The Meaning of Mark 15:31 Explained

Mark 15:31

KJV: Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

YLT: And in like manner also the chief priests, mocking with one another, with the scribes, said, 'Others he saved; himself he is not able to save.

Darby: In like manner the chief priests also, with the scribes, mocking with one another, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

ASV: In like manner also the chief priests mocking him among themselves with the scribes said, He saved others; himself he cannot save.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Likewise  also  the chief priests  mocking  said  among  themselves  with  the scribes,  He saved  others;  himself  he cannot  save. 

What does Mark 15:31 Mean?

Context Summary

Mark 15:22-47 - A King Upon His Cross
Our Lord refused to drink the potion prepared by the women of Jerusalem, in order to stupefy those who were crucified and so deaden the sense of pain, because He would drain the cup to its dregs. It was nine o'clock in the morning when He was nailed to the cross. His persecutors were, as they thought, destroying the Temple of which He had spoken in John 2:19, and making its restoration impossible. In fact, however, they were giving Him the opportunity of fulfilling His great prediction. He saved others; Himself He cannot save. Nature veiled her face from that awful spectacle. Christ was not really forsaken, but as our Redeemer he passed under the dark shadow of human sin. The access to the Holy of Holies is now forever free through the entry of our great High Priest. See Hebrews 9:7-8. What love inspired the women, Mark 15:40, to brave the horrors of the scene! And how good to see that God cares for the body as well as for the spirit of His beloved! For Joseph, see Matthew 27:57 and Luke 23:50-51. Born of the Virgin's womb our Lord was buried in a virgin tomb. [source]

Chapter Summary: Mark 15

1  Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate
6  Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released,
12  and Jesus delivered up to be crucified
16  He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked;
21  faints in bearing his cross;
27  hangs between two thieves;
29  suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd;
39  but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God;
42  and is honorably buried by Joseph

What do the individual words in Mark 15:31 mean?

Likewise also the chief priests mocking among one another with the scribes were saying Others He saved Himself not He is able to save
Ὁμοίως καὶ οἱ ἀρχιερεῖς ἐμπαίζοντες πρὸς ἀλλήλους μετὰ τῶν γραμματέων ἔλεγον Ἄλλους ἔσωσεν ἑαυτὸν οὐ δύναται σῶσαι

Ὁμοίως  Likewise 
Parse: Adverb
Root: ὁμοίως  
Sense: likewise, equally, in the same way.
καὶ  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: καί  
Sense: and, also, even, indeed, but.
ἀρχιερεῖς  chief  priests 
Parse: Noun, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀρχιερεύς  
Sense: chief priest, high priest.
ἐμπαίζοντες  mocking 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Active, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐμπαίζω  
Sense: to play with, trifle with.
ἀλλήλους  one  another 
Parse: Personal / Reciprocal Pronoun, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀλλήλων  
Sense: one another, reciprocally, mutually.
γραμματέων  scribes 
Parse: Noun, Genitive Masculine Plural
Root: γραμματεύς  
Sense: a clerk, scribe, esp.
ἔλεγον  were  saying 
Parse: Verb, Imperfect Indicative Active, 3rd Person Plural
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to speak, say.
Ἄλλους  Others 
Parse: Adjective, Accusative Masculine Plural
Root: ἄλλος  
Sense: another, other.
ἔσωσεν  He  saved 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἐκσῴζω 
Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.
ἑαυτὸν  Himself 
Parse: Reflexive Pronoun, Accusative Masculine 3rd Person Singular
Root: ἑαυτοῦ  
Sense: himself, herself, itself, themselves.
δύναται  He  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.
σῶσαι  to  save 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Infinitive Active
Root: ἐκσῴζω 
Sense: to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction.