“Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
Parallel translations
- WEB “Why does this man speak blasphemies like that? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
- KJV Why doth this man thus speak blasphemies? who can forgive sins but God only?
- BSB “Why does this man speak like this? He is blaspheming! 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 who blots out your transgressions for my own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
- Luke 5:21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”
- Mic 7:18Who is a God like you, who pardons iniquity, and passes over the disobedience of the remnant of his heritage? He doesn’t retain his anger forever, because he delights in loving kindness.
- Dan 9:9To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness; for we have rebelled against him;
- Luke 7:49Those who sat at the table with him began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
- John 20:20–23When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.
- John 10:33The Jews answered him, “We don’t stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God.”
- Job 14:4Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Not one.
- Ps 130:4But there is forgiveness with you, therefore you are feared.
- Mark 14:64You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?” They all condemned him to be worthy of death.
- Matt 26:65Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
- Matt 9:3Behold, some of the scribes said to themselves, “This man blasphemes.”
- John 10:36do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You blaspheme,’ 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.