The Meaning of Mark 10:26 Explained

Mark 10:26

KJV: And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?

YLT: And they were astonished beyond measure, saying unto themselves, 'And who is able to be saved?'

Darby: And they were exceedingly astonished, saying to one another, And who can be saved?

ASV: And they were astonished exceedingly, saying unto him, Then who can be saved?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they were astonished  out of measure,  saying  among  themselves,  Who  then can  be saved? 

What does Mark 10:26 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 10:23-52 - True Riches And Real Greatness
Wealth brings many temptations. It is not said that rich men cannot get through the gate, but they will have to stoop very low and be stripped of the love of wealth, though not necessarily of wealth itself. In Christ's kingdom to give all is to get all. The surrendered life needs no pity, for what it loses on the material side is more than compensated by its enormous spiritual gains, Mark 10:30-31. Perhaps the request of the two brethren was dictated rather by the desire to be near the Master than by ambition; but in any case there is only one price to be paid. We must know the fellowship of His sufferings, if we are to share His glory, 2 Timothy 2:11, etc. It is easy to say, "We are able;" but had they not experienced the day of Pentecost, these two aspirants had certainly failed, Philippians 4:13. If you are not called to suffer with Him, then serve. Service like Christ's will bring you near His throne, as will also a share in His suffering. With us as with Bartimaeus, obstacles and difficulties should not daunt, but rather incite to more eager prayers. Christ is ever saying to men-Courage! Only faith could make a blind man cast away his garment, but he knew that he would be able to find it again with the sight that Jesus would certainly bestow. [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 10:26

Then who [και τις]
Matthew 19:25 has Τις ουν — Tis oun Evidently και — kai has here an inferential sense like ουν — oun f0). [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 10:26

Mark 10:27 Looking on them [εμβλεπσας αυτοις]
So in Matthew 19:26. Their amazement increased (Mark 10:26). [source]
John 9:36 And who is he, Lord, that I may believe on him? [Και τις εστιν κυριε]
The initial κυριε — kai (and) is common (Mark 10:26; Luke 10:29; Luke 18:26). Probably by ινα πιστευσω εις αυτον — kurie he means only “Sir.” It usually comes at the beginning of the sentence, not at the end as here and John 9:38. That I may believe on him (hina pisteusō eis auton). Ellipsis to be supplied before this final clause. He catches up the words of Jesus in the preceding verse, though he does not yet know who the Son of Man (or Son of God) is, but he trusts Jesus. [source]
2 Corinthians 2:2 Who then? [και τισ]
For this use of και — kai see note on Mark 10:26; John 9:36. The και — kai accepts the condition (first class ειλυπω — ei̇̇lupō) and shows the paradox that follows. Λυπεω — Lupeō is old word from λυπη — lupē (sorrow) in causative sense, to make sorry. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:26 mean?

- And exceedingly they were astonished saying among themselves Then who is able to be saved
Οἱ δὲ περισσῶς ἐξεπλήσσοντο λέγοντες πρὸς ἑαυτούς Καὶ τίς δύναται σωθῆναι

Οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
περισσῶς  exceedingly 
Parse: Adverb
Root: περισσῶς  
Sense: beyond measure, extraordinary.
ἐξεπλήσσοντο  they  were  astonished 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἐκπλήσσω  
Sense: to strike out, expel by a blow, drive out or away.
λέγοντες  saying 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: λέγω 
Sense: to say, to speak.
ἑαυτούς  themselves 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
δύναται  is  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: δύναμαι  
Sense: to be able, have power whether by virtue of one’s own ability and resources, or of a state of mind, or through favourable circumstances, or by permission of law or custom.
σωθῆναι  to  be  saved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Passive
Root: ἐκσῴζω 
Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.