But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her.
- KJV But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
- BSB Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a fever, and they promptly told Jesus about her.
- NASB Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to Jesus about her.
- NLT Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Simon's mother-in-law lies sick with a fever, and they tell Jesus about her. The disciples bring a personal need to the Lord.
Overview
This brief detail shows the disciples already turning to Jesus in times of trouble. The mention of Simon's mother-in-law incidentally confirms Peter was married. Their bringing the need to Jesus models simple, trusting prayer in the face of illness.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Cor 9:5Have we no right to take along a wife who is a believer, even as the rest of the apostles, and the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?
- Jas 5:14–15Is any among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the assembly, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord,
- John 11:3The sisters therefore sent to him, saying, “Lord, behold, he for whom you have great affection is sick.”
- Mark 5:23and begged him much, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Please come and lay your hands on her, that she may be made healthy, and live.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Mark drives urgently to the cross, showing Jesus the Son of God as the suffering Servant who 'came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'
How Mark 1:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.