But I say unto you, That Elias is indeed come, and they have done unto him whatsoever they listed, as it is written of him.
Parallel translations
- WEB But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him.”
- BSB But I tell you that Elijah has indeed come, and they have done to him whatever they wished, just as it is written about him.”
- NKJV But I say to you that Elijah has also come, and they did to him whatever they wished, as it is written of him.”
- NASB But I say to you that Elijah has indeed come, and they did to him whatever they wanted, just as it is written of him.”
- NLT But I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they chose to abuse him, just as the Scriptures predicted.”
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 declares that Elijah has already come and was treated as people wished, as Scripture foretold. He identifies John the Baptist as the promised Elijah.
Overview
Jesus points to John the Baptist, who came in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17) and was rejected and killed by Herod. John's suffering foreshadows Jesus' own. The statement shows that God's prophetic word is being fulfilled precisely, including the rejection of his messengers.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 14:3–11For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put him in prison for Herodias’ sake, his brother Philip’s wife.
- Matt 17:12–13But I say unto you, That Elias is come already, and they knew him not, but have done unto him whatsoever they listed. Likewise shall also the Son of man suffer of them.
- Matt 11:14And if ye will receive it, this is Elias, which was for to come.
- Acts 7:52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
- Luke 3:19–20But Herod the tetrarch, being reproved by him for Herodias his brother Philip’s wife, and for all the evils which Herod had done,
- Mark 6:14–28And king Herod heard of him; (for his name was spread abroad:) and he said, That John the Baptist was risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him.
- Luke 1:17And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.
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 9:13 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
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