English Standard Version
Mark 2:7
7"Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
Mark 2:7 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
- New International Version (NIV)“Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)“What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
Context of Mark 2:7
5And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven." 6Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, "Why does this man speak like that? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?" 8And immediately Jesus, perceiving in his spirit that they thus questioned within themselves, said to them, "Why do you question these things in your hearts? 9Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven,' or to say, 'Rise, take up your bed and walk'?
Read all of Mark 2Mark 2:7 word by word
τί οὗτος οὕτως λαλεῖ; βλασφημεῖ· τίς δύναται ἀφιέναι ἁμαρτίας εἰ μὴ εἷς ὁ θεός;Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Whyτίςtis · which?G5101
- dothλαλέωlaleō · to speakG2980
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- thusοὕτωςhoutō · thus(-ly)G3779
- blasphemiesβλασφημίαblasphēmia · blasphemyG988
- canδύναμαιdunamai · be ableG1410
- forgiveἀφίημιaphiēmi · to release: forgiveG863
- sinsἁμαρτίαhamartia · sinG266
- butεἰei · if: notG1487
- butμήmē · notG3361
- Godὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- onlyεἷςheis · oneG1520
Cross-references for Mark 2:7
- Mark 14:64You have heard his blasphemy. What is your decision?" And they all condemned him as deserving death.
- Matthew 9:3And behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, "This man is blaspheming."
- Matthew 26:65Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has uttered blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need? You have now heard his blasphemy.
- John 10:33The Jews answered him, "It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for blasphemy, because you, being a man, make yourself God."
- Job 14:4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? There is not one.
- Psalms 130:4But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.
- Isaiah 43:25"I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.
- Daniel 9:9To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him
- Micah 7:18Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance? He does not retain his anger forever, because he delights in steadfast love.
- Luke 5:21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to question, saying, "Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?"
- Luke 7:49Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, "Who is this, who even forgives sins?"
- John 20:20When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Commentaries on Mark 2:7
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 7Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? - See this explained Matthew 9:3; (note), etc.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3-12Verses 3-12 See this miracle explained in Matthew 9:2-8. Palsy - See the notes at Matthew 4:24. Borne of four - Carried upon a couch Matthew 9:2 by four men. Mark 2:4 The press - The crowd, the multitude of people. Jesus was probably in the large open area or hall in the center of the house. See the notes at Matthew 9:2. The people pressed into the area, and blocked up the door so that they could not have access to him. They uncovered the roof where he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6-7Only God can forgive sins, yet Jesus had authority to do so (2:10).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 77. Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?--In this second question they expressed a great truth. (See Is 43:25; Mi 7:18; Ex 34:6, 7, &c.). Nor was their first question altogether unnatural, though in our Lord's sole case it was unfounded. That a man, to all appearances like one of themselves, should claim authority and power to forgive sins, they could not, on the first blush of it, but regard as in the last degree…Read the comment
Topics related to Mark 2:7
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Mark 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries