel entered the Promised Land (Josh 3), and was associated with purification (2 Kgs 5) and prophetic transitions (2 Kgs 2). Jesus' baptism here resonates with these symbolic undertones.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And it came to pass in those days": This introductory phrase roots the events in real time and connects them chronologically to the preceding description of John's ministry, indicating that Jesus' appearance is the next divine action.
• "that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee": This concisely identifies Jesus, reveals His humble and somewhat unexpected origins in the less esteemed region of Galilee, establishing His earthly connection before His divine anointing. It prefigures how God often chooses the unassuming to accomplish great things.
• "and was baptized of John in the Jordan": This describes the climactic event of the verse: Jesus' willing submission to John's baptism. It's a foundational moment, demonstrating His humility, validating John's divine mission, and initiating Jesus' own public ministry with a symbolic act of consecration in a spiritually significant location.

Mark 1 9 Bonus section

Mark's Gospel emphasizes immediate action, and the baptism narrative is no exception. Unlike Matthew's account, Mark does not include the dialogue between John and Jesus about John's perceived unworthiness to baptize Jesus (Mt 3:14-15). This stylistic choice contributes to Mark's overall theme of urgency and revelation, swiftly moving to the divine declaration that follows. The implicit polemic in Jesus coming from "Nazareth of Galilee" challenged the prevailing prejudices of the religious elite in Judea, asserting that God's Messiah could emerge from an unexpected, even disparaged, place, consistent with God's historical pattern of choosing the weak and humble to shame the strong (1 Cor 1:27). The act of baptism also echoes themes of covenant initiation and purification seen in the Old Testament, suggesting a new covenant inaugurated through Jesus.

Mark 1 9 Commentary

Mark 1:9, while remarkably concise, narrates the momentous inauguration of Jesus' public ministry. It immediately introduces Jesus not as an isolated figure, but one entering into an existing movement of divine activity spearheaded by John the Baptist. Jesus' journey from Nazareth to the Jordan underscores His identification with the human experience, particularly those in humble circumstances. His willingness to be baptized by John, despite being sinless, served multiple profound purposes: it authenticated John's prophetic role, displayed Jesus' perfect obedience to God's will (fulfilling "all righteousness"), and symbolized His identification with sinful humanity He came to save. This act, happening in the Jordan, a river steeped in Israel's history of divine interventions and passages, publicly marked Jesus as God's chosen Messiah, preparing the way for the subsequent divine declaration of His beloved Sonship and anointing with the Holy Spirit. It highlights humility, obedience, and divine appointment at the very beginning of the Gospel.