But some of the teachers of religious law who were sitting there thought to themselves,
Parallel translations
- WEB But there were some of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
- KJV But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,
- BSB But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking in their hearts,
- NKJV And some of the scribes were sitting there and reasoning in their hearts,
- NASB But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts,
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
Some scribes sitting there silently question Jesus in their hearts. His claim to forgive sins provokes objection.
Overview
The scribes, experts in the Law, immediately sense the weight of Jesus' words. Their inward reasoning reveals growing opposition that will run through Mark's Gospel. Their objection actually sets up Jesus to prove the very authority they doubt.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- Luke 5:21–22The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
- Mark 8:17Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened?
- Matt 16:7–8They reasoned among themselves, saying, “We brought no bread.”
- 2 Cor 10:5throwing down imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;
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 2:6 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.