Mark 3 5

Mark 3:5 kjv

And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Mark 3:5 nkjv

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

Mark 3:5 niv

He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

Mark 3:5 esv

And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored.

Mark 3:5 nlt

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, "Hold out your hand." So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!

Mark 3 verses

Mark 3 5 Meaning

Jesus, surveying the rigid, unsympathetic observers, expressed both righteous anger and profound sorrow over the spiritual insensitivity and deliberate unbelief of their hearts. Despite their antagonism, He then compassionately commanded the man with a withered hand to stretch it out. Upon immediate obedience, the man's hand was instantly and perfectly healed.

Mark 3 5 Context

Mark 3:5 is set in a synagogue on the Sabbath, directly following previous conflicts (Mark 2) where Jesus' practices and teachings challenged established religious norms concerning fasting, eating with sinners, and Sabbath observance (like plucking grain). In this specific encounter, the religious leaders (Pharisees and Herodians) were explicitly "watching" Jesus to find grounds for accusation, particularly whether He would heal on the Sabbath, which they considered "work." This verse represents Jesus' deliberate confrontation of their legalistic and heartless interpretation of God's law. His healing of the man's withered hand, rather than being an act of mercy, was viewed as a transgression by those whose hearts were hardened by pride and jealousy. The tension peaks here, as Jesus fully exposes their hypocrisy and insensitivity to human suffering, provoking an immediate and deadly plot against Him in the very next verse.

Mark 3 5 Word analysis

• looked round about (περιβλεψάμενος, periblepsamenos): A compound Greek verb signifying an intense, comprehensive gaze or survey. It suggests Jesus was taking in every aspect of the scene—the man's need, the observers' intent, and the full weight of their heart condition. It's a deliberate, penetrating look, not a casual glance.
• with anger (μετ' ὀργῆς, met orges): Orgē in Greek refers to a strong emotion, often righteous indignation rather than uncontrolled, sinful wrath. Jesus' anger here is not a loss of temper, but a holy indignation against hypocrisy, hard-heartedness, and the twisted application of God's law that prioritized human traditions over mercy and the sanctity of life. It is directed at the sin of their uncompassionate hearts, not the individuals themselves in a destructive sense.
• being grieved (συνλυπούμενος, synlypoumenos): A unique and poignant word, formed from syn (with/together) and lypeō (to grieve/suffer). It conveys deep sorrow, distress, or sympathy—Jesus shared in the grief and pain of humanity caused by sin, and particularly was pained by the spiritual condition of His adversaries. This juxtaposes His anger, showing the breadth of His perfect emotions: righteous judgment combined with profound empathy for those lost in spiritual blindness.
• hardness (πωρώσεως, pōrōseōs): From porosis, meaning callousing, hardening, or ossification. It metaphorically describes spiritual insensitivity, dullness of mind, obstinacy, or a heart that has become impenetrable to divine truth, conviction, and compassion. Their hearts were like stone, resisting the light and warmth of God's grace.
• of their hearts (τῆς καρδίας αὐτῶν, tēs kardias autōn): In biblical thought, the "heart" signifies the core of a person—their will, intellect, emotions, and moral character. The "hardness of their hearts" points to a deliberate choice to resist God's revelation and compassion, a willful spiritual obstinacy rather than simple ignorance.
• Stretch forth thine hand. (ἔκτεινον τὴν χεῖρά σου. ekteinon tēn cheira sou): A direct, authoritative command. Jesus issues this command knowing it challenges the Sabbath regulations as interpreted by the Pharisees, intentionally forcing a confrontation over what God truly desires. It also requires an act of faith and obedience from the man, despite his physical limitation.
• And he stretched it out: This indicates immediate, unwavering obedience on the part of the man. His faith acted upon Jesus' command without hesitation or questioning, even though his hand was withered.
• his hand was restored whole as the other. (ἀπεκατεστάθη ὑγιὴς ὡς ἡ ἄλλη. apekatedestathē hygiēs hōs hē allē): Apekatedestathē implies a complete, perfect, and instantaneous restoration, indicating a true miracle. The healing was undeniable and visible, leaving no room for doubt or rationalization from the observers. It validated Jesus' authority and power.

Words-Group Analysis

• "looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts": This phrase reveals the unique and complex character of Jesus. His anger is not a loss of control but a holy indignation at their willful spiritual blindness and their utter lack of compassion. This anger is coupled with deep grief for their lost spiritual state—He felt profound sorrow that they had chosen hearts of stone. This paradox showcases perfect divine justice and mercy operating simultaneously, judging sin while mourning for the sinner.
• "hardness of their hearts": This is the crux of the conflict. It identifies the root problem of Jesus' adversaries. It wasn't simply misunderstanding or different interpretation, but an unyielding, deliberate resistance to truth, mercy, and God's compassionate will. Their inward state prevented them from receiving the spiritual light Jesus offered.
• "Stretch forth thine hand...And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole": This sequence illustrates the divine command meeting human faith/obedience, resulting in immediate divine power. Jesus commands the impossible, the man obeys the command in faith (despite physical inability), and the impossible becomes reality. The miracle itself serves as undeniable proof of Jesus' divine authority and His ultimate desire for restoration over rigid adherence to man-made rules.

Mark 3 5 Bonus section

• The parallel accounts in Matt 12:9-14 and Luke 6:6-11 emphasize the Pharisees' hostile intent to entrap Jesus, further highlighting the deliberate nature of Jesus' actions in Mark 3:5.
• Jesus' dual emotions of anger and grief illustrate a concept known as divine pathos—God's deep emotional engagement with humanity and sin. This is a common theme throughout the Bible, showing God is not distant or indifferent.
• This incident marks a turning point where the Pharisees transition from merely questioning Jesus to actively plotting His destruction (Mark 3:6), revealing the extreme extent of their "hardness of heart" against the manifestation of divine good.
• The miracle highlights that God's desire is for wholeness and restoration, both physical and spiritual, and that true Sabbath rest involves freeing individuals from suffering and bondage.

Mark 3 5 Commentary

Mark 3:5 presents a pivotal moment revealing Jesus' character and escalating His conflict with the religious authorities. Here, Jesus displays complex, perfect emotions: profound, righteous anger (orgē) against the callous legalism and unyielding spiritual insensitivity of the observers, who prioritized their rigid interpretation of Sabbath law over human need and God's compassionate will. This anger is balanced by deep grief (synlypoumenos) for the "hardness of their hearts" (pōrōseōs tēs kardias autōn)—a sorrow for their self-imposed spiritual blindness and refusal to acknowledge God's work.

Jesus directly challenged their malicious intentions by intentionally performing a miracle on the Sabbath. His command to the man with the withered hand required an act of faith and immediate obedience; the instantaneous and complete healing validated Jesus' divine authority, demonstrated His lordship over the Sabbath, and underscored that mercy and well-doing are God's highest priority. The miraculous healing starkly contrasts with the spiritual infirmity of the religious leaders, leaving them exposed and leading directly to their plot against Him. It reminds believers that true religion is rooted in compassion and responsiveness to God, not rigid legalism.