Mark 15 39

Mark 15:39 kjv

And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Mark 15:39 nkjv

So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:39 niv

And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:39 esv

And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, "Truly this man was the Son of God!"

Mark 15:39 nlt

When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, "This man truly was the Son of God!"

Mark 15 verses

Mark 15 39 Meaning

Mark 15:39 recounts the pivotal moment when the Roman centurion, overseeing the crucifixion of Jesus, declares, "Truly this Man was the Son of God." This profound confession marks the climax of Jesus' identity revelation in Mark's Gospel, particularly after His death, and is made by an unexpected witness – a pagan Roman soldier. The verse signifies that even in profound suffering and apparent weakness on the cross, Jesus' true divine nature as the Son of God is powerfully demonstrated and recognized. It underscores that His death was not a defeat but a divine, intentional act, confirming His identity as prophesied and proclaimed throughout the narrative.

Mark 15 39 Context

Mark 15:39 occurs at the climax of Mark's passion narrative. The preceding verses detail Jesus' crucifixion, the derision from passersby and religious leaders, the mockery of the Roman soldiers, the darkness over the land (Mark 15:33), and Jesus' final cry of dereliction from the cross (Mark 15:34). Crucially, Mark 15:37 describes Jesus uttering a "loud cry" and then "breathing His last." This specific detail distinguishes Jesus' death from one of exhaustion or collapse. Immediately after this unique death, observed by the pagan centurion, comes his declaration. Historically, Roman centurions were highly disciplined, pragmatic soldiers tasked with upholding Roman order, often overseeing executions. For such a man to confess Jesus' divine sonship in the horrific public spectacle of the crucifixion, after mocking voices, underscores the powerful impact of Jesus' final moments and the unique nature of His death. The Roman authorities and Jewish religious leaders had dismissed Jesus as a mere criminal; this centurion, however, saw beyond the shame of the cross to perceive God's truth.

Mark 15 39 Word analysis

• And when the centurion (ὁ κεντυρίων / ho kenturiōn):

  • "centurion" is a Latin loanword into Greek. A Roman military officer in charge of approximately 80-100 men.
  • Significance: Represents Roman imperial authority and paganism. His confession is therefore remarkable and unexpected. He is a dispassionate, professional observer, making his declaration carry significant weight as an objective, eyewitness testimony.
  • His proximity and direct role in the crucifixion provide the basis for his profound observation.

• who stood over against him (ὁ ἑστηκὼς ἐξ ἐναντίας αὐτοῦ / ho hestēkōs ex enantias autou):

  • Literally, "the one standing from opposite him."
  • Significance: Emphasizes the centurion's direct, unimpeded view of Jesus. He was positioned right in front of the cross, enabling him to witness Jesus' death firsthand and fully, without obstruction, and thus be profoundly affected.

• saw that he so cried out (εἶδεν ὅτι οὕτως κράξας / eiden hoti houtōs kraxas):

  • "saw" (εἶδεν): Direct visual perception, confirming his eyewitness status.
  • "so cried out" (οὕτως κράξας): Refers to the "loud cry" of Mark 15:37. "Oυτως" (houtōs) here implies "in this manner" or "with such power/intensity." This was not a typical gasp or death rattle but a powerful, controlled utterance before expiring. It implies agency, not surrender to death's overwhelming power. This specific manner of death is emphasized as contributing to the centurion's conviction.

• and gave up the ghost (ἐξέπνευσεν / exepneusen):

  • "gave up the ghost" or "breathed his last." This verb can suggest expiration in general, but in this context, coupled with the "loud cry," it reinforces the idea of Jesus willingly "giving up" His spirit rather than merely having life taken from Him. It signals control, rather than being overcome by weakness. This contrasts sharply with common understanding of a crucified person slowly fading away.

• he said, Truly this Man was the Son of God (Εἶπεν, Ἀληθῶς οὗτος ἦν Υἱὸς Θεοῦ / Eipen, Alēthōs houtos ēn Huios Theou):

  • "Truly" (Ἀληθῶς / Alēthōs): A strong affirmation, meaning "truly," "certainly," or "indeed." It indicates genuine conviction, a settled and profound belief, rather than a mere possibility.
  • "this Man" (οὗτος / houtos): Direct and personal reference to Jesus, the specific person before him on the cross.
  • "was" (ἦν / ēn): The imperfect tense can suggest a continuing truth or a definite, acknowledged past reality. "He indeed was the Son of God," a definitive declaration.
  • "the Son of God" (Υἱὸς Θεοῦ / Huios Theou): This is the ultimate theological confession in Mark's Gospel, appearing finally from a human character at the crucifixion's peak. It aligns with Mark's opening line (Mark 1:1) and the divine declarations at Jesus' baptism (Mark 1:11) and transfiguration (Mark 9:7). For a Roman centurion, while perhaps not fully grasping the Jewish messianic-divine nuances of "Son of God," it undoubtedly expressed a belief in Jesus' supernatural and unique relationship with deity, contrasting Him sharply with ordinary men or criminals. It might relate to concepts of deified emperors or heroes in the Roman mind, but Mark reclaims the title for Jesus, investing it with divine, not imperial, authority.

Mark 15 39 Bonus section

The centurion's confession can be seen as an immediate and miraculous result of the extraordinary phenomena surrounding Jesus' death (darkness, loud cry, unique way of dying). While Matthew adds an earthquake and opening of tombs as contributing factors (Matt 27:54), Mark focuses purely on the visual and auditory impact of Jesus' final moments. The centurion, in Mark's Gospel, functions as a representative of Gentile recognition of Christ, foreshadowing the spread of the Gospel beyond Judaism (Acts 10 for Cornelius, another centurion, further developing this theme). His declaration, "Truly this Man was the Son of God," stands in stark contrast to Peter's earlier private confession (Mark 8:29) and is the first direct human acknowledgement of this truth in the entire Gospel after Jesus' public ministry and death, confirming what the demons knew from the outset (Mark 3:11, 5:7). This unexpected confession also subtly critiques human power structures (Roman Empire) and religious assumptions (Jewish leaders' rejection), suggesting that true power and divine identity are revealed not in triumph but in the self-giving humility of the cross.

Mark 15 39 Commentary

Mark 15:39 serves as a theological turning point and interpretive key in Mark's Gospel. Despite the intense public humiliation and suffering of the cross, which typically represented weakness and defeat, Jesus' death becomes the very moment His divine identity as the Son of God is undeniably revealed and publicly confessed. It is profoundly ironic that this ultimate revelation comes not from a disciple, a Jewish leader, or an angel, but from a pagan Roman centurion, an agent of the very power that executed Jesus. This unexpected witness confirms that Jesus' power and authority transcend national and religious boundaries, becoming clear even to those outside of Israel's covenant. The centurion's observation of Jesus' "loud cry" immediately preceding His "giving up the ghost" is crucial; it signals that Jesus retained control and acted deliberately even in death, a stark contrast to typical crucifixion victims who suffered prolonged, weakened demise. His death was therefore not merely the consequence of physical suffering but a decisive, willed act demonstrating His divine power and fulfillment of His mission. This confession, standing against a backdrop of universal rejection and mockery, highlights the profound truth revealed through the seemingly greatest failure: God's power and saving plan manifest paradoxically through Christ's obedient suffering and death on the cross, silencing all arguments about His identity.