Mark 6 15

Mark 6:15 kjv

Others said, That it is Elias. And others said, That it is a prophet, or as one of the prophets.

Mark 6:15 nkjv

Others said, "It is Elijah." And others said, "It is the Prophet, or like one of the prophets."

Mark 6:15 niv

Others said, "He is Elijah." And still others claimed, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of long ago."

Mark 6:15 esv

But others said, "He is Elijah." And others said, "He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old."

Mark 6:15 nlt

Others said, "He's the prophet Elijah." Still others said, "He's a prophet like the other great prophets of the past."

Mark 6 verses

Mark 6 15 Meaning

Mark 6:15 records the varied public perceptions of Jesus during His earthly ministry. Following reports of His miracles and authority, some people concluded He was John the Baptist risen from the dead (as per the preceding verse regarding Herod), while others believed Him to be Elijah, who was prophesied to return before the Messiah's coming. Still others thought He was simply "a prophet" in the mold of the ancient prophets, like one sent by God with a divine message. This verse encapsulates the widespread debate and confusion surrounding Jesus' true identity among those who witnessed His work.

Mark 6 15 Context

Mark 6:15 appears amidst Jesus' active ministry, following His commissioning of the Twelve Apostles and sending them out with authority. News of their works, along with Jesus' own increasing fame, had reached even King Herod, who believed Jesus was John the Baptist risen from the dead (Mark 6:14). This verse elaborates on the broader public sentiment, demonstrating that Herod's opinion was just one of several popular, yet incomplete, interpretations of Jesus' identity. The common people, having witnessed Jesus' miracles and heard His authoritative teaching, sought to categorize Him within their existing understanding of divine messengers, particularly Elijah, expected to return, or "the Prophet" anticipated since Moses' time. This public confusion sets the stage for the crucial turning point in Mark's narrative where Jesus will later challenge His disciples to articulate their own understanding of who He is.

Mark 6 15 Word analysis

• But: Greek: kai (καὶ). Often translated as "and," but here it serves an adversative or contrasting conjunction, implying a different or additional view from what was just stated (Herod's belief). It signifies a range of diverse opinions beyond Herod's.

• some said: Greek: alloi elegon (ἄλλοι ἔλεγον). This indicates a specific group among the people, suggesting a widespread but not unanimous view. The plural "some" implies variety within the public's understanding.

• It is Elijah: Greek: Houtos estin Hēlias (Οὗτός ἐστιν Ἠλίας).

  • Elijah (Ἠλίας): A revered Old Testament prophet, known for his miraculous power and dramatic departure (taken to heaven in a whirlwind, 2 Kgs 2:11). Jewish tradition, rooted in Malachi 4:5-6, held a strong expectation that Elijah would return to herald the coming of the Messiah and prepare the way for the Lord's day. For some to believe Jesus was Elijah showed they saw great prophetic authority and signs in Him. This view often reflects a significant eschatological expectation.

• and others said: Greek: alloi de elegon (ἄλλοι δὲ ἔλεγον). Another distinct group, emphasizing further diversity in opinion.

• It is a prophet, like one of the prophets: Greek: Houtos prophtēs, hōs heis tōn prophētōn (Οὗτος προφήτης, ὡς εἷς τῶν προφητῶν).

  • a prophet (προφήτης): Someone who speaks for God, delivers divine messages, and often performs signs. This acknowledges Jesus' spiritual authority and miraculous deeds.
  • like one of the prophets: This phrase suggests identifying Jesus as a prophet in the general sense, perhaps another in the line of the great prophets of Israel (like Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel), but not necessarily fulfilling a specific prophetic return like Elijah, nor seen as the unique, definitive "Prophet" foretold by Moses in Deuteronomy 18:15. This was a broad, somewhat ambiguous category.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "But some said, It is Elijah; and others said, It is a prophet...": This contrast highlights the ongoing misidentification of Jesus. Despite His unprecedented power and teachings, people struggled to place Him within their familiar categories. While identifying Him as Elijah or a prophet acknowledged His divine connection and power, it fell short of grasping His true Messianic and divine identity. The range of opinions, from Herod's fear-driven conviction to popular religious categorization, underscores the deep misunderstanding prevalent at the time regarding Jesus' unique nature. This demonstrates the limitations of human wisdom in recognizing the Incarnate Son of God.

Mark 6 15 Bonus section

The spectrum of opinions regarding Jesus recorded in Mark 6:15 and parallel passages reflects the diverse prophetic expectations prevalent in Second Temple Judaism. "The Prophet" of Deuteronomy 18:15 was often understood to be a second Moses, who would guide Israel in a new covenant, making it a powerful, distinct expectation from Elijah's return. John the Baptist, however, explicitly denied being either Elijah or "the Prophet" (John 1:21), pointing instead to "one coming after me" (John 1:27). The inability to neatly fit Jesus into these established categories indicates that He transcended typical human or prophetic molds, revealing Himself as entirely unique. This theological impasse concerning Jesus' identity emphasizes His divine nature which exceeded even the greatest prophetic roles envisioned by humanity. The fact that many perceived Jesus as a great prophet but missed His divine Sonship points to the necessity of divine revelation (as seen in Peter's confession in Matt 16:17) for true spiritual discernment of who Jesus truly is.

Mark 6 15 Commentary

Mark 6:15 succinctly captures the widespread theological speculation surrounding Jesus. The various identifications – John the Baptist (mentioned in v.14), Elijah, or a general prophet – reveal an earnest, if misguided, attempt to comprehend His unique authority and power. The belief He was John the Baptist, risen from the dead, stems from the fear of King Herod and the lingering impression John made. The expectation of Elijah's return was deeply embedded in Jewish eschatology, particularly as a forerunner to the Messiah; thus, assigning this identity to Jesus signaled recognition of His significant prophetic role in the unfolding of God's plan. Similarly, labeling Him "a prophet" acknowledged His miraculous deeds and divine words as authentic but failed to recognize His singularity. None of these classifications fully encompassed Jesus' true identity as the Christ, the Son of God, a revelation consistently advanced by the evangelist Mark. The human inability to correctly identify Jesus, even in the face of overwhelming evidence, underscores a key theme in Mark's Gospel: the divine mystery of Jesus' person, gradually revealed, and often only fully understood post-resurrection. This persistent misunderstanding set the stage for Peter's pivotal confession in Mark 8, where a correct understanding begins to emerge, though still incomplete.