The Meaning of Mark 10:39 Explained

Mark 10:39

KJV: And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

YLT: And they said to him, 'We are able;' and Jesus said to them, 'Of the cup indeed that I drink of, ye shall drink, and with the baptism that I am baptized with, ye shall be baptized;

Darby: And they said to him, We are able. And Jesus said to them, The cup that I drink ye will drink and with the baptism that I am baptised with ye will be baptised,

ASV: And they said unto him, We are able. And Jesus said unto them, The cup that I drink ye shall drink; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And  they said  unto him,  We can.  And  Jesus  said  unto them,  Ye shall  indeed  drink  of the cup  that  I  drink of;  and  with the baptism  that  I  am baptized withal  shall ye be baptized: 

What does Mark 10:39 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 10:39

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See notes on Matthew 20:23-28 for discussion on these memorable verses ( Mark 10:39-45 ) identical in both Matthew and Mark. In particular in Mark 10:45 note the language of Jesus concerning his death as “a ransom for many” ( lutron anti pollōn ), words of the Master that were not understood by the apostles when spoken by Jesus and which have been preserved for us by Peter through Mark. Some today seek to empty these words of all real meaning as if Jesus could not have or hold such a conception concerning his death for sinners. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 10:39

Mark 10:39  []
See notes on Matthew 20:23-28 for discussion on these memorable verses ( Mark 10:39-45 ) identical in both Matthew and Mark. In particular in Mark 10:45 note the language of Jesus concerning his death as “a ransom for many” ( lutron anti pollōn ), words of the Master that were not understood by the apostles when spoken by Jesus and which have been preserved for us by Peter through Mark. Some today seek to empty these words of all real meaning as if Jesus could not have or hold such a conception concerning his death for sinners. [source]
Mark 10:40  []
See note on Mark 10:39 . [source]
Mark 10:41  []
See note on Mark 10:39 . [source]
Mark 10:42  []
See note on Mark 10:39 . [source]
Mark 10:43  []
See note on Mark 10:39 . [source]
Mark 10:44  []
See note onMark 10:39.sa120 [source]
Mark 10:45  []
See note onMark 10:39.sa120 [source]
John 12:25 Loseth it [απολλυει αυτην]
The second paradox. Present active indicative of απολλυω — apolluō This great saying was spoken at various times as in Mark 8:35 (Matthew 16:25; Luke 9:24) and Mark 10:39 (Luke 17:33). See those passages for discussion of πσυχη — psuchē (life or soul). For “he that hateth his life” (ο μισων την πσυχην αυτου — ho misōn tēn psuchēn autou) see the sharp contrasts in Luke 14:26-35 where μισεω — miseō is used of father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, as well as one‘s own life. Clearly μισεω — miseō means “hate” when the issue is between Christ and the dearest things of life as happens when the choice is between martyrdom and apostasy. In that case one keeps his soul for eternal life by losing his life (πσυχη — psuchē each time) here. That is the way to “guard” (πυλαχει — phulaxei) life by being true to Christ. This is the second paradox to show Christ‘s philosophy of life. [source]
John 18:11 Into the sheath [εις την τηκην]
Old word from τιτημι — tithēmi to put for box or sheath, only here in N.T. In Matthew 26:52 Christ‘s warning is given. The cup Metaphor for Christ‘s death, used already in reply to request of James and John (Mark 10:39; Matthew 20:22) and in the agony in Gethsemane before Judas came (Mark 14:36; Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42), which is not given by John. The case of το ποτηριον — to potērion is the suspended nominative for note αυτο — auto (it) referring to it. Shall I not drink? Second aorist active subjunctive of πινω — pinō with the double negative ου μη — ou mē in a question expecting the affirmative answer. Abbott takes it as an exclamation and compares John 6:37; Mark 14:25. [source]

What do the individual words in Mark 10:39 mean?

- And they said to Him We are able - Jesus said to them The cup which I drink you will drink and baptism am baptized you will be baptized [with]
Οἱ δὲ εἶπαν αὐτῷ Δυνάμεθα Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν αὐτοῖς Τὸ ποτήριον ἐγὼ πίνω πίεσθε καὶ βάπτισμα βαπτίζομαι βαπτισθήσεσθε

Οἱ  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
εἶπαν  they  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτῷ  to  Him 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
Δυνάμεθα  We  are  able 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Plural
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.
  - 
Parse: Article, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root:  
Sense: this, that, these, etc.
Ἰησοῦς  Jesus 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Singular
Root: Ἰησοῦς  
Sense: Joshua was the famous captain of the Israelites, Moses’ successor.
εἶπεν  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
αὐτοῖς  to  them 
Parse: Personal / Possessive Pronoun, Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Root: αὐτός  
Sense: himself, herself, themselves, itself.
ποτήριον  cup 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: ποτήριον  
Sense: a cup, a drinking vessel.
πίνω  drink 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Active, 1st Person Singular
Root: πίνω  
Sense: to drink.
πίεσθε  you  will  drink 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Middle, 2nd Person Plural
Root: πίνω  
Sense: to drink.
βάπτισμα  baptism 
Parse: Noun, Accusative Neuter Singular
Root: βάπτισμα  
Sense: immersion, submersion.
βαπτίζομαι  am  baptized 
Parse: Verb, Present Indicative Middle or Passive, 1st Person Singular
Root: βαπτίζω  
Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).
βαπτισθήσεσθε  you  will  be  baptized  [with] 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Passive, 2nd Person Plural
Root: βαπτίζω  
Sense: to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge (of vessels sunk).