Mark 9 16

Mark 9:16 kjv

And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?

Mark 9:16 nkjv

And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?"

Mark 9:16 niv

"What are you arguing with them about?" he asked.

Mark 9:16 esv

And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?"

Mark 9:16 nlt

"What is all this arguing about?" Jesus asked.

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 16 Meaning

Mark 9:16 describes Jesus’ arrival after descending from the Mount of Transfiguration. He finds His disciples engaged in a dispute with the scribes, who were Jewish religious scholars. Jesus' direct question, "What are you discussing with them?" (or "What are you disputing about with them?"), immediately halts the contention. It reveals His authoritative awareness of the situation and sets the stage for addressing the core issue: the disciples' inability to cast out a demon from a boy, and the scribes' apparent challenge to this failure and, by extension, to Jesus' authority.

Mark 9 16 Context

Mark chapter 9 begins with the Transfiguration of Jesus on a mountain, where His divine glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John. This profound moment of spiritual affirmation contrasts sharply with the scene Jesus encounters upon descending. He returns to find the other disciples in chaos, unable to heal a boy possessed by a demon. A large crowd has gathered, and the scribes, who were theological experts and interpreters of the Mosaic Law, are engaged in a heated dispute with the disciples. Historically, the scribes frequently served as antagonists to Jesus, consistently challenging His authority, doctrine, and miracles. Their presence in this dispute highlights their characteristic role in the Gospel narrative: attempting to discredit Jesus and His followers, especially when a perceived failure provides an opening. Jesus’ question in Mark 9:16 powerfully interrupts this contention, asserting His control over the situation and directing focus toward the critical underlying issues of faith and spiritual power.

Mark 9 16 Word analysis

• And (καὶ - kai): This conjunction acts as a narrative transition, bridging the transcendent glory of the Transfiguration directly to the messy reality of human spiritual struggle and religious contention at the foot of the mountain. It emphasizes the immediate sequence of events.
• He asked (ἐπηρώτησεν - eperōtēsen): From eperotao, this verb denotes an authoritative inquiry or a deliberate seeking of information, rather than a casual question. It signifies Jesus taking swift initiative and control, directly addressing the core of the conflict.
• the scribes (τοὺς γραμματεῖς - tous grammateis): These individuals were respected Jewish religious scholars, proficient in law and tradition. In the Gospels, they frequently embody official religious opposition to Jesus, meticulously scrutinizing and challenging His teachings and miraculous works. Their involvement signifies an attempt to find fault or theological weakness.
• “What (τί - ti): This is a pointed interrogative pronoun. It demands a specific and direct explanation of the content and nature of the dispute, rather than a vague or general response.
• are you discussing (συζητεῖτε - syzēteite): From syzeteo, meaning "to dispute together," "to argue vehemently," or "to engage in heated debate." The present tense indicates that the argument was ongoing and active. This term implies contention, intellectual sparring, or a debate where opposing views are fiercely maintained, often with an underlying intent to find fault or demonstrate superiority.
• with them?” (πρὸς αὐτούς - pros autous): The pronoun "them" directly refers to the disciples of Jesus, with whom the scribes were explicitly observed arguing (Mark 9:14). It implicitly includes the crowd observing the failed healing, creating a public spectacle. The dispute was rooted in the disciples' inability to cast out the demon, likely leading the scribes to question the spiritual authority and power of Jesus and His followers.

Mark 9 16 Bonus section

This verse strategically underscores the sharp contrast between the mountain's heavenly glory (Transfiguration) and the valley's earthly chaos, demonstrating Jesus' seamless transition from divine revelation to active ministry. It vividly portrays Jesus' profound awareness of His disciples' struggles and the opportunistic nature of His adversaries. The encounter prepares the way for Jesus to reveal deeper truths about faith, prayer, and the power available through His presence, contrasting it with the impotence derived from lack of faith or engaging in mere intellectual disputes. The scribes' characteristic role here exemplifies how religious knowledge, when untempered by spiritual understanding and humility, often leads to opposition to God's work.

Mark 9 16 Commentary

Mark 9:16 presents Jesus’ abrupt re-entry into the ordinary, contentious world after His moment of divine revelation. His question to the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?", is more than an inquiry; it's a profound statement of sovereign authority and piercing awareness. It effectively silences the clamor of human theological wrangling. The scribes, notorious for their adversarial posture, were exploiting the disciples' failure to cast out the demon, likely debating Jesus' legitimacy or the spiritual efficacy of His ministry. Jesus’ intervention redirects focus from their theological contentions to the desperate spiritual need, culminating in His own authoritative action and subsequent teaching on the vital role of prayer and faith. This brief verse encapsulates the clash between human religiosity and divine power, highlighting Jesus’ immediate intervention into our earthly disputes with full knowledge and ultimate authority.