Mark 12 4

Mark 12:4 kjv

And again he sent unto them another servant; and at him they cast stones, and wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully handled.

Mark 12:4 nkjv

Again he sent them another servant, and at him they threw stones, wounded him in the head, and sent him away shamefully treated.

Mark 12:4 niv

Then he sent another servant to them; they struck this man on the head and treated him shamefully.

Mark 12:4 esv

Again he sent to them another servant, and they struck him on the head and treated him shamefully.

Mark 12:4 nlt

The owner then sent another servant, but they insulted him and beat him over the head.

Mark 12 verses

Mark 12 4 Meaning

Mark 12:4 is part of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, spoken by Jesus to the chief priests, scribes, and elders. In this verse, the vineyard owner, representing God, sends a second servant to the rebellious tenants (representing the religious leaders of Israel) to collect his due. However, instead of complying, the tenants subjected this servant to a severe physical assault, wounding him violently in the head, and then dismiss him with utter disgrace. This signifies God's persistent patience in sending His prophets to Israel, and the people's historical pattern of rejecting, persecuting, and humiliating these divine messengers.

Mark 12 4 Context

This verse is central to the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, which Jesus tells in the temple courts in Jerusalem. This occurs during his final week, immediately following his triumphal entry and his authoritative actions in the temple. The chief priests, scribes, and elders have just questioned His authority (Mark 11:27-33), and Jesus, knowing their intent, uses this parable as a direct and thinly veiled indictment against them. The parable uses familiar Old Testament imagery of the vineyard (Israel, per Isa 5:1-7), presenting God as the owner, and the religious leaders as the tenants entrusted with its care. The sending of various servants signifies God's repeated attempts through His prophets to call Israel to faithfulness. The escalating violence of the tenants reflects the historical persecution and rejection of these prophets by the nation of Israel and its leadership, foreshadowing their ultimate rejection and murder of the Son.

Mark 12 4 Word analysis

• Again (Πάλιν - Palin): Signifies a repetition or renewed action. It highlights the vineyard owner's remarkable patience and perseverance despite the tenants' prior mistreatment of the first servant.
• he sent (ἀπέστειλεν - apesteilen): From apostellō, meaning to send forth with authority. This emphasizes a deliberate and authorized dispatch by the owner, representing God's active involvement in sending messengers.
• to them (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): Points directly to the wicked tenants, who represent the religious leadership of Israel, demonstrating that the repeated attempts at reconciliation and collection were specifically directed at those in charge.
• another (ἄλλον - allon): Indicates a different individual. This shows that the owner was not merely sending the same individual back but was dispatching new messengers, each with their own character, yet sharing the same mission to receive the fruit.
• servant (δοῦλον - doulon): Literally a "bond-servant" or "slave." In this context, it represents a prophet of God. The term emphasizes their loyal devotion and absolute subordination to the owner, yet they carry the owner's authority.
• and at him (κἀκεῖνον - kakeinon): Connects the narrative, emphasizing that the severe actions were directed at this specific new servant as well.
• they cast stones (ἐκεφαλίωσαν - ekefaliōsan - often translated as 'wounded him in the head'): This specific Greek verb has caused scholarly discussion, with various textual readings existing. However, critical editions often reflect the sense of a severe blow or injury to the head. It implies a targeted, brutal, and potentially life-threatening assault, escalating beyond a mere beating. While "stoned" is a common translation for other passages describing persecution, here the focus is on a decisive head injury.
• and wounded him in the head (ἐκεφαλίωσαν - ekefaliōsan): This further emphasizes the severe, grievous nature of the attack, aiming at the most vital part of the body. It signifies a profound level of violence, humiliation, and an attempt to incapacitate or silence the messenger. This goes beyond casual abuse; it implies extreme contempt and an effort to destroy.
• and sent him away (ἀπέστειλαν αὐτόν - apesteilan auton): Signifies the dismissal of the servant. They not only refused to yield the fruit but also forcibly expelled the representative of the owner's authority.
• shamefully handled (ἠτιμασμένον - ētimasmenon): From atimazō, meaning to dishonor, treat contemptuously, or disgrace. The servant was not just physically harmed but was also publicly humiliated and stripped of dignity. This speaks to the tenants' profound disrespect for the owner's authority and messengers, inflicting not only bodily injury but also spiritual and emotional degradation.

Mark 12 4 Bonus section

The Greek word ἐκεφαλίωσαν (ekefaliōsan) found in some ancient manuscripts for Mark 12:4 is unusual and suggests a very specific, grave injury—a blow to the head with severe intent. This type of detail serves to emphasize the escalating wickedness of the tenants, showing that their actions moved from mere beating (v.3) to more targeted and potentially deadly assault, setting up the killing of the servants in subsequent verses (Mark 12:5) and ultimately, the murder of the Son. This serves as a grim foreshadowing not only of the prophets' historical fate but also the coming suffering and humiliation of Jesus himself at the hands of those very leaders listening to the parable.

Mark 12 4 Commentary

Mark 12:4 continues the poignant narrative of the Parable of the Wicked Tenants, highlighting the unrelenting patience of God juxtaposed with the escalating rebellion of the religious authorities. After their mistreatment of the first servant, God does not give up but extends another opportunity for repentance by sending "another servant." This succession of messengers, each met with increasingly violent rejection, portrays Israel's historical relationship with God's prophets. The "wounded him in the head" action, distinct from simply beating, implies a targeted and potentially lethal blow, signaling a hardened opposition to divine revelation. The ultimate dismissal, "shamefully handled," conveys utter contempt and humiliation for God's messenger and, by extension, God Himself. This verse vividly illustrates the truth that God consistently seeks His people, yet His overtures are often met with severe and dishonoring resistance, preparing the ground for the climactic arrival and fate of the beloved Son.