gave up yielded up Literally, "dismissed his spirit." The (Greek - ἀθέμιτος ). This expression, taken with Mark 15:37 ; Luke 23:46 ; John 19:30 . differentiates the death of Christ from all other physical death. He died by his own volition when He could say of His redemptive work, "It is finished." "No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself" John 10:18 .
Verse Meaning
Jesus" loud cry indicates that this was not the last gasp of an exhausted man. Jesus" cry was a shout of victory. He announced, "It is finished!" ( John 19:30). Then He dismissed His spirit ( Matthew 27:50; Luke 23:46; John 19:30). Normally it took as long as two or three days for crucified people to die. [1] Jesus" relatively short period of suffering on the cross amazed Pilate ( Mark 15:44). [source][source][source]
"His comparatively early death was not due to His physical sufferings alone, and it is a mistake to center major attention on the physical agonies of our Lord." [2][source]
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
1Jesus brought bound, and accused before Pilate 6Upon the clamor of the people, the murderer Barabbas is released, 12and Jesus delivered up to be crucified 16He is crowned with thorns, spit on, and mocked; 21faints in bearing his cross; 27hangs between two thieves; 29suffers the triumphing reproaches of the crowd; 39but is confessed by the centurion to be the Son of God; 42and is honorably buried by Joseph
Greek Commentary for Mark 15:37
Gave up the ghost [εχεπνευσεν] Literally, breathed out. See “yielded up his spirit” in Matthew 27:50 for discussion for details. Mark uses this word εχεπνευσεν exepneusen again in Mark 15:39. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 15:37
Luke 23:46Gave up the ghost [εχεπνευσεν] First aorist active indicative of εκπνεω ekpneō to breathe out, to expire, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Mark 15:37,Mark 15:39. There is no special reason for retaining “ghost” in the English as both Matthew 27:50 (yielded up his spirit, απηκεν το πνευμα aphēken to pneuma) and John 19:30 (gave up his spirit, παρεδωκεν το πνευμα paredōken to pneuma) use πνευμα pneuma which is the root of εκπνεω ekpneō the verb in Mark and Luke. [source]
John 11:43He cried with a loud voice [πωνηι μεγαληι εκραυγασεν] First aorist active indicative of κραυγαζω kraugazō old and rare word from κραυγη kraugē (Matthew 25:6). See Matthew 12:19. Occurs again in John 18:40; John 19:6,John 19:12. Only once in the lxx (Ezra 3:13) and with πωνηι μεγαληι phōnēi megalēi (either locative or instrumental case makes sense) as here. For this “elevated (great) voice” see also Matthew 24:31; Mark 15:34,Mark 15:37; Revelation 1:10; Revelation 21:3. The loud voice was not for the benefit of Lazarus, but for the sake of the crowd standing around that they might see that Lazarus came forth simultaneously with the command of Jesus. Lazarus, come forth “Hither out.” No verb, only the two adverbs, deuro here alone in John. Lazarus heard and obeyed the summons. [source]
Greek Commentary for Mark 15:37
Literally, breathed out. See “yielded up his spirit” in Matthew 27:50 for discussion for details. Mark uses this word εχεπνευσεν exepneusen again in Mark 15:39. [source]
Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Mark 15:37
First aorist active indicative of εκπνεω ekpneō to breathe out, to expire, old word, but in the N.T. only here and Mark 15:37, Mark 15:39. There is no special reason for retaining “ghost” in the English as both Matthew 27:50 (yielded up his spirit, απηκεν το πνευμα aphēken to pneuma) and John 19:30 (gave up his spirit, παρεδωκεν το πνευμα paredōken to pneuma) use πνευμα pneuma which is the root of εκπνεω ekpneō the verb in Mark and Luke. [source]
First aorist active indicative of κραυγαζω kraugazō old and rare word from κραυγη kraugē (Matthew 25:6). See Matthew 12:19. Occurs again in John 18:40; John 19:6, John 19:12. Only once in the lxx (Ezra 3:13) and with πωνηι μεγαληι phōnēi megalēi (either locative or instrumental case makes sense) as here. For this “elevated (great) voice” see also Matthew 24:31; Mark 15:34, Mark 15:37; Revelation 1:10; Revelation 21:3. The loud voice was not for the benefit of Lazarus, but for the sake of the crowd standing around that they might see that Lazarus came forth simultaneously with the command of Jesus. Lazarus, come forth “Hither out.” No verb, only the two adverbs, deuro here alone in John. Lazarus heard and obeyed the summons. [source]