Mark 3:12 kjv
And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known.
Mark 3:12 nkjv
But He sternly warned them that they should not make Him known.
Mark 3:12 niv
But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.
Mark 3:12 esv
And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.
Mark 3:12 nlt
But Jesus sternly commanded the spirits not to reveal who he was.
Mark 3 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mark 1:25 | But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" | Jesus silences an unclean spirit, similar command. |
| Luke 4:35 | But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" | Parallel account of Jesus silencing a demon. |
| Mark 1:34 | ...he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. | Jesus preventing demons from speaking His identity. |
| Luke 4:41 | And demons also came out of many, crying, "You are the Son of God!"... | Demons acknowledge Jesus' identity before expulsion. |
| Mark 8:30 | And he charged them to tell no one about him. | Jesus commands disciples to secrecy after Peter's confession. |
| Mark 9:9 | ...he charged them to tell no one what they had seen, until the Son of Man should rise from the dead. | Secrecy command until after Resurrection. |
| Matthew 12:16 | He charged them not to make him known. | Parallel account in Matthew for healing, charge for silence. |
| Matthew 16:20 | Then he strictly charged his disciples to tell no one that he was the Christ. | Similar charge after Peter's confession of Jesus as Messiah. |
| Luke 9:21 | And he strictly charged them and commanded them to tell this to no one. | Parallel to Matt 16:20. |
| Luke 8:56 | But he charged them to tell no one what had happened. | Command for silence after raising Jairus' daughter. |
| Matthew 17:9 | As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision..." | Transfiguration: silence until Resurrection. |
| Acts 16:17 | She followed Paul and us, crying out, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation." | Demonic spirit accurately identifying apostles but needing silence. |
| James 2:19 | You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! | Demons acknowledge God's truth, but lack saving faith. |
| John 7:41 | Others said, "This is the Christ." Still others said, "Is the Christ to come out of Galilee?" | Human disagreement over Jesus' identity, showing need for proper revelation. |
| John 18:36 | Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world." | Explains why Jesus wanted to avoid premature "political" Messiah claims. |
| Isa 42:1-4 | Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights... He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice... | Prophetic allusion to Messiah's humble and unostentatious ministry. |
| Zechariah 9:9 | Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion!... behold, your king is coming to you... humble and mounted on a donkey. | Prophetic context of a Messiah whose arrival is not a triumphant roar. |
| John 6:15 | Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again... | Jesus avoids being forcefully made a political king, related to the silence motif. |
| Gal 4:4 | But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son... | Emphasizes the divine timing of revelation. |
| Eph 1:9-10 | ...making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose... to unite all things in him... | God's specific plan and timing for revealing His ultimate purpose in Christ. |
| Phil 2:8-9 | And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death... Therefore God has highly exalted him... | Jesus' identity fully revealed through humble obedience and subsequent exaltation. |
| Heb 2:14-15 | Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things... | The necessity for Jesus to be fully human for His redemptive work, delaying full revelation. |
Mark 3 verses
Mark 3 12 Meaning
Mark 3:12 conveys Jesus' strong directive to the unclean spirits, prohibiting them from publicly disclosing His identity as the Son of God. This command is an assertion of His divine authority, not only over the spirits themselves but also over the revelation of His own Messiahship. It highlights Jesus' control over the timing and manner of His identity's disclosure, particularly given the impure source of this recognition.
Mark 3 12 Context
Mark 3:12 follows a significant period of Jesus' ministry in Galilee, where His popularity has grown immense, attracting large crowds from various regions (Mk 3:7-8). He performs numerous healings, casting out many unclean spirits. Specifically, Mark 3:11 describes the unclean spirits falling down before Him and crying out, "You are the Son of God." This immediate context sets the stage for Jesus' subsequent command in verse 12. The historical and cultural background includes a common belief in demonic possession and the practice of exorcism, where the authority of the exorcist was often linked to the name or power invoked. However, Jesus' authority far surpassed that of contemporary exorcists, demonstrated by the immediate and complete obedience of the spirits. His injunction of silence directly counters any unapproved or demonically-sourced proclamation of His identity, asserting divine control over the message.
Mark 3 12 Word analysis
- And (Kai / Καί): A connective conjunction, linking this command to the previous actions where unclean spirits recognized and confessed Jesus (Mark 3:11). It shows the immediate consequence or response from Jesus.
- He strictly charged (Dietaxe / Διετάξατο): From the Greek verb diatassō (διατάσσω), meaning "to command," "to instruct," "to give strict orders," or "to arrange definitely." This word conveys a strong, authoritative, and firm command from Jesus. It is not a gentle request but an absolute injunction. It highlights His supreme authority over the demonic realm.
- Them (Autois / Αὐτοῖς): Refers to the "unclean spirits" mentioned in Mark 3:11. Jesus' authority extends even to these malevolent entities, forcing their submission and silence.
- That they should not make him known (Hina mē phanerov auton poiēsōsin / ἵνα μὴ φανερὸν αὐτὸν ποιήσωσιν):
- Hina mē (ἵνα μή): A negative purpose clause, indicating the intention or desired outcome of the command – "in order that they might not" or "that they should not."
- Phanerov (φανερόν): "manifest," "visible," "known," "revealed."
- Auton (αὐτόν): "him," referring to Jesus.
- Poiēsōsin (ποιήσωσιν): From poieō (ποιέω), "to do," "to make."
- Together, this phrase means "that they should not make Him manifest" or "that they should not reveal Him." This is a key element of the "Messianic Secret" motif in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus deliberately controls the proclamation of His identity.
Words-group analysis:
- "And he strictly charged them": This phrase emphasizes Jesus' immediate and definitive assertion of authority over the unclean spirits. His command is binding and without appeal. It highlights His control not only over their presence but also over their speech.
- "that they should not make him known": This whole clause specifies the content and purpose of Jesus' command for silence. It signifies that the knowledge of His identity, while true (even for demons), was not to be publicly disseminated by an impure source or before God's appointed time and manner of revelation. It implies the strategic and deliberate withholding of full Messianic disclosure in the early stages of His ministry to prevent misinterpretations (e.g., as a political revolutionary) and to guide people to a true understanding of His suffering servant role.
Mark 3 12 Bonus section
The unclean spirits' recognition of Jesus' identity is often presented as immediate and full, a contrast to the gradual, often confused, understanding of Jesus' own disciples. This paradox serves to underscore Jesus' divine nature: even malevolent forces, having supernatural knowledge, cannot deny who He is. However, this knowledge in demons is mere intellectual assent, devoid of submission or reverence, distinct from the faith required of humans. The silencing also protects the sacredness of His identity, preventing it from becoming associated with or validated by demonic testimony, which would invariably be twisted for destructive purposes. The emphasis is on divine timing and divine methods for divine revelation.
Mark 3 12 Commentary
Mark 3:12 encapsulates a critical aspect of Jesus' ministry often termed the "Messianic Secret" by scholars. While unclean spirits recognized Jesus as the Son of God, a divine truth, Jesus consistently silenced them. This was not because their claim was false, but because its source was illegitimate and its timing premature. Demonic proclamation of Jesus' identity could lead to severe misunderstandings, aligning Jesus with impure powers, distorting His message, or inciting a premature political uprising based on a warped perception of the Messiah. Jesus desired His identity to be fully understood through His teachings, miraculous deeds, and ultimately, His death and resurrection—a revelation rooted in divine truth, not unholy confession. He sought to cultivate authentic faith grounded in genuine understanding rather than sensational claims.