Mark 11 12

Mark 11:12 kjv

And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry:

Mark 11:12 nkjv

Now the next day, when they had come out from Bethany, He was hungry.

Mark 11:12 niv

The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

Mark 11:12 esv

On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry.

Mark 11:12 nlt

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry.

Mark 11 verses

Mark 11 12 Meaning

Mark 11:12 introduces the timing and circumstance that immediately precede significant events in Jesus' final week. It highlights that "on the next day" – Monday of what is often called Holy Week – as Jesus and His disciples were leaving Bethany for Jerusalem, Jesus experienced genuine physical hunger. This seemingly mundane detail serves as a crucial narrative hinge, setting the stage for the highly symbolic cursing of the barren fig tree and the subsequent cleansing of the Temple, both of which are central to Mark's message of judgment on spiritual fruitlessness and unfaithful worship.

Mark 11 12 Context

Mark 11:12 places us squarely in Jerusalem during Jesus' final week before His crucifixion. The previous day, Sunday (Palm Sunday), had seen Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem (Mk 11:1-11), where He surveyed the Temple before returning to Bethany for the night. Verse 12 thus marks the beginning of the second day of the Passion Week. Jesus is coming from the familiar village of Bethany, a place of rest and friendship (home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus), and is journeying back towards the spiritual and political heart of Judea, Jerusalem. His immediate physical need of hunger, coupled with the journey towards the Temple, serves as the direct narrative lead-in to two highly symbolic events: the cursing of the barren fig tree (Mark 11:13-14, 20-21) and the cleansing of the Temple (Mark 11:15-19). This strategic placement emphasizes Jesus' authority, prophetic actions, and the impending judgment upon a system that appeared outwardly religious but was spiritually fruitless.

Mark 11 12 Word analysis

• On the next day (καὶ τῇ ἐπαύριον, kai tē epaurion):

  • This phrase directly establishes the precise chronology of Jesus' Passion Week. Mark frequently uses such time markers to give a sense of eyewitness account and historical specificity (e.g., Mk 1:14, 2:1, 4:35, 6:47, 14:12).
  • It places the events of this verse on Monday, following the Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. This meticulous temporal framing contributes to the building tension and divine timing in Mark's narrative.

• when they had left Bethany (ἐξελθόντων αὐτῶν ἀπὸ Βηθανίας, exelthontōn autōn apo Bēthanias):

  • they (autōn): Refers to Jesus and His disciples, highlighting their continuous movement as a group.
  • left (exelthontōn): A common verb denoting departure.
  • Bethany (Bēthanias): A village located on the eastern slope of the Mount of Olives, roughly two miles from Jerusalem. It served as Jesus' overnight lodging place during the final week, providing respite from the city's turmoil. It was also the home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead, and the site of His anointing by a woman (Mk 14:3). Leaving Bethany implies a deliberate return to Jerusalem for His public ministry.

• he became hungry (ἐπείνασεν, epeinasen):

  • hungry (peinaō): The verb in the aorist tense emphasizes a completed action: "He became hungry," not merely "He was hungry." This indicates a real and specific onset of hunger.
  • This seemingly simple statement carries profound theological significance:
    • Jesus' Full Humanity: It affirms the Incarnation's reality—Jesus was fully human, subject to natural physical needs like hunger, thirst, and fatigue (cf. Matt 4:2, Jn 4:6, Jn 19:28). This counteracts any suggestion of docetism (that Jesus only appeared to be human).
    • Authenticity of Experience: His hunger is a true human experience, making Him fully relatable and empathetic to human weaknesses and limitations (Heb 2:17).
    • Narrative Catalyst: In Mark's Gospel, this hunger is not a mere physiological detail but a narrative catalyst. It directly leads Jesus to look for food, prompting Him to encounter the barren fig tree in the very next verse (Mk 11:13). This sequence of physical need followed by a symbolic action is critical for the unfolding of Mark's message.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "On the next day, when they had left Bethany": This phrase precisely timestamps Jesus' journey from His restful overnight lodging to the confrontational urban setting of Jerusalem. It emphasizes His disciplined approach to His ministry and the inevitability of His movement toward His ultimate purpose. It marks a transition from private retreat to public action and prophecy.

• "he became hungry": This is not just a physiological observation but a powerful theological statement in context. Jesus, the Lord of glory, who miraculously feeds thousands, also experiences the basic pangs of hunger. This physical state prompts His seeking of fruit, which then parabolically speaks to the spiritual barrenness He encounters, particularly in the religious institutions of His day, symbolized by the fig tree and the Temple. His human need serves a divine purpose, unveiling His authority and impending judgment.

Mark 11 12 Bonus section

The precise sequence in Mark—Jesus curses the fig tree (Mk 11:12-14), cleanses the Temple (Mk 11:15-19), and then returns to the now-withered fig tree (Mk 11:20-21)—is a deliberate literary device often called an "intercalation" or "Markan sandwich." Mark 11:12 starts the first "slice" of this sandwich, with Jesus' hunger as the catalyst for His attention to the fig tree. The outer layers (the fig tree episodes) frame the inner layer (the Temple cleansing), implying a strong connection between spiritual barrenness, particularly in Israel's leadership and Temple practices, and the judgment that accompanies a lack of fruit. Jesus' physical hunger from the previous day directly prompts the actions that demonstrate His hunger for God's righteousness and truth within His people.

Mark 11 12 Commentary

Mark 11:12, while concise, serves as a pivotal bridge in the Gospel narrative. It anchors Jesus firmly in His full humanity by stating His very real experience of hunger. This detail is not incidental; rather, it sets the narrative trajectory for the two symbolic actions that immediately follow: the cursing of the barren fig tree and the cleansing of the Temple. Jesus' physical hunger becomes a tangible precursor to His "hunger" for righteousness and spiritual fruit from Israel, symbolized by the unfruitful fig tree. His journey from the restful home in Bethany back to the bustle of Jerusalem with this gnawing hunger creates an anticipation that culminates in His righteous indignation against a religious system that had become outwardly impressive but inwardly barren and exploitative. This verse therefore underlines Jesus' genuine humanity, connects a simple human need to profound theological and prophetic actions, and underscores the imminent judgment upon unfruitfulness within the community of faith.