Mark 15 35

Mark 15:35 kjv

And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, Behold, he calleth Elias.

Mark 15:35 nkjv

Some of those who stood by, when they heard that, said, "Look, He is calling for Elijah!"

Mark 15:35 niv

When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, he's calling Elijah."

Mark 15:35 esv

And some of the bystanders hearing it said, "Behold, he is calling Elijah."

Mark 15:35 nlt

Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah.

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 35 Meaning

Mark 15:35 describes the misunderstanding of some bystanders near the cross who, upon hearing Jesus's cry, misconstrued it as an appeal to Elijah for help. This highlights their spiritual blindness and the prevalent Jewish expectation of Elijah's return as a precursor or deliverer in messianic times. The verse illustrates a moment of confusion and potential mockery amidst Jesus's agony.

Mark 15 35 Context

Mark 15 details Jesus's crucifixion. The verses immediately preceding verse 35 describe Jesus's profound cry from the cross, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" (My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?), an Aramaic phrase echoing Psalm 22:1. This cry, uttered at the ninth hour (around 3 PM), followed a period of darkness over the land. In the immediate aftermath of this deeply significant expression, the attention turns to the reactions of those present. The broader historical and cultural context includes a deep-seated Jewish belief in the return of Elijah before the coming of the Messiah (Mal 4:5-6). Elijah was believed to be a prophet who never died and would reappear, possibly to announce the Messiah or help those in dire need. This expectation was so strong that some interpreted any divine cry or plea as an appeal to Elijah.

Mark 15 35 Word analysis

• And when some of them: Greek kai tines tōn (καὶ τινες τῶν). "Some" (τινες, tines) denotes an unspecified subset of the onlookers. This indicates not everyone present reacted this way, but a distinct group did, reflecting differing perspectives at the cross.
• that stood by: Greek parestēkotōn (παρεστηκότων), from the verb paristēmi (παρίστημι), meaning "to stand beside," "to be present." This describes their close proximity and witness to the event. Their presence signifies a group observing, not necessarily directly involved in the crucifixion, but within earshot.
• heard it: Greek akousantes (ἀκούσαντες), a participle from akouō (ἀκούω), "to hear," but also implying "to understand" or "perceive." In this context, it highlights their physical act of hearing Jesus's cry but immediately indicates a misunderstanding or misinterpretation of its meaning.
• they said: Greek elegon (ἔλεγον), imperfect tense of legō (λέγω), "to say" or "speak." The imperfect tense can suggest ongoing speech, a repeated statement, or a shared, murmuring consensus among this group, rather than a single utterance.
• Behold: Greek Ide (Ἴδε), an imperative from horaō (ὁράω), meaning "to see" or "look." Used here as an exclamation to draw attention, similar to "Look!" or "See!" It emphasizes their immediate reaction and desire for others to witness their perceived insight.
• he calleth: Greek phōnei (φωνεῖ), present indicative of phōneō (φωνέω), "to call," "to shout," or "to utter a sound." The present tense indicates a perceived ongoing action – they believe Jesus is currently calling. This contrasts with Jesus having just cried out from deep distress, and they interpret it as a specific summoning.
• Elias: Greek Ēlian (Ἠλίαν), the Greek form of the Hebrew prophet Elijah. This specific identification is key to the verse's meaning. The phonetic similarity between Jesus's Aramaic "Eloi" (My God) and "Elias" would have been very strong to the hearing of some in the crowd. This may have been a genuine phonetic confusion, a deliberate misinterpretation for mockery, or a superstitious hope.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And when some of them that stood by heard it, they said": This entire phrase introduces the immediate human reaction to Jesus's cry. It highlights the direct, observational nature of their response, distinguishing this group from other onlookers. It sets the scene for a misinterpretation.
• "Behold, he calleth Elias": This declarative statement encapsulates their specific interpretation. It conveys their immediate conclusion and public declaration. This points to a pre-existing belief system or cultural expectation (Elijah's return) overriding the actual content of Jesus's profound cry. It demonstrates their focus on popular messianic traditions rather than the spiritual depth of Jesus's suffering and its fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 22).

Mark 15 35 Bonus section

• The bystanders' reaction exemplifies a common biblical theme where Jesus's identity and mission are profoundly misunderstood or actively rejected by many, even those who witness His signs or hear His words directly (e.g., Nicodemus's confusion in Jn 3, disciples' slowness to grasp the suffering Messiah in Mk 8:31-33).
• This verse can be seen as an unconscious testimony to the depth of Jesus's suffering. Had His cry been clearer or louder, it might have been harder to mistake for "Elias." His weakened state contributed to the phonetic confusion.
• The deep-seated belief in Elijah's physical return reflects a tendency in some religious circles to adhere strictly to literal interpretations of prophecy without discerning the spiritual fulfillment, a trap many fell into regarding the true nature of the Messiah's kingdom.

Mark 15 35 Commentary

Mark 15:35 offers a stark illustration of spiritual deafness and misplaced expectations at the pivotal moment of Christ's sacrifice. Jesus's Aramaic cry of dereliction, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?", was a profound declaration rooted in Psalm 22, expressing the unparalleled weight of bearing humanity's sin and experiencing separation from the Father. However, for some bystanders, likely Jews unfamiliar with or unreceptive to Jesus's deeper identity, the sound of "Eloi" was phonetically close enough to "Elias" (Elijah) to lead them to a deeply flawed conclusion. This was more than a mere mishearing; it reflected a pervasive cultural expectation of Elijah appearing, possibly to rescue the righteous or usher in the Messiah.

Their utterance, "Behold, he calleth Elias," reveals several layers of misunderstanding: they failed to grasp the Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus's cry (e.g., Ps 22); they misunderstood Jesus's unique identity as the Messiah who must suffer, not merely be rescued; and they showed ignorance of Elijah's spiritual fulfillment in John the Baptist. It could also have been a mocking taunt, suggesting Jesus was so deluded in his final moments that he was calling for a human intercessor instead of truly relying on God. Regardless of intent, their words underscore the tragic irony of human spiritual blindness, unable to discern the very Son of God even as He fulfills Scripture on the cross. The scene stands as a somber reminder of humanity's frequent inability to recognize divine truth.