Mark 13 11

Mark 13:11 kjv

But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

Mark 13:11 nkjv

But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 niv

Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 esv

And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13:11 nlt

But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

Mark 13 verses

Mark 13 11 Meaning

Mark 13:11 provides assurance to believers who will face persecution and be brought before authorities. Jesus instructs His disciples not to premeditate or worry about what they should say in such moments. Instead, they are to trust that the Holy Spirit will providentially supply the exact words and wisdom needed for that specific hour of trial, transforming their human testimony into a divine one, as it will be the Spirit Himself speaking through them.

Mark 13 11 Context

Mark chapter 13, known as the "Olivet Discourse," is Jesus' prophetic teaching to His disciples regarding the destruction of the Temple, signs of His second coming, and the end of the age. Verse 11 falls within a section (verses 9-13) that specifically warns the disciples about future persecution. Jesus describes how believers will be handed over to local councils and synagogues, flogged, and even stand before governors and kings for His sake. In this challenging and fearful context, Mark 13:11 provides divine instruction and comfort regarding how to respond when facing such legal and hostile interrogations, emphasizing trust in God's supernatural enablement rather than human preparation or anxiety.

Mark 13 11 Word analysis

• And when they lead you away and deliver you up:
  • "Lead you away" (Greek: agagosin - ἀγάγωσιν): Implies being taken into custody or brought before a judicial authority. It suggests the initiation of a legal process.
  • "Deliver you up" (Greek: paradidote - παραδιδῶτε): This verb often carries the nuance of handing someone over for trial, punishment, or betrayal. Here, it refers to the judicial handover to courts or rulers. The disciples will be in a position of vulnerability and legal exposure.
• do not worry beforehand what you will speak, nor plan:
  • "Do not worry beforehand" (Greek: mē promermnēte - μὴ προμεριμνᾶτε): A strong imperative prohibiting a specific type of anxiety. Merimnaō means "to be anxious, preoccupied, distracted by cares." The prefix pro- means "beforehand," emphasizing that the disciples should not premeditate their defense or prepare elaborate speeches in advance. This goes against natural human inclination in times of stress or interrogation.
  • "Nor plan" (Implied from the comprehensive prohibition): The verse extends beyond mere anxiety to proactive mental strategizing for their defense. The instruction is to release the burden of human preparation entirely.
• but whatever is given you in that hour, speak that:
  • "Whatever is given you" (Greek: ho an dothē hymin - ὃ ἐὰν δοθῇ ὑμῖν): Signifies divine impartation. It implies that the content of their speech will be a gift from an external, higher source, specifically the Holy Spirit, as clarified in the next phrase.
  • "In that hour" (Greek: en ekeinē tē hōra - ἐν ἐκείνῃ τῇ ὥρᾳ): Refers to the very specific moment of their trial or questioning. This emphasizes the immediate, timely, and precise nature of the Spirit's provision, tailored exactly for the current situation, not a general empowerment.
  • "Speak that": A direct command to simply utter what is divinely supplied.
• for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit.
  • "For it is not you who speak": A clear negation of human agency as the primary source of the message. The disciples become instruments, their own wisdom and intellect taking a secondary role.
  • "But the Holy Spirit" (Greek: alla to Pneuma to Hagion - ἀλλὰ τὸ Πνεῦμα τὸ Ἅγιον): The divine agent. This identifies the empowering force. It's the Third Person of the Trinity who inspires, enables, and directs the testimony. This gives confidence, validates the message as from God, and removes the fear of human inadequacy, transforming potential weakness into divine power and authority in witness.

Mark 13 11 Bonus section

The provision of the Holy Spirit's words in times of persecution highlights a key biblical theme: God’s complete sufficiency and desire to be glorified even through the suffering of His people. This promise is unique to extraordinary circumstances of persecution and witness before hostile powers. It's not a blanket encouragement to avoid all preparation for regular preaching or teaching, where diligent study and meditation are still essential (2 Tim 2:15). Instead, it signifies a supernatural infusion of wisdom and utterance directly from God when human faculties might be overwhelmed or fall short in critical adversarial settings, transforming what might be a human breakdown into a powerful divine breakthrough. This demonstrates God's sovereignty over events and His protective care for His witnesses, ensuring that His message prevails despite intense opposition.

Mark 13 11 Commentary

Mark 13:11 is a profound promise of divine enablement amidst the daunting reality of persecution. Jesus acknowledges the terror and uncertainty His followers will face, specifically judicial trials where their very lives and beliefs will be scrutinized. His command to "not worry beforehand" is not a call to unpreparedness in general life or ministry, but a specific directive for confronting hostile authorities. In these unique, high-stakes moments, the disciples are called to absolute trust in the supernatural work of the Holy Spirit. Their witness will not rely on human eloquence, cunning argumentation, or memorized defenses, but on a Spirit-given wisdom and utterance, perfectly suited for the "hour" of need. This transforms the persecuted disciple into a channel for God's own voice, turning a human trial into an opportunity for divine proclamation. It liberates believers from the crippling fear of human inadequacy and redirects their reliance entirely on the Spirit's power to speak truth with authority, demonstrating that the ultimate defense of the Gospel is not intellectual superiority but divine testimony. This principle offers immense comfort and boldness to all who are called to stand for Christ in the face of opposition.