Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more He ordered them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
Parallel translations
- WEB He commanded them that they should tell no one, but the more he commanded them, so much the more widely they proclaimed it.
- KJV And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it;
- NKJV Then He commanded them that they should tell no one; but the more He commanded them, the more widely they proclaimed it.
- NASB And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it.
- NLT Jesus told the crowd not to tell anyone, but the more he told them not to, the more they spread the news.
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
Jesus tells the witnesses to keep silent, yet they spread the news all the more. His command and their disobedience both highlight the magnitude of the miracle.
Overview
This is part of Mark's recurring 'messianic secret,' where Jesus restrains publicity so that his identity will be understood through the cross rather than mere wonder-working. The people's irrepressible proclamation underscores that the work was undeniable. Their zeal, though disobedient, reflects how the good news of Jesus naturally overflows into testimony.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Matt 8:4Then Jesus instructed him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift prescribed by Moses, as a testimony to them.”
- Mark 5:43Then Jesus gave strict orders that no one should know about this, and He told them to give her something to eat.
- Mark 3:12But He warned them sternly not to make Him known.
- Mark 8:26Jesus sent him home and said, “Do not go back into the village.”
- Mark 1:44–45“See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 7:36 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.