Mark 9 50

Mark 9:50 kjv

Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.

Mark 9:50 nkjv

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

Mark 9:50 niv

"Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other."

Mark 9:50 esv

Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

Mark 9:50 nlt

Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? You must have the qualities of salt among yourselves and live in peace with each other."

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 50 Meaning

Mark 9:50 serves as a summary teaching on the essence of discipleship, using the metaphor of salt. It first emphasizes the inherent value and purpose of salt, then warns against the tragic consequence of losing its essential quality. Finally, it commands disciples to possess this distinct spiritual essence internally and to cultivate peace among themselves. The verse conveys that true followers of Christ must retain their unique, purifying, and preserving character, ensuring their influence for good remains potent, and this personal integrity forms the foundation for harmonious relationships within the community of believers.

Mark 9 50 Context

Mark 9:50 appears at the climax of a series of teachings by Jesus directed primarily at His disciples, following their descent from the Mount of Transfiguration. This section of Mark's Gospel emphasizes radical discipleship and the internal life of the believer. Prior to verse 50, Jesus corrects His disciples' dispute about who is greatest (Mark 9:33-37), teaches about recognizing and accepting those who work in His name even if they don't follow "us" directly (Mark 9:38-41), and issues severe warnings against causing little ones to stumble (Mark 9:42). The immediate preceding verses (Mark 9:43-48) contain Jesus' intense call for self-mutilation (metaphorically) to avoid sin, depicting Gehenna (hell) as unquenchable fire. Mark 9:49 speaks of "everyone being seasoned with fire," suggesting that all will endure some form of purifying or judgmental suffering. Mark 9:50 directly connects with this idea of spiritual purity and transformation. Historically and culturally, salt was incredibly valuable as a preservative, a flavoring agent, and for its symbolic use in covenants to denote lasting agreement. Common Palestinian salt often contained impurities, which if leached out by rain, left a tasteless, useless powder (much like gypsum), rendering it good for nothing but being trampled underfoot—a vivid illustration of losing essential quality.

Mark 9 50 Word analysis

• Salt (ἅλας halas): A natural substance known for its ability to preserve, season, and purify. Biblically, it frequently symbolizes permanence (covenant of salt), purity, wisdom, and preserving influence. In the context of discipleship, it refers to the distinctive character and quality of a follower of Christ.

• Is good (καλὸν kalon): This means intrinsically good, noble, beautiful, morally excellent, or fitting for its purpose. It highlights that salt inherently possesses value and utility. When applied to disciples, it affirms the divine design and essential virtue of their distinct character.

• If the salt has lost its saltiness (ἐὰν δὲ τὸ ἅλας ἄναλον γένηται ean de to halas analon genētai, or more literally from moranthē - be foolish/insipid): The Greek term morainō (μοραίνω) means "to become foolish, insipid, dull, or tasteless." Applied to salt, it signifies its becoming useless, having lost its essential property. For a disciple, this means losing their distinctive Christ-like character, moral integrity, or spiritual power, becoming indistinguishable from the world, and thus losing their influence for good.

• How can you season it? (ἐν τίνι αὐτὸ ἀρτύσετε en tini auto artusete): A rhetorical question implying it is impossible to restore its lost quality. Artyusete (from artyuō ἀρτύω) means to prepare, season, or make savory. Once its fundamental property is gone, there's no external additive or process that can make it salt again. Spiritually, this warns against irredeemable apostasy or such compromise that one's essential witness is destroyed.

• Have salt in yourselves (Ἔχετε ἐν ἑαυτοῖς ἅλα Echete en heautois halas): A direct command for internal possession. Echete (Ἔχετε) means "have" or "possess." This is not merely an external action but an internal state of being. Disciples are commanded to cultivate and retain within themselves the qualities symbolized by salt: purity, spiritual integrity, wisdom, discerning character, and the distinctiveness of Christ. It implies a personal responsibility to maintain one's spiritual vitality.

• And be at peace with one another (καὶ εἰρηνεύετε ἐν ἀλλήλοις kai eirēneuete en allēlois): A direct exhortation to live harmoniously. Eirēneuete (εἰρηνεύετε) means "to be at peace," "to live in peace," or "to promote peace." This is a relational command emphasizing unity and avoiding discord within the community of believers. It highlights that an internal spiritual soundness (the "salt within") should lead to outward peaceable conduct and relationships among God's people.

• "Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?": This segment establishes a foundational principle. Salt's value lies in its inherent "saltiness." If this characteristic is compromised, its utility is lost, and it becomes beyond external remedy. This emphasizes the irreplaceable nature of a disciple's core spiritual identity and distinctiveness. The rhetorical question underscores the seriousness of losing one's Christ-like influence and purpose.

• "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another": This phrase delivers two imperative commands directly to the disciples. The first part, "Have salt in yourselves," focuses on internal spiritual quality and authenticity. It’s an inward work of maintaining one's purity, integrity, and godly wisdom. The second part, "and be at peace with one another," transitions to the external, communal aspect. It suggests that this internal "saltiness" should naturally manifest as harmonious, peaceful relationships among believers, countering the earlier disciples' dispute about greatness. The two commands are inherently linked, indicating that true inner transformation facilitates healthy relational dynamics within the church.

Mark 9 50 Bonus section

• The connection between "fire" in Mark 9:49 and "salt" in Mark 9:50 suggests a link between purifying trials or divine judgment and the believer's maintained purity. Just as fire purifies metals, tribulations can refine a disciple, ensuring their "saltiness" endures and strengthens their character.
• The "salt of the earth" imagery also implies the universal reach of the disciples' mission. Their purifying and preserving influence is not just for themselves but is meant to impact the entire world, extending the redemptive work of Christ.
• The emphasis on "peace" in this verse serves as a counterpoint to the contentious atmosphere that had been present among the disciples, highlighting that a truly "salty" and spiritually mature community prioritizes harmonious relationships as a powerful testimony.

Mark 9 50 Commentary

Mark 9:50 serves as a pivotal ethical and practical command for Christ's followers, bringing together themes of personal spiritual integrity and communal harmony. The metaphor of salt, a precious and essential commodity in ancient times, powerfully conveys the disciples' identity and function. To be "salt" means to possess a unique, Christ-like character that is distinct from the decaying world. This distinctiveness enables believers to exert a preserving and seasoning influence on society, preventing moral decay and adding spiritual savor to life.

The stern warning that "if the salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?" emphasizes the gravity of spiritual compromise. When a disciple loses their moral conviction, distinct purity, or spiritual vitality, they become useless for God's purposes in the world. This is not about external performance but the loss of one's fundamental Christ-like essence, which, once gone, is depicted as impossible to regain by external means. It's a call for persistent self-examination and faithfulness to maintain that spiritual savor.

The double command, "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another," connects inward reality with outward relationships. "Having salt in yourselves" means cultivating and maintaining an inner state of purity, wisdom, spiritual truth, and authentic faith. This is a personal responsibility—a commitment to moral integrity and devotion to Christ that guards against spiritual insipidity. This internal "saltiness" then becomes the foundation for healthy community. The second part, "be at peace with one another," directly addresses the previous disputes among the disciples regarding greatness and their resistance to outsiders. It underscores that personal spiritual vitality must lead to harmony, unity, and love within the body of believers, demonstrating the true fruit of discipleship. Disunity within the church can destroy its collective witness and spiritual influence, making it, in essence, tasteless to the world. Therefore, disciples are called to be pure in character and peaceful in relationships, embodying Christ's light both individually and corporately.