Mark 2 11

Mark 2:11 kjv

I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy bed, and go thy way into thine house.

Mark 2:11 nkjv

"I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house."

Mark 2:11 niv

"I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."

Mark 2:11 esv

"I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home."

Mark 2:11 nlt

"Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!"

Mark 2 verses

Mark 2 11 Meaning

Mark 2:11 is Jesus' direct, authoritative command to a paralyzed man, immediately following Jesus' declaration that the man's sins are forgiven. The verse details the command for the man to rise, pick up his mat, and go home. This physical healing serves as tangible proof and a visible sign of Jesus' divine authority to forgive sins, a power understood by the Jewish leaders as belonging only to God. It signifies holistic restoration—physical, social, and spiritual.

Mark 2 11 Context

The events of Mark 2:11 take place in Capernaum, Jesus' adopted home, where He was teaching in a crowded house. Four men, unable to get their paralytic friend through the crowd, daringly removed part of the roof to lower him directly before Jesus. Instead of immediately healing the man, Jesus first declares, "Son, your sins are forgiven" (Mk 2:5). This sparks a theological challenge from the scribes present, who considered such a claim to be blasphemy, as only God can forgive sins. To demonstrate His authority not just over the physical but over the spiritual, Jesus asks whether it is easier to forgive sins or to heal. He then pronounces the command in Mark 2:11, making the visible miracle of healing the undeniable proof of His invisible authority to forgive sins. The healing is immediate and public, providing clear evidence for all to witness Jesus' unique power. The command to "go home" signifies the restoration not only of his physical mobility but also his reintegration into community and daily life, reversing his state of isolation and helplessness.

Mark 2 11 Word analysis

• I say to you (ἐγὼ λέγω σοι, egō legō soi): A powerful and direct statement of authority. "Egō" (I) is emphatic, stressing Jesus' own divine prerogative, directly challenging the scribes' questioning of His right to speak with such power. It is a divine fiat, not a suggestion.
• arise (ἔγειρε, egeire): An imperative command meaning "get up" or "raise." This term is significant as it is also used in the New Testament to describe physical resurrection from the dead, suggesting the depth of the power at play—a reversal of a near-death state for the paralyzed man. It indicates an immediate, spontaneous rising from helplessness.
• pick up (ἆρον, aron): An imperative verb meaning "lift" or "take up." This command is not merely about physical ability but also a public declaration. Carrying the mat, the very symbol of his prolonged confinement and immobility, would serve as undeniable proof to everyone that he was completely healed.
• your mat (τὸν κράβαττόν σου, ton krabaton sou): "Krabaton" (mat or pallet) refers to a simple, inexpensive, often portable sleeping mat used by the poor or infirm. It was the place where he lay helpless, defining his disability. Picking it up reverses his state; he now carries what once carried him, demonstrating strength and autonomy. It highlights the transformation from burden to proof.
• and go home (ὕπαγε εἰς τὸν οἶκόν σου, hypage eis ton oikon sou): "Hypage" (go, depart) is an imperative, directing him to a new action. "Eis ton oikon sou" (to your house) indicates a return to his personal life, family, and community. This signifies not just physical healing but also social and familial reintegration. His restored physical capability allows him to resume a normal, productive life within his own household and society, escaping the previous dependence and potential public ostracism of the infirm.

Words-group analysis:

• "I say to you, arise, pick up your mat, and go home": This entire command demonstrates Jesus' complete mastery and power. It's a three-fold sequence: (1) Arise: Immediate physical empowerment. (2) Pick up your mat: Tangible, public evidence of healing, forcing an action that proves total restoration. (3) Go home: Reintegration into personal life and society, demonstrating complete normalization and functional capacity. This progression confirms the immediacy and comprehensiveness of the healing, serving as irrefutable proof of the divine authority Jesus claimed.

Mark 2 11 Bonus section

• The public nature of this healing was crucial. Performed directly in front of the challenging scribes and a large crowd, it served as an incontrovertible sign ("semeion") that authenticated Jesus' ministry and identity as the "Son of Man" with unique divine prerogatives.
• The connection between sickness and sin was common in ancient Jewish thought (though Jesus often challenged a direct, causal link, e.g., Jn 9:3). By addressing the man's sins first, Jesus pointed to the deeper spiritual need, establishing that He possessed authority over the root of human brokenness, not just its manifestations. The physical healing thus becomes a metaphor and a guarantee of the more profound spiritual healing.
• The immediate compliance and outcome described in Mark 2:12 further underscore the supernatural nature of the event. The paralytic didn't struggle; he immediately and effortlessly followed the commands, highlighting the boundless power in Jesus' words.

Mark 2 11 Commentary

Mark 2:11 stands as the pivotal demonstration in the pericope of the paralytic, providing the empirical proof for Jesus' asserted authority to forgive sins. While the scribes could only challenge Jesus' spiritual claim mentally, Jesus presented a physical miracle as a visible and undeniable validation. The specific instructions—"arise," "pick up your mat," and "go home"—are integral to this proof. "Arise" signifies a dramatic shift from helplessness to active ability. "Pick up your mat" transforms an object of confinement into an instrument of testimony, preventing any doubt about the man's prior condition or the completeness of his healing. Furthermore, this action underscores that Jesus did not just heal but restored strength and independence. "Go home" illustrates the holistic nature of Jesus' restoration, bringing the man from a state of public dependency and isolation back into the warmth and normalcy of his household and community life. The miracle's public nature and its immediate, verifiable outcome serve to silence Jesus' critics and solidify His claim to divine power. This account emphasizes that Jesus possesses full authority on earth to address both spiritual sin and its physical consequences, embodying God's power to fully restore His creation.