Mark 9 1

Mark 9:1 kjv

And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

Mark 9:1 nkjv

And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power."

Mark 9:1 niv

And he said to them, "Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power."

Mark 9:1 esv

And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Mark 9:1 nlt

Jesus went on to say, "I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power!"

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 1 Meaning

This verse declares that some individuals present with Jesus at that moment would experience a manifestation of the Kingdom of God "with power" before their own physical death. It serves as a significant prophecy promising a direct, observable demonstration of divine authority and glory. While challenging to interpret precisely due to its wording, its immediate context strongly points to the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ.

Mark 9 1 Context

Mark 9:1 directly follows Jesus' stern teachings on discipleship, suffering, and the cost of following Him (Mark 8:34-38). He has just finished instructing His disciples, and a wider crowd, about taking up their cross and losing their lives for His sake and the gospel's. He also spoke about being ashamed of Him in a sinful generation and His future coming in glory with angels. Mark 9:1 serves as a counterbalance to the previous passage's emphasis on suffering and future judgment, offering a immediate promise of a manifestation of His divine power and kingly glory. This promise functions as an encouragement and a validation of His previous, challenging statements about His identity and future role. Historically, the audience would have been steeped in Messianic expectations, but largely anticipating a political king. Jesus is revealing the true spiritual power and glorious nature of His kingdom, even if it entails initial suffering.

Mark 9 1 Word analysis

• And: (Greek: Καὶ, Kai) A simple conjunction connecting to the previous discourse, highlighting continuity of thought with Jesus' preceding statements about the cost of discipleship and His glorious return.
• He said: (ἔλεγεν, elegen) Imperfect tense, indicating a continuous or repeated action, perhaps emphasizing that this statement was a significant declaration or part of an ongoing address. It implies an authoritative utterance from Jesus.
• to them: (αὐτοῖς, autois) Referring to the disciples and likely the accompanying crowd (cf. Mk 8:34). This promise is made to a collective audience.
• Truly: (Ἀμὴν, Amēn) A transliterated Hebrew word meaning "firm," "certain," "so be it." Jesus uses this adverb unique to Himself as a solemn introduction, affirming the absolute truthfulness and authority of what He is about to say. It commands attention and emphasizes the certainty of the prophecy.
• I say to you: (λέγω ὑμῖν, legō hymin) A declarative phrase asserting Jesus' divine authority as the speaker and validating the coming statement as a direct revelation from God. It highlights the speaker as Lord.
• there are some: (εἰσίν τινες, eisin tines) Indicates a limited number among the present audience, not everyone. This specificity narrows the scope of the prophecy's direct, immediate fulfillment.
• standing here: (τῶν ὧδε ἑστηκότων, tōn hōde hestēkotōn) Literally points to the physical presence of certain individuals in that very place and time. This specificity directly contrasts with any interpretation that would mean the entire group or a future distant generation.
• who will not taste death: (οὐ μὴ γεύσωνται θανάτου, ou mē geusōntai thanatou) A Greek idiom common in Semitic languages for "experiencing death" or "dying." The double negative (οὐ μὴ) makes the statement emphatic: they certainly will not die. This emphasizes the immediate nature of the fulfillment within their lifespan.
• until they see: (ἕως ἂν ἴδωσιν, heōs an idōsin) Marks a temporal condition. The not-dying persists until this specific event occurs, suggesting the event happens before their deaths, not after. The "seeing" implies a personal, observable witness.
• the kingdom of God: (τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ θεοῦ, tēn basileian tou theou) The central theme of Jesus' ministry, referring to God's reign and kingly rule, manifested spiritually in people's lives and powerfully demonstrated in history. It refers to both a present spiritual reality and a future eschatological consummation.
• after it has come: (ἐληλυθυῖαν, elēlythyian) A perfect participle indicating a state of being completed or having already arrived. It points to a decisive moment when the kingdom would definitively demonstrate its presence. The English "after it has come" effectively conveys this, referring to the kingdom's manifestation, not necessarily its ultimate arrival.
• with power: (ἐν δυνάμει, en dynamei) Specifies how the Kingdom will be seen. It won't be a mere concept, but a tangible display of divine might, glory, and authority. This aligns with a significant, miraculous event.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Truly, I say to you": A standard and potent formulation of Jesus, authenticating His teaching as divine truth, characteristic of His authority.
• "some standing here who will not taste death": This specific temporal and personal limitation indicates a fulfillment within the lifetime of a subset of Jesus' contemporary hearers, strongly hinting at an imminent event. It eliminates the ultimate second coming of Christ as the primary direct fulfillment.
• "until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power": This phrase ties the not tasting death to a profound and powerful manifestation of God's sovereign rule. The key is "with power," suggesting a visible, undeniable display of God's presence and authority, not merely an internal or future event.

Mark 9 1 Bonus section

This verse functions as a divinely given encouragement after a sobering teaching on the cost of discipleship. It provides hope and validates Jesus' authority and identity amidst His teachings about suffering. The "taste death" idiom often carries a nuance of experiencing the bitter pain or horror of death. By promising they "will not taste death" until they see the Kingdom's power, Jesus implies that this vision of glory will mitigate the sting of their own future passing or confirm for them the truth before their own end. The variations in parallel accounts (Matt 16:28: "see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom"; Lk 9:27: "see the kingdom of God") point to the same event, emphasizing Jesus' identity and reign. The "kingdom of God" isn't merely an abstract concept; it is demonstrated through real, tangible, divine "power," witnessed by specific individuals.

Mark 9 1 Commentary

Mark 9:1 serves as a critical bridge between Jesus' call to sacrificial discipleship and His impending glory, most immediately seen in the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-8). While some might seek to tie "the kingdom of God ... with power" to the Second Coming or the destruction of Jerusalem, the presence of "some standing here who will not taste death" firmly grounds the prophecy in the near future for Jesus' contemporary audience. The most straightforward and compelling interpretation, affirmed by biblical scholars, is that Jesus is foretelling the Transfiguration. Here, Peter, James, and John—indeed "some standing here"—witness Jesus transfigured, manifesting divine glory ("power") and confirming His identity as the Son of God. This provided a glimpse of the King in His majesty, a foretaste of His future glorious reign, empowering them for the difficult path ahead involving His suffering and death. Beyond the Transfiguration, the verse can also find broader fulfillment in the Pentecost event (Acts 2), where the Holy Spirit descends with "power" (Acts 1:8), establishing the Church and spreading the Kingdom of God throughout the world. These events demonstrated God's kingly rule breaking into the world in powerful, observable ways for those "standing there" (the apostles) before they tasted death. It underscores that while the full eschatological consummation of the Kingdom is yet to come, glimpses and powerful manifestations of it occur throughout history, validating God's sovereignty.