Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
Parallel translations
- WEB “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- BSB “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- NKJV “Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- NASB “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone?”
- NLT “What is he saying? This is blasphemy! Only God can forgive sins!”
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
The scribes consider Jesus' words blasphemy, since only God can forgive sins. Unwittingly, they identify the very claim Jesus is making.
Overview
Their theology is correct: forgiving sins is God's prerogative. The irony is that they reject the conclusion that Jesus is therefore divine. Their charge frames the central question of Mark's Gospel, who is this man who forgives sins as only God can?
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- Isa 43:25I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.
- Luke 5:21And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
- Mic 7:18Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.
- Dan 9:9To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgivenesses, though we have rebelled against him;
- Luke 7:49And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?
- John 20:20–23And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
- John 10:33The Jews answered him, saying, For a good work we stone thee not; but for blasphemy; and because that thou, being a man, makest thyself God.
- Job 14:4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? not one.
- Ps 130:4But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
- Mark 14:64Ye have heard the blasphemy: what think ye? And they all condemned him to be guilty of death.
- Matt 26:65Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
- Matt 9:3And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
- John 10:36Say ye of him, whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God?
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 2:7 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.