Mark 9:34 kjv
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.
Mark 9:34 nkjv
But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.
Mark 9:34 niv
But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.
Mark 9:34 esv
But they kept silent, for on the way they had argued with one another about who was the greatest.
Mark 9:34 nlt
But they didn't answer, because they had been arguing about which of them was the greatest.
Mark 9 34 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Mk 9:30-32 | And they departed... and He would not that any man should know it... teaching His disciples... the Son of man is delivered... after He is killed, He shall rise again. But they understood not... | Immediate preceding context; Jesus' passion prediction and their misunderstanding. |
| Mk 9:35 | And He sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. | Jesus' direct teaching on humility and service following their dispute. |
| Mk 10:32-40 | As they were on the way to Jerusalem... James and John... desiring that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire. Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. | Another instance of the disciples' seeking preeminence. |
| Mk 10:43-45 | But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister: And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all. For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. | Jesus' profound teaching on servant leadership as exemplified by Himself. |
| Mt 18:1 | At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? | Parallel account in Matthew, explicitly stating their question. |
| Mt 18:2-4 | And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. | Jesus uses a child as an example of true greatness through humility. |
| Mt 20:25-28 | But Jesus called them unto Him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them... But it shall not be so among you... whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant. | Jesus contrasts worldly power with true spiritual leadership. |
| Lk 9:46 | Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be the greatest. | Luke's parallel account, confirming the core of their dispute. |
| Lk 9:47-48 | And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart... Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great. | Luke's version emphasizing Jesus' omniscience and equating leastness with greatness. |
| Lk 14:7-11 | When thou art bidden of any man to a wedding, sit not down in the highest room... For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. | Jesus' parable illustrating the principle of humility and exultation. |
| Lk 22:24-27 | And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest. And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them... But ye shall not be so... I am among you as he that serveth. | Disciples dispute at the Last Supper, again demonstrating persistent ambition. |
| Jn 13:12-17 | If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. | Jesus demonstrates ultimate humility through foot-washing and commands disciples to imitate Him. |
| Php 2:3-8 | Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves... Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God... made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant... | Paul's exhortation to humility, exemplified by Christ's self-emptying. |
| Jas 3:13-16 | Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom... where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. | Warns against wisdom that leads to self-seeking ambition and contention. |
| Jas 4:6 | God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. | Direct statement about God's stance on pride and humility. |
| 1 Pet 5:5-6 | Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. | Calls believers to humility among themselves and before God. |
| Prov 16:18 | Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall. | Old Testament wisdom highlighting the danger of pride. |
| Prov 29:23 | A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit. | Wisdom on the consequence of pride versus the reward of humility. |
| Ps 131:1-2 | Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me. Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child. | Portrays the mindset of humble contentment. |
| Isa 53:3 | He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. | Prophetic vision of the humble suffering servant, contrasting with disciples' desire for glory. |
| 1 Cor 13:4 | Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up. | Love (charity) does not seek its own preeminence or puff itself up. |
| Rom 12:3 | For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. | Exhortation against inflated self-estimation. |
Mark 9 verses
Mark 9 34 Meaning
Mark 9:34 reveals the disciples' shame and silence when confronted by Jesus about their dispute on the journey. They had been arguing amongst themselves about who was the greatest among them. This moment highlights their focus on worldly ambition and hierarchical status, sharply contrasting with Jesus' recent revelation of His impending suffering and servant leadership. Their inability to openly admit their self-seeking debate underscores their spiritual immaturity and embarrassment in the presence of Christ.
Mark 9 34 Context
Mark 9:34 is positioned immediately after Jesus' second prediction of His passion, suffering, death, and resurrection (Mk 9:30-32). Despite this solemn revelation, the disciples were preoccupied with their own status. They had journeyed through Galilee to Capernaum, and during this significant travel, instead of pondering Jesus' heavy words, they engaged in an earthly dispute. Their failure to grasp the spiritual significance of Jesus' mission, as seen in their previous inability to cast out a demon (Mk 9:14-29), is further illuminated by this worldly squabble. The ensuing silence and Jesus' subsequent teaching on humility directly address their ambitious mindset, highlighting the stark contrast between their worldly aspirations and the values of God's Kingdom. Historically and culturally, seeking preeminence and honor was deeply ingrained in society, including Jewish religious structures, where scribes and Pharisees often vied for positions of authority and public recognition. The disciples, being men of their time, were susceptible to such worldly temptations, revealing a profound misunderstanding of Messiahship and the nature of His Kingdom.
Mark 9 34 Word analysis
- But (Greek: Alla, ἀλλὰ): This conjunction signifies a sharp contrast. It points to a disjunction between what one might expect after Jesus' profound teachings (such as reflection or spiritual inquiry) and the actual reaction of the disciples, which was shame-faced silence.
- they held their peace (Greek: Esiōpōn, ἐσιώπων): Derived from siōpaō, meaning "to be silent" or "to keep silence." The imperfect tense suggests a continuous or sustained silence. This was not a casual quietness, but a pointed, uneasy silence. It indicates their awareness of guilt, implying they knew their discussion was inappropriate or contrary to Jesus' teachings, and thus they felt shame when directly questioned.
- for (Greek: Gar, γάρ): This particle introduces the reason for their silence, acting as an explanation. It links their mute reaction to their previous conversation, exposing the immediate cause of their embarrassment.
- on the way (Greek: En tē hodō, ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ): Literally "in the way" or "on the road." This phrase specifies the physical location and timing of their dispute. It emphasizes that their argument occurred during their close physical proximity to Jesus, when they should have been absorbing His instruction or reflecting on His revelations, not focusing on earthly ambition.
- they had disputed (Greek: Dielechthēsan, διελέχθησαν): From dialegomai, meaning "to converse, discuss," but often in a contentious or disputing manner. The aorist tense denotes a completed action that took place prior to their silence. This word suggests an earnest and perhaps even heated debate, revealing the depth of their internal strife.
- among themselves (Greek: Pros allēlous, πρὸς ἀλλήλους): Meaning "with one another" or "to each other." This specifies that the argument was an internal matter within the circle of the twelve disciples. It highlights a breakdown in unity and a preoccupation with individual status within the group.
- who would be the greatest (Greek: Tis meizōn, τίς μείζων): This phrase captures the entire essence of their quarrel. Tis (who) asks about identity, and meizōn (greater) is the comparative form of megas (great, large). Their ambition was to ascertain their own hierarchical position, striving for superiority. This exposed their worldly aspirations, entirely missing the spirit of suffering servanthood that Jesus was modeling and teaching.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- But they held their peace: This clause immediately highlights the disciples' inner conflict. Their silence is not an admission of innocence but a display of profound guilt and shame. They sensed Jesus’ divine awareness of their private conversation and knew it contrasted sharply with His ministry. This reaction underlines their spiritual immaturity and indicates a level of conviction.
- for on the way they had disputed: This provides the reason for their awkward silence. The temporal and spatial element "on the way" ironically places their self-serving argument in the very setting where they were supposed to be learning from and drawing closer to their Messiah. It underscores their distraction from Christ’s profound teachings, replacing spiritual growth with competitive pride.
- among themselves who would be the greatest: This phrase directly states the subject of their contention. It lays bare the carnal nature of their thoughts, revealing a worldly power struggle for preeminence. Their concern was self-elevation and comparison rather than spiritual devotion or service to God's Kingdom. This fundamental misunderstanding set the stage for Jesus to re-educate them on true Kingdom values, contrasting human ambition with divine humility.
Mark 9 34 Bonus section
- Divine Awareness: Jesus' knowing the subject of their private dispute "on the way" (implied in His direct question) highlights His divine omniscience. He didn't need to be told what they discussed; He knew their hearts and minds.
- Irony of Proximity: The profound irony lies in their discussion taking place so near to Jesus. While He was revealing the path of sacrificial suffering as the ultimate manifestation of greatness, they were vying for earthly status and position.
- Perpetual Human Struggle: This passage speaks to a universal and perennial struggle within humanity, including those in spiritual communities: the temptation of pride, comparison, and the desire for recognition and status, even within a call to humble service. It serves as a constant reminder for believers to guard against such carnal ambitions.
- Preparation for a Radical Reversal: The disciples' worldly view of greatness allowed Jesus to introduce a revolutionary concept: that true greatness in God's Kingdom is measured by self-abasement, service to others, and humility, directly contradicting the prevailing societal values of the time. This interaction primes the disciples for the fundamental Kingdom principle elaborated in the following verses (Mk 9:35-37).
Mark 9 34 Commentary
Mark 9:34 offers a poignant snapshot of the disciples' ongoing spiritual blindness and human fallibility. Despite being intimately discipled by Jesus and having just heard His solemn prophecy of suffering and resurrection, their hearts were still consumed by worldly ambition: who would secure the highest rank in His perceived earthly kingdom. Their subsequent silence when Jesus inquired about their recent discussion is deeply telling. It wasn't due to ignorance, but due to guilt and shame. They instinctively knew that their dispute over preeminence was utterly antithetical to the spirit of Christ and His teachings, especially after He had just spoken of His path to humiliation and death. This scene serves as a crucial setup for Jesus' subsequent radical redefinition of greatness through humility and service, demonstrating His divine wisdom in using their very failures as teachable moments. It powerfully illustrates that seeking personal glory or hierarchical superiority stands in direct opposition to genuine discipleship and the principles of God's Kingdom.