Mark 2:19 kjv
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them? as long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Mark 2:19 nkjv
And Jesus said to them, "Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast.
Mark 2:19 niv
Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
Mark 2:19 esv
And Jesus said to them, "Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast.
Mark 2:19 nlt
Jesus replied, "Do wedding guests fast while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. They can't fast while the groom is with them.
Mark 2 19 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Isa 61:10 | "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord... as a bridegroom decks himself..." | Joy of salvation, bridegroom image |
| Joel 2:16 | "...let the bridegroom leave his room, and the bride her chamber." | Wedding setting |
| Mt 9:15 | "Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?" | Parallel passage, joyful presence |
| Jn 3:29 | "The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom..." | John the Baptist affirms Bridegroom |
| Rev 19:7-9 | "Let us rejoice and exult... for the marriage of the Lamb has come..." | Eschatological Marriage Feast |
| Rev 21:2, 9 | "And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband... I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb." | The Church as the Bride |
| Mk 2:20 | "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day." | Foreshadows future fasting |
| Lk 5:36-39 | "...new wine must be put into fresh wineskins." | New vs. Old practices |
| Hos 2:19-20 | "And I will betroth you to me forever... in righteousness..." | God's covenantal betrothal to Israel |
| Psa 16:11 | "...in your presence there is fullness of joy..." | Joy in God's immediate presence |
| Psa 30:5 | "weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning." | Transition from sorrow to joy |
| Isa 35:10 | "...everlasting joy shall be upon their heads..." | Eschatological joy |
| Zec 8:19 | "The fasts... shall be seasons of joy and gladness..." | Transformation of fasting into joy |
| Jer 31:31-34 | "Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant..." | New Covenant established |
| Heb 8:8-13 | Describes the superiority and fulfillment of the New Covenant. | New Covenant's significance |
| Gal 4:21-31 | Allegory of two covenants: slave woman vs. free woman. | Spirit of bondage vs. freedom |
| Phil 4:4 | "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." | Command to ongoing joy |
| Rom 14:17 | "For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit." | Kingdom of God characterized by joy |
| Jn 14:18-19 | "I will not leave you as orphans... because I live, you also will live." | Promise of enduring presence |
| Lk 24:41 | "And while they still disbelieved for joy..." | Joyful amazement in Jesus' presence |
Mark 2 verses
Mark 2 19 Meaning
Jesus responds to the query about fasting by likening His presence among His disciples to that of a bridegroom with wedding guests. In ancient Jewish culture, a wedding feast was a time of immense joy and celebration, precluding any solemn practices like fasting. Jesus declares that His presence inaugurates a period of profound spiritual joy, making fasting inappropriate for His companions. His statement subtly reveals His unique identity and the radically new era His coming brings, where He, as the Divine Bridegroom, is present among His people, inviting them into a celebration of salvation and communion.
Mark 2 19 Context
Mark 2:19 falls within a series of controversies where Jesus confronts traditional religious practices and beliefs of the time. The chapter begins with Jesus asserting His authority to forgive sins (2:1-12) and His compassion for outcasts by eating with tax collectors and sinners (2:13-17). The verse in question is Jesus' response to the query of why His disciples, unlike those of John the Baptist and the Pharisees, do not fast (2:18). This sets the stage for His radical teachings on the new nature of His ministry, symbolized by the parables of the new patch on an old garment and new wine in old wineskins (2:21-22), emphasizing that His presence is bringing forth a new order that cannot be contained by obsolete traditions. Historically, fasting was a widely practiced spiritual discipline among Jews, particularly by the Pharisees, symbolizing mourning, repentance, and longing for the Messiah. Jesus' reply signifies that the Messiah's arrival changes everything, replacing mourning with joy.
Mark 2 19 Word analysis
- Jesus: Refers to the Lord Jesus Christ, demonstrating His direct response and authority.
- said: ἔλεγεν (elegon) - imperfect tense, indicating ongoing or habitual action; Jesus continued to teach this truth.
- to them: His audience included the scribes and Pharisees questioning Him.
- Can: δύνανται (dynantai) - From dynamai, meaning 'to be able, to have power.' It poses a rhetorical question about the ability or possibility.
- the wedding guests: οἱ υἱοὶ τοῦ νυμφῶνος (hoi huioi tou nymphōnos) - literally, "the sons of the bridal chamber/wedding feast." This idiomatic expression refers to the intimate companions or attendants of the bridegroom. It emphasizes a privileged position of being present at the central celebratory event.
- fast: νηστεύειν (nēsteuein) - to abstain from food, specifically for religious reasons, typically associated with mourning, repentance, or seeking God's favor.
- while: ἐν ᾧ (en hō) - lit. "in which (time)," indicating the duration or presence.
- the bridegroom: ὁ νυμφίος (ho nymphios) - a key Messianic title. In Old Testament imagery, God is often portrayed as the bridegroom and Israel as His bride (e.g., Isa 54:5, Hos 2:19-20). By implicitly calling Himself the Bridegroom, Jesus asserts His divine, Messianic identity and special relationship with His people.
- is with them: μετʼ αὐτῶν ἔστιν (met' autōn estin) - Emphasizes immediate, personal, and tangible presence. His physical presence precludes fasting.
- As long as: ὅσον χρόνον (hoson chronon) - "as much time," specifying the duration for which the condition (His presence) holds true.
- they have: ἔχουσιν (echousin) - from echō, indicating possession or having something. They possess His presence.
- they cannot fast: οὐ δύνανται νηστεύειν (ou dynantai nēsteuein) - A strong, emphatic statement. It's not just that they shouldn't, but that it's spiritually illogical or inappropriate, like celebrating at a funeral. The spiritual atmosphere demands joy, not sorrow.
- Can the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them?: This rhetorical question highlights the fundamental incompatibility between the festive, joyful atmosphere of a wedding and the solemn act of fasting. Jesus is identifying Himself as the essential reason for celebration, not sorrow.
- As long as they have the bridegroom with them, they cannot fast: This re-emphasizes the previous point, strengthening it by stating an emphatic impossibility. The duration of the Bridegroom's presence determines the appropriate spiritual disposition—joy and feasting. It foreshadows that when He is no longer physically present, fasting will become appropriate again, as stated in the following verse.
Mark 2 19 Bonus section
This verse is central to understanding the inaugurated eschatology of the New Testament – the kingdom of God has arrived with Jesus' first coming, bringing elements of future glory into the present, hence the joy. However, the future fulfillment is still to come. Jesus' self-identification as the "Bridegroom" is a deliberate act of divine claim, associating Himself with Yahweh, who in the Old Testament is often depicted as the divine husband to Israel (e.g., Jer 2:2, Isa 54:5). This underscores His deity and His mission to establish a new covenantal relationship. The concept also directly relates to the Church as the "bride of Christ," whose ultimate union with Him will be celebrated at the "marriage supper of the Lamb" (Rev 19:7-9). Thus, Jesus is not simply changing religious rules; He is redefining the very essence of devotion and the relationship between God and humanity.
Mark 2 19 Commentary
Mark 2:19 is a profound declaration by Jesus, succinctly encapsulating His identity and the nature of His kingdom. By portraying Himself as the "Bridegroom," Jesus uses a powerful biblical metaphor to convey His intimate, joyous relationship with His people and His divine authority. His arrival ushers in an era of unprecedented celebration, making practices associated with repentance, mourning, or anticipation of a coming Messiah—like fasting—temporarily unfitting. The presence of the Bridegroom signifies fulfillment, new life, and divine joy, transforming the spiritual landscape from longing to joyous participation. This teaching challenges the rigid, outward-focused piety of the Pharisees, asserting that true worship flows from a joyful response to God's presence, rather than adherence to traditional forms alone. It implies a new spiritual reality, one centered on personal communion with Christ.