The Meaning of Mark 10:22 Explained

Mark 10:22

KJV: And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.

YLT: And he -- gloomy at the word -- went away sorrowing, for he was having many possessions.

Darby: But he, sad at the word, went away grieved, for he had large possessions.

ASV: But his countenance fell at the saying, and he went away sorrowful: for he was one that had great possessions.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  he was sad  at  that saying,  and went away  grieved:  for  he had  great  possessions. 

What does Mark 10:22 Mean?

Verse Meaning

Abandoning his physical security and trusting in Jesus was too great a risk to take. The rich young ruler"s wealth brought him sorrow instead of joy. This is the only time in the Gospels when someone called to follow Jesus did not do so.

Context Summary

Mark 10:1-22 - The Divine Law Of Marriage
God made one man for one woman; therefore divorce is not permissible, unless the one act be committed which severs the nuptial tie. Then only is the bond broken by which husband and wife are one. There should be no compulsory celibacy. Some can live the single life; others cannot. Each must work out his own possibilities, and none may judge another.
It would appear that the fathers brought the little ones. They had a truer perception of the heart of Jesus than the disciples. All through the ages men have supposed that strength, wisdom, and wealth have the greatest attractions for our Lord, whereas it is precisely the reverse. Of such is His Kingdom.
Youth, with all its fervor and impetuosity, is very beautiful to the Lord Jesus. In this case it was combined with station, high standing, and wealth. It is not necessary that all should sell their goods, and give away the proceeds; indeed, it is often harder to retain and administer them rightly for God. But it was necessary for Christ to prove to this young man that he was not living the life of love, as he seemed to suppose. That alone can fulfill the law, and secure the highest and most perfect blessedness of which we are capable. It was a severe but necessary test for this young man. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 10

1  Jesus disputes with the Pharisees concerning divorce;
13  blesses the children that are brought unto him;
17  resolves a rich man how he may inherit everlasting life;
23  tells his disciples of the danger of riches;
28  promises rewards to those who forsake all for the gospel;
32  foretells his death and resurrection;
35  bids the two ambitious suitors to think rather of suffering with him;
46  and restores to Bartimaeus his sight

Greek Commentary for Mark 10:22

But his countenance fell [ο δε στυγνασας]
In the lxx and Polybius once and in Matthew 16:3 (passage bracketed by Westcott and Hort). The verb is from στυγνος — stugnos sombre, gloomy, like a lowering cloud. See note on Matthew 19:22 for discussion of “sorrowful” (lupoumenos). [source]
He was sad [στυγνάσας]
Applied to the sky in Matthew 16:3; lowering. The word paints forcibly the gloom which clouded his face. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 10:22

Matthew 16:3 Lowering [στυγνάζων]
The verb means to have a gloomy look. Dr. Morison compares the Scotch gloaming or glooming. Cranmer, the sky is glooming red. The word is used only here and at Mark 10:22, of the young ruler, turning from Christ with his face overshadowed with gloom. A.V., he was sad. Rev., his countenance fell. [source]
Matthew 16:3 Lowring [στυγναζων]
A sky covered with clouds. Used also of a gloomy countenance as of the rich young ruler in Mark 10:22. Nowhere else in the New Testament. This very sign of a rainy day we use today. The word for “foul weather” (χειμων — cheimōn) is the common one for winter and a storm. [source]
Luke 18:23 He was very sorrowful []
Rev., more correctly renders ἐγενήθη , he became. See on Mark 10:22. [source]
Luke 18:23 Became [εγενητη]
First aorist passive indicative of γινομαι — ginomai Like his countenance fell (στυγνασας — stugnasas), in Mark 10:22. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:22 mean?

- And having been sad at the word he went away grieving he was [one] for having possessions many
δὲ στυγνάσας ἐπὶ τῷ λόγῳ ἀπῆλθεν λυπούμενος ἦν γὰρ ἔχων κτήματα πολλά

  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
στυγνάσας  having  been  sad 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: στυγνάζω  
Sense: to be sad, sorrowful.
ἐπὶ  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: ἐπί  
Sense: upon, on, at, by, before.
λόγῳ  word 
Parse: Noun, Dative Masculine Singular
Root: λόγος  
Sense: of speech.
ἀπῆλθεν  he  went  away 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἀπέρχομαι  
Sense: to go away, depart.
λυπούμενος  grieving 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: λυπέω  
Sense: to make sorrowful.
ἦν  he  was  [one] 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: εἰμί  
Sense: to be, to exist, to happen, to be present.
κτήματα  possessions 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: κτῆμα  
Sense: a possession.
πολλά  many 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Neuter Plural
Root: πολύς  
Sense: many, much, large.