Mark 9 6

Mark 9:6 kjv

For he wist not what to say; for they were sore afraid.

Mark 9:6 nkjv

because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid.

Mark 9:6 niv

(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)

Mark 9:6 esv

For he did not know what to say, for they were terrified.

Mark 9:6 nlt

He said this because he didn't really know what else to say, for they were all terrified.

Mark 9 verses

Mark 9 6 Meaning

Mark 9:6 explains the reason for Peter's utterance in the preceding verse (Mark 9:5), where he suggests building three tabernacles. Peter's profound response to the overwhelming divine glory of the Transfiguration—witnessing Jesus radiant in glory, alongside Moses and Elijah, and then being overshadowed by a cloud from which God's voice spoke—left him in a state of bewilderment and extreme fear. Unable to process the celestial manifestation or articulate a sensible response, his suggestion was an incoherent, fear-driven attempt to engage with the sacred, rather than a well-thought-out plan. The verse highlights the human inability to comprehend and properly react to such unadulterated divine presence.

Mark 9 6 Context

Mark 9:6 occurs during the account of the Transfiguration of Jesus (Mk 9:2-8). Just six days prior, Jesus had delivered a profound message about His impending suffering, death, and resurrection (Mk 8:31), and the cost of true discipleship, stating that whoever wishes to save his life will lose it (Mk 8:34-37). To provide a deeper understanding of His true identity and to strengthen the faith of His closest disciples (Peter, James, and John) before the trauma of the cross, Jesus ascended a high mountain where He was suddenly transfigured, revealing His divine glory. Moses and Elijah appeared, conversing with Him, signifying Jesus as the fulfillment of the Law and the Prophets. The culmination was God the Father's voice from a cloud, unequivocally affirming Jesus as His "beloved Son" and commanding, "Listen to Him!" It is in this awe-inspiring, yet terrifying, moment of divine manifestation that Peter, overwhelmed and sore afraid, utters his proposal to build three shelters, demonstrating the disciples' human limitations in comprehending such supernatural glory.

Mark 9 6 Word analysis

• For (Greek: γὰρ, gar): This conjunction indicates a causal or explanatory link. It tells us that what follows is the reason or explanation for Peter's preceding action (suggesting building the tabernacles in Mark 9:5).
• he knew not (Greek: οὐ γὰρ ᾔδει, ou gar ēdei):
  • οὐ (ou): A direct negative, meaning "not."
  • ᾔδει (ēdei): Imperfect form of oida, which means "to know" in a comprehensive sense, indicating not just factual knowledge but understanding, perception, or even recognition through experience. The imperfect tense suggests a continuous state or an ongoing inability to know/understand in that moment. Peter was utterly disoriented and lacked coherent thought.
• what to say (Greek: τί ἀποκριθῇ, ti apokrithē):
  • τί (ti): "What."
  • ἀποκριθῇ (apokrithē): Aorist passive subjunctive of apokrinomai, "to answer" or "to reply." The phrase collectively conveys his profound inability to articulate a proper or appropriate response in the face of such overwhelming glory and terror. He lacked words.
• for (Greek: γὰρ, gar): Again, a causal conjunction, here linking Peter's lack of knowing what to say directly to the state of fear shared by the disciples. This emphasizes the immediate cause for their irrational behavior.
• they were sore afraid (Greek: ἔκφοβοι γὰρ ἐγένοντο, ekphoboi gar egenonto):
  • ἔκφοβοι (ekphoboi): This is a powerful adjective, a compound of ek (out of, thoroughly) and phobos (fear). It denotes an intense, overwhelming fear, terror, or dread—a fear so profound that it might suggest being "scared out of one's senses" or paralyzed by it. It’s a fear much deeper than simple apprehension. This emphasizes the magnitude of their response to the divine presence.
  • ἐγένοντο (egenonto): Aorist middle indicative of ginomai, meaning "they became" or "they came to be." The aorist tense implies a sudden onset of this state of extreme terror, a powerful reaction that immediately gripped all three disciples (Peter, James, and John).

• Words-group analysis:
  • "For he knew not what to say": This phrase highlights Peter's disoriented mental state. His immediate suggestion to build tabernacles (Mark 9:5) was not born of rational thought or understanding, but rather a panicked and incoherent attempt to deal with an utterly incomprehensible situation. It reveals the inadequacy of human language and reason when confronted with raw divine power and glory.
  • "for they were sore afraid": This further explains and validates the preceding phrase, acting as the ultimate root cause. The use of "they" indicates that this intense fear gripped all three disciples present, incapacitating their ability to think clearly or respond appropriately. Their overwhelming terror was a natural human reaction to witnessing a manifestation of God's presence, echoing similar reactions of individuals confronted with the divine in Old Testament accounts. It underscores the holiness and power of what they experienced, a profound dread and awe in the presence of the Lord's majesty.

Mark 9 6 Bonus section

The Transfiguration, where Mark 9:6 is situated, stands as a pivotal moment in Mark's Gospel, appearing just after Jesus' first prediction of His suffering and death (Mk 8:31) and His teaching on discipleship through suffering (Mk 8:34-38). This placement is significant; it offers the disciples (and readers) a powerful glimpse of Jesus' intrinsic glory and divine nature before His humiliation on the cross. The momentary unveiling of His divine splendor was meant to confirm His identity and prepare His closest followers for the profound challenges of His Passion and their own calls to suffer. Peter's incoherent response, born of terror, underscores the gap between their limited understanding and the cosmic reality unfolding before them, reinforcing the need for God's explicit declaration and the singular focus on Jesus.

Mark 9 6 Commentary

Mark 9:6 offers a crucial insight into the human reaction to overwhelming divine revelation. Peter’s impulsive suggestion to build three tents—one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah—is portrayed not as a considered theological statement but as an immediate, disoriented, and fearful response. The double use of "for" in the Greek ("οὐ γὰρ ᾔδει τί ἀποκριθῇ· ἔκφοβοι γὰρ ἐγένοντο") firmly links his incoherent words to a state of profound terror (ekphoboi), highlighting that his mental faculties were momentarily overridden by extreme awe and dread. This verse subtly contrasts human weakness and limited understanding with the grandeur and absolute authority of God, particularly as God immediately speaks from the cloud to command focus solely on Jesus: "Listen to Him!" It teaches humility before the divine and reinforces that true wisdom comes from obedience to Christ, not from human initiative in the face of the unsearchable.