Mark 14 51

Mark 14:51 kjv

And there followed him a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him:

Mark 14:51 nkjv

Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him,

Mark 14:51 niv

A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him,

Mark 14:51 esv

And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him,

Mark 14:51 nlt

One young man following behind was clothed only in a long linen shirt. When the mob tried to grab him,

Mark 14 verses

Mark 14 51 Meaning

Mark 14:51 describes an anonymous young man who followed Jesus during His arrest in Gethsemane. As the arresting party seized Jesus, they also tried to lay hold of this young man, who was lightly clad only in a linen cloth, perhaps having been awakened abruptly from sleep. In his panic, he left the linen cloth in their hands and fled completely unclothed, highlighting the chaotic and frightening nature of Jesus' capture and the immediate abandonment by His followers.

Mark 14 51 Context

Mark 14:51 is situated in the deeply dramatic and pivotal account of Jesus' arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane. Immediately following Jesus' anguished prayer and the arrival of Judas with a large crowd and armed Temple guards and Roman soldiers, the disciples who were with Jesus respond in fear. Peter attempts a defense, striking off the ear of a servant, but then the disciples, as predicted, abandon Jesus. Amidst this chaos and the disciples' flight, this specific incident of the young man is interjected as a unique detail in Mark's Gospel. It portrays the intense confusion, fear, and panic of the moment, highlighting how abruptly the peaceful setting was disturbed by violent action and the swift departure of those who had previously followed Jesus. The detail about his nakedness suggests he may have been awakened from sleep in a house nearby or was a very zealous follower who trailed Jesus directly from an informal lodging place without dressing fully, underscoring the unexpected and brutal nature of the night arrest.

Mark 14 51 Word analysis

• And (Καὶ - Kai): A simple coordinating conjunction that serves to introduce a new, often unexpected, turn in the narrative, maintaining the immediacy of the account.

• there followed (ἠκολούθει - ēkolouthei): Imperfect tense of "to follow," suggesting an ongoing or persistent action. This implies the young man had been a close, continuous, albeit anonymous, follower of Jesus at that critical hour, rather than a casual passerby.

• him (αὐτῷ - autō): Refers to Jesus, signifying that the young man's immediate focus or allegiance was to the Lord.

• a certain young man (τις νεανίσκος - tis neaniskos):

  • τις (tis): "A certain one," indicating an unnamed or unspecified individual, typical of an anedoctal interjection into a narrative. This anonymity encourages interpretive speculation.
  • νεανίσκος (neaniskos): Literally "young man," referring to someone in the prime of youth, often 20-40 years old, but commonly late teens or early twenties in other contexts. This is the same term Mark uses for the figure in the empty tomb (Mk 16:5), possibly creating a literary bracket. This unique Markan detail has led many early Church fathers and scholars to propose that this is a self-identification by John Mark himself, adding an eyewitness validation without explicit self-reference.

• having a linen cloth cast about (περιβεβλημένος σινδόνα - peribeblēmenos sindona):

  • περιβεβλημένος (peribeblēmenos): A participle meaning "wrapped around" or "clothed with."
  • σινδόνα (sindona): A linen sheet or cloth. In this context, it suggests a minimal covering, perhaps a sleep garment or nightwear, implying he had been sleeping and was roused hastily. The same Greek word is used for the burial shroud in which Jesus was wrapped (Mk 15:46), creating a somber echo and connection to death.

• his naked body (ἐπὶ γυμνοῦ - epi gymnou):

  • ἐπὶ (epi): "Upon," or "over."
  • γυμνοῦ (gymnou): Genitive form of γυμνός (gymnos), meaning "naked," "bare," or "lightly clad." In ancient Mediterranean cultures, "naked" could mean simply without outer garments (e.g., just in an undergarment or tunic) rather than completely unclothed. However, being "naked" in public was shameful and a sign of humiliation or extreme distress, signifying extreme vulnerability. His partial or complete nakedness underscores his panicked and undignified flight.

• and they laid hold on him (καὶ κρατοῦσιν αὐτόν - kai kratousin auton):

  • κρατοῦσιν (kratousin): Present tense, "they are seizing him." This vivid present tense adds to the sense of immediate action and chaotic events, reflecting the narrator's immediacy of recollection. It shows the hostile crowd was not merely focused on Jesus, but sought to apprehend any associates.
  • αὐτόν (auton): "Him." This shows that the arresting party, possibly mistaking him for a close disciple, or simply acting on impulse, also tried to capture him.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body": This vivid and seemingly extraneous detail paints a compelling picture of immediate, fear-driven abandonment. It's often interpreted as an eyewitness touch from the author, John Mark, a humble confession of his own fearful failure to stand with Jesus. The state of his dress indicates he was aroused from sleep, caught unaware by the events, reflecting the disciples' unpreparedness, both physically and spiritually.
  • "and they laid hold on him; and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked." (This incorporates verse 52 for full narrative context of the action): This sequence starkly illustrates the contrast between human frailty and Jesus' unwavering commitment. While Jesus allows himself to be taken, His closest followers, and even this eager young bystander, prioritize self-preservation, abandoning decorum and dignity in their flight. This emphasizes the profound fear that gripped all of Jesus' followers in this darkest hour.

Mark 14 51 Bonus section

• The Markan "Nakedness" motif: Some scholars connect the "nakedness" here not only to shame and vulnerability but also to a deeper theological statement unique to Mark. The motif of nakedness or inadequate clothing appears in other Gospel accounts (e.g., a blind man removing his cloak in Mk 10:50). In the context of Mark's overall theme of suffering and genuine discipleship, this physical nakedness might also hint at a deeper spiritual exposure and abandonment faced by disciples, contrasting with the promise of "spiritual clothing" available through Christ.
• Link to resurrection/transformation: The presence of a "young man" at the tomb dressed in white (Mk 16:5) is sometimes seen as a purposeful thematic echo by Mark. If the naked young man at the arrest and the white-clad young man at the resurrection are linked—even if not the same person—they suggest a dramatic transformation from fearful exposure in the shadow of death to joyful revelation in the light of resurrection. This foreshadows the spiritual journey of discipleship itself.
• Contrast to Jesus' garments: While the young man flees shedding his single garment, Jesus' garments become an object of Roman soldiers' gambling at the crucifixion (Mk 15:24), further highlighting Jesus' complete loss of possessions and control, even over His final dignity, in stark contrast to the young man's survival through shedding his clothing.

Mark 14 51 Commentary

This peculiar and seemingly peripheral anecdote, exclusive to Mark's Gospel, adds a profound touch to the account of Jesus' arrest. It serves as a stark human counterpoint to Jesus' divine composure in the face of capture. The anonymous young man, possibly roused from sleep in a nearby dwelling, hurriedly cloaked only in a simple linen sheet, attempts to follow Jesus amidst the tumultuous arrest. When the arresting party, in their sweeping attempt to subdue all resistance, tries to seize him, he reacts with desperate, visceral fear, abandoning his last shred of clothing and dignity to escape.

This incident powerfully illustrates the pervasive fear that seized Jesus' followers, emphasizing the complete abandonment foreshadowed by Jesus. It highlights the shocking, chaotic nature of the arrest, far from a structured legal proceeding. The detail is frequently interpreted as the author, John Mark, subtly inserting himself into his narrative as a humble eyewitness, acknowledging his own moment of fear and failure before his later commitment to Christ's service. The young man's public shame through nakedness stands in direct contrast to Jesus' dignified, sacrificial surrender, thereby magnifying the solitary and deliberate nature of Christ's passion.